Musical chemistry is a rare, intangible thing. But for Andy Platts and Shawn Lee, the creative force behind Young Gun Silver Fox the unmalleable, unspoken connection that gives their work such a unique and distinctive sound was apparent from their first experiences in a studio together. Alongside their now decade plus long tenure as Young Gun Silver Fox where they have built up a growing fanbase which includes the likes of Hans Zimmer, Jeff Lyne, and The Black Pumas to name a few , both have already received plaudits for their individual creative excursions. American born, UK based musician Shawn Lee through his own extensive catalogue of recordings with the likes of Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra and his well-received solo albums, as well as a go to award winning producer and multi-instrumentalist for the likes of James Morrison and Joel Culpepper, and more recently musical director and drummer for the legendary Asha Puthli in Europe, USA & Australia. Meanwhile the multi-talented Andy Platts is the chief songwriter and leader of much loved Brit-soul sensations Mamas Gun. He’s also clocked up a plethora of song writing collaborations with legends such as Rod Temperton and Brian Jackson, as well as writing songs for the forthcoming album of rising UK soul star MT Jones for this forthcoming debut album and they both co wrote the title track of the latest Take That album ‘This Life’ which went to number 1 in the UK charts. Of their initial hook up Shawn explains that “It was about 2006 when we came across each other on Myspace and I checked out Andy and saw that he knew a couple of the same people, and I was impressed with his talents so I sent him a message saying we should hook up and do something, and he never got back to me of course! But maybe it was around 2009 when we first spoke.” Taking their name from Andy’s standing as youngest band member and Shawn’s resplendent silver locks, and sensing they were kindred musical spirits, the duo set about crafting their 2015 debut West End Coast, bonding over a shared love of the smooth sounds of ’70s pop-soul and artist’s such as Ned Doheny, Hall & Oates, Steely Dan and the breezy, west coast stylings that had been in Shawn’s musical DNA since his youth. “I remember at one point thinking Steely Dan was the ultimate group because they had hit singles and were on the radio and I’m like ‘man they’re accessible and they’re in the mainstream but their music is so sophisticated and so musical and they have the best playing and the best arrangements.’ I just thought if you could do that then you’ve won, that’s the ultimate thing musically for me that if I could do something like that, that had all those qualities but was still accessible then you’re killing it. Music like that and bands like that are rare, it’s a really special thing. And there’s something about Young Gun Silver Fox that’s winning on those two fronts.” What happens next is open to fate, but one certainty is that Andy and Shawn will continue to come up with the goods. “The ‘West Coast’ vibe was really a jumping off point initially,” says Andy. “The more music we make, the more it really is all about what Shawn & I do together naturally, and so that’s evolving the MO of the whole project all the time in a really natural way.”