Primarily home-schooled in his native Vancouver, Shand began raiding his parents record collection at an early age -- soaking up a wide range of jazz, soul, and R&B, with Marvin Gaye's classic Here, My Dear having a profound influence on his musical direction. Dropping out of high school to study and pursue music full-time, Shand played as a session musician and was a member of various experimental groups until he decided to focus a solo career. In 1998, he began to write and record the songs that would later become The Way I Feel. Three years later he was signed to Motown Records and the album saw the light of day in early 2002. The record met critical and underground success and received four Grammy nominations, including one for best R&B album. ~ Rob Theakston