Derek Shacklett, the artist known simply as "shack", writes and performs songs best described as "eclectic folk/pop". Brought up with a steady listening diet of National Public Radio, shack combines the lyrical storytelling craft of folk music with the musical hooks and "fun" of pop music. His songs, covering a wide range of topics and styles, have garnered recognition in a variety of competitions. Notably, songs submitted from his current CD, Gypsy Heart, earned shack an Individual Artist Fellowship for Music Composition from the Arkansas Arts Council.
"What can I say? I'm a fan! I loved Gypsy Heart and I can't wait for shack's next project."
-Ezra Idlett, Grammy Nominated singer/songwriter of
Trout Fishing in America www.troutmusic.com
"...[shack] has a marvelously wry sense of humor that sometimes borders on silliness, but then silly has its devotees and is a hard force to master.... They're good songs, whether somber or silly and make [gypsy heart] a well-crafted and most enjoyable collection of eclectic musicality."
-Doug Treadway, Nightflying www.nightflying.com
"Derek Shacklett covers many different genres on his debut release as shack (yet his fifth in total). Pop, country and MOR are all tackled well, while 'Fatter (Than I Want to Be)' proves that shack has a self deprecating sense of humour. In fact, this record is an above average release across all eleven tracks."
-DW, www.americana-uk.com
"When I first heard shack's album, Gypsy Heart, I thought it sounded like some contemporary pop album by some nationally known artist, not some guy hanging around Fayetteville, AR! The songs are infectious and memorable. The production makes an aging baby-boomer like me want to rock n roll!
-Emily Kaitz, All About Town www.aatonline.com
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