Shaun Groves

As a Christian artist who defies typical expectations and simple labels, Shaun Groves is an insightful songwriter. He displays such incredible lyrical prowess that his musical peers nominated him for Songwriter of the Year solely on the strength of his 2001 debut.

Shaun attended Baylor University on a full private music scholarship. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in music composition, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee hoping to make his mark as a songwriter. He soon found a job as what he dubs "a tape copy guy" at Brentwood/Benson Publishing. The short-lived career move landed him a development deal with the publishing company and a recording contract with Rocketown Records in 2000. His debut album, Invitation to Eavesdrop, was released in the summer of 2001.

More than a musician, Shaun is a communicator, a man full of messages and ideas that he hopes to translate through a variety of media. As a songwriter, performer and musician, he encapsulates everything that one would hope an artist could be. His songs reflect the bare-bones honesty of a searching, passionate faith. Unafraid of the questions or of stepping on toes, Shaun sets his sights as high as possible, aiming to pursue profound theological truths in the most accessible, lyrical metaphors he can create. His music showcases a complete and talented artist in full bloom, constantly reaching for excellence.

Shaun’s other albums include Twilight and White Flag.

Shaun Groves “Unplugged”

We spent some time with Shaun working on a ministry project. During that time, we asked him some questions about growing up and his music. You can see more of Shaun in one of the Bluefish TV video resources on the right.

Bluefish TV: Did you struggle to fit in during your high school years?

Shaun Groves: I wasn’t picked on a lot, but I felt different. I felt unloved, unwanted at my school. I felt like I really didn’t fit in at all. I was a mediocre student. I was smart but didn’t work all that hard in school. The things I was interested in just weren’t the things that are applauded in school. The smart kids don’t get the attention, musical kids don’t get the attention. It’s the athletes, the pretty people, the popular people, and the rich people. So, I felt really unappreciated…I even noticed in the adult circles in my town, the people that seemed to be respected were the ones that had money and certain last names and their own businesses—things like that, that my family wasn’t a part of. So, I just didn’t feel like I fit in.

Bluefish TV: How did you overcome the struggle of not fitting in?

Shaun Groves: I went through a tough time in tenth grade. It made me suicidal to the point that I even attempted it. I know now that I didn’t really want to end my life. I just really wanted someone to tell me that they cared. I knew that I would find out if people cared if I came close to death. So, I attempted suicide just one time. After I did it, I didn’t get caught and I was so embarrassed that I never let anybody know. About that time I found a group of guys at church and we started an accountability group and we met together. That’s where I found significance. I found this group of people that were like me and loved the same God that I did and encouraged me and loved me regardless of what I did.

Bluefish TV: What do you seek to communicate through your music?

Shaun Groves: The songs I write today really come out of me learning something and trying to capture what I learned in the song so that I could remember it. It’s my response to God in light of what I learned—me telling Him that I’m grateful for it or explaining to Him how I want my life to be different because of what I’ve just learned…a lot of times people look at me and think well, music is what you do, but it’s really not. At the core, I’m a learner just like everybody else.