Date Signed: March 2022
Label: Cedarstone Entertainment / Empire
Band Members: Jake Lawson, Shelby Hiam
Genre: Pop Singer-Songwriter
Management: Kevin Lawson - Cedarstone Entertainment, kevin@cedarstone.com
Booking: Russell Brantley - 33 & West, russell@33andwest.com
Legal: Rush Hicks - Keller Turner Andrews & Ghanem, PLLC
Publicity: Ashley Natareno - Big Feat PR, ashley@bigfeatpr.com
A&R: Eric Hurt
Web: jakeandshelby.com
Shelby Hiam, a singer who began learning piano at age seven, met guitarist Jake Lawson at Cedarstone School of Music in Hendersonville, Tennessee, an institution founded by Kevin Ray Lawson, Jake’s father. The students fast recognized they had a musical connection and began writing together.
Next, they started posting acoustic covers on social media, triggering a wave of followers. A boost came when Michael Bublé heard their version of the crooner’s tune “Sway,” and collaborated with them on an updated rendition. The duo’s fan base grew even greater once Kim Kardashian joined the fold.
With all this attention, it became clear the pair was becoming a hot commodity. The elder Lawson decided to start Cedarstone Entertainment and make Jake & Shelby his inaugural signing. Additionally, he assumed the role of manager. Taking the job seriously, he reached out to entertainment consultant Gator Michaels, who talked them up with noted label Empire. What the company’s brass heard spurred them to invite Jake & Shelby to their San Francisco headquarters, where the newcomers gave an intimate performance. “We both felt really comfortable,” explains Jake, now 21 years old. “They were encouraging and believed in us.”
Ultimately, Empire’s decision to move forward was sparked by that live showcase. “I don’t know if they ever listened to any recordings,” Hiam speculates. “They probably did on Spotify or something, but we didn’t have much [music] out at the time.” They discussed the offer with their father/manager before moving forward. “We trust his opinion,” puts forth the act’s female half, currently 19. "Rather than solely signing to Empire, they crafted a joint venture with Cedarstone."
