For all of the uncertainty that life offers up, we’ve had one thread of consistency this year – Shaky. This independent Pennsylvania artist has been treating us to his indie-rock gems like ‘In A Heartbeat’ and ‘Take It Away’. Now, he’s back with his latest album, Kinda Wild II, a record that expands on the raw, homegrown spirit of his 2025 debut, Kinda Wild. This whole project is a true one-man operation as Shaky balances late-night creativity with the rhythms of family life to entirely write and record these songs. Rooted in indie-rock with post-punk, grunge and slacker-rock influences, Kinda Wild II blends laidback confidence with introspective storytelling. It’s a notable evolution from the previous album, as this time around Shaky‘s voice takes a more central presence and therefore there’s more weight put on the emotions this time. His dual identity as a musician and father clearly brings a unique perspective to his songwriting, one that manifests as a subtle intensity and grounded authenticity throughout Kinda Wild II. For On The Record, Shaky has joined us to discuss his creative process, the personal experiences that inspire him and how the Kinda Wild journey will continue.
Welcome to Unrecorded! For those who aren’t already familiar with Shaky, can you introduce yourself?
I’m Shaky from Pennsylvania. I used to be a full time rocker but now I’m a full-time Dad and part-time rocker.
Congratulations on the recent release of your new album! It arrives just one year after your first Kinda Wild release, so how are these two albums connected?
As I was finishing Kinda Wild, I wrote a flurry of tunes that would become KWII. I debated doing a double LP last year, but decided to spread things out a bit.
Would you say that your songwriting is more autobiographical or is there a healthy dose of fiction to your storytelling?
They usually start as autobiographical – one little line about something personal – and then I don’t mind blurring the lines a little bit to tell the story.
How has being a father shaped your songwriting? Do you think it would be different if you weren’t in a parental role?
As a father of three (and holding a demanding day job), the only time I get to work on tunes is way late at night when the kids are asleep. I’ve come to really enjoy the super late night bursts of creativity.
Are there specific recording tricks, limitations or happy accidents that ended up defining the sound of this record?
Singing at midnight and not trying to wake everyone up made me really focus on my vocal delivery
What made the laidback yet confident single ‘Like What You See’ the perfect opener for this album?
Really it was just that opening keyboard line I recorded – it just felt like it needed to be the first
thing anyone hears on this album.
One notable shift from your last record to this one is how much more present your vocals are, such as on tracks like ‘Sugar’ and ‘Oh Alice’, so was this an intentional choice?
I think with every song I write and record, I end up feeling a little more confident about my vocal
delivery and range. I’m enjoying my progression as a vocalist.
‘Make It Real’ really leaves everything off on a high, although with a psychedelic edge, so what’s the story behind this closing number?
I’m a huge Liverpool fan, and after we clinched the title last season I was just overcome with joy and emotion – I had taken a trip to Anfield that season with my dad, so the song is just a little memento to our trip, feeling at home in England, and celebrating the Reds. It came together (like almost all my songs) in just a few hours.
What else do you hope that listeners will take away from these songs?
As a one man band, I hope people appreciate all the musicianship involved — and the guitar solos. I still consider myself a guitarist first, and guitar solos are kinda a dying breed. Bring back the solos!
Following the release of the album, what will be next on the horizon for you?
Kinda Wild III will come out later this year… I have three kids and I wanted the first three albums to be inspired by each kid. After I wrap up the Kinda Wild series, I have 2 albums I’m almost finished with for 2027. Thanks for being here with me.
You can also listen to closing track ‘Make It Real’ in our Indie Rockers playlist.
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