Born in Montreal in 1978, Shawn “Fingers” Moran was raised on the music of Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Police, Black Sabbath, The Tea Party, and Sound Garden, among others. He picked up his first bass when he was 14 years old but initially struggled; once he swapped his right-handed bass for a left-handed bass, life became much easier and he hasn’t looked back since.
Although playing bass is his passion, Shawn has also played the role of drummer and classical guitarist in various bands. His comprehensive approach to playing music has helped to develop his unique style of slapping, tapping, and flamenco-like strumming.
Shawn moved across the country to Vancouver in 2003 to explore the west coast’s legendary music scene. Bands like Oxygen, Naked for Jesus, and Iroc provided ample opportunity for Shawn to meet and play with many of Vancouver’s local musicians.
In 2006 Shawn decided to focus on his solo project, Fingersmoran. Heavily influenced by Les Claypool, Rush, Tool, Dream Theater, Yes, The Police, Alestorm, King Crimson etc., Fingersmoran’s unique sound is a blend of progressive heavy rock and funk. Released in April 2010, “Riot” is Fingersmoran’s first full-length album.
These days, Shawn can be found playing with Vancouver-based Black Betty.
