Shawn Thicke or as he is professionally known Shawny is a former elementary school music teacher who is now a full-time children’s musician. He brings over 20 years of experience working with kids to the table. He is so in touch with his inner child that children instantly recognize him as a big, goofy friend! Shawny strives to create a safe space where kids can be as silly, imaginative, and energetic as they wish. He also has a deep respect for children; his warm-hearted pop-rock music is catchy but never condescending.
Born and raised in Montréal, Shawny played guitar and sang in a variety of bands throughout his 20s while also working as an elementary school music teacher. However, it wasn’t until the onset of the COVID-19 lockdowns in March 2020 that he began writing and performing music specifically for children, to help his students cope. Thrilled to see the positive effect his original music had on these kids during their online music sessions, Shawny took things a step further and created his own YouTube channel, Shawny Kids Music, which currently showcases more than 80 videos and has received over a million views. The warm reception to his videos inspired Shawny to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time recording artist and live performer for kids.
A graduate of McGill University with a Bachelor of Education in Teaching English as a Second Language, Shawny cites influences as diverse as Ray Davies of The Kinks, Dolly Parton, Barenaked Ladies, Funkadelic, Talking Heads, The B-52s, Raffi, and Kermit the Frog!
Shawny’s debut album, It’s So Sunny (2023), addresses themes of kindness, acceptance, and socio-emotional learning. In 2023, Shawny’s song “The Day The Colours Went Away” from It’s So Sunny was honoured in Australia as Favourite Canadian Song in the Funky Kids Radio 3rd annual Global Children’s Entertainment Awards. Shawny was then named National Artist of the Year in the Funky Kids Radio 4th Annual Global Children’s Entertainment Awards. His music has been featured on radio shows and podcasts like The Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl, The Children’s Hour, and New Zealand-based Suzy & Friends. Shawny maintains a busy schedule of performances at daycares, elementary schools, libraries, festivals, and public and private events.
On May 16th, 2025, he released his second album, Go Go Stop – Music & Movement for Kids, which blends full-on silliness with rich inner themes. Some songs are just for fun, like “Little Bubbles,” a catchy earworm about the joys of popping bubbles on a sunny day, and “Go Go Stop,” a fast-paced, pop-country freeze dance tune. The more profound, Sesame Street-influenced “So Different” and the joyful “Rainbow Parade” (featuring guest ensemble Strawbitty Yops) celebrate differences and inclusivity. The album has been named among the best in family-friendly media, products, and services by the Mom’s Choice Awards. Shawny was also a recipient of a Quebec Council of Arts and Letters grant, which enabled him to tour Quebec, Ontario, and Vermont to promote the album.
You can find out more about Shawny at his website: https://www.shawnykidsmusic.com/ You can also find him on Youtube, Instagram, and Facebook under Shawny Kids Music.
