Joseph Shabason and Thom Gill’s latest collaboration, aptly titled “One For The Money,” unveils a fascinating tale of musical creation born from jest yet blossoming into genuine artistry. This project, as Shabason himself explains, began as a humorous commentary on the modern music industry’s playlist culture, but organically evolved into a deeply felt and subtly crafted album.
The inception of “The One For The Money” was rooted in the artists’ playful observation of how music is consumed today. Shabason recounts, “One For The Money, like most things in our lives, started out as a joke and then turned into something real.” Their initial concept was almost satirical: to create music with titles specifically designed to game streaming service algorithms and land on popular, often absurdly named playlists like “Chill Music To Code To” or “Deep Office.” Inspired by their own unexpected earnings from playlist placements, they even considered naming songs with slight variations of already trending tracks, hoping to capture accidental listeners.
However, the comedic premise soon gave way to a sincere artistic endeavor. Shabason emphasizes, “But at the end of the day we weren’t gonna make a joke record that sounded like a joke.” Instead, they embraced a more authentic approach, setting aside preconceived notions and focusing on the pure joy of collaborative music-making. With a shared goal to create something “gentle,” Shabason and Gill embarked on a three-day creative sprint, allowing the music to unfold naturally.
Their process was inherently collaborative and improvisational. “One of us would start with a sound or progression or beat and we would just riff on it until the song took shape,” Shabason describes. This organic method fostered a sense of spontaneity and freedom within their music. While most tracks were largely improvised, “To Boy With Luv” received a more traditional shaping, demonstrating their versatility and openness to different creative paths. The self-imposed time constraint of just three days became a defining element of the album’s character.
This limited timeframe, Shabason believes, is palpable in the final product. “To my ears the songs feel free and loose rather than manicured and precious.” They deliberately maintained a sparse and concise instrumentation, prioritizing atmosphere and mood over conventional song structures. The resulting album, “One For The Money,” stands as a testament to their spontaneous creativity and collaborative spirit. It’s a “musical snapshot of three days where we focused on jokes and making music. Fun!” This project, born from a lighthearted jab at playlist culture, ultimately transcends its initial concept, offering listeners a genuine and engaging musical experience.
