Shawn Hook

Early Life and Education

Shawn Hook was raised in Nelson, British Columbia, where his parents worked in the forestry industry. He studied piano as a child through the Royal Conservatory of Music and began writing his own music at an early age. Hook is of Doukhobor ancestry and has stated that he is proud of his Russian heritage and the Doukhobors’ pacifist roots. He also comes from a very musical family. His grandfather’s first guitar is located at the Doukhobor Discovery Centre in Ootischenia, British Columbia.

Hook was very musically active throughout his youth. In addition to the piano, he played trombone, guitar and bass and was in various bands. He also sang in a choir and took music composition classes in high school. While attending Mount Sentinel Secondary School in Nelson, Hook was one of the school’s leading musicians, particularly when it came to the school’s jazz band. He was involved in other musical pursuits as well, winning a “battle of the bands” competition in Trail, BC, in 2004. Hook was also a good athlete. He was captain of his school’s basketball and volleyball teams and played with his region’s rep hockey team.

Though musically gifted, Hook’s parents wanted to ensure that he had practical skills in case his musical aspirations didn’t lead to a career. They encouraged him to enroll in economics and engineering courses at Selkirk College in Castlegar, even though the same college has a well-respected music program at their Nelson campus, which was closer to where Hook lived. Ultimately, he continued to pursue his musical interests while also studying geological engineering. After his days studying in Castlegar, he’d come home to jam with members of the Selkirk College music faculty and students in his disco cover band, Shag, for which he sang vocals and played trombone.

Career Highlights

Shawn Hook independently released two albums early in his career under his birth name, Shawn Hlookoff. He then moved to Los Angeles and began composing music for television shows and commercials. He also landed some small acting roles. As his career writing music for television developed, he continued writing and recording his own music as well. He developed a range of styles, incorporating rock, pop, soul and electronic music.

Hook signed his first songwriting deal with ABC/Session 5 Music to compose music for TV shows like Eli Stone, Greek and Samurai Girl, and for the ABC Family series Kyle XY. Hook’s song “She Could Be You” formed the premise of a two-story arc on the latter program.

Hook released his album Cosmonaut and the Girl in 2012 and received a Juno Award nomination for Breakthrough Artist of the Year in 2013. His single “Sound of Your Heart” went on to be certified double platinum in Canada. His follow-up album, Analog Love (2015), earned him a 2016 Juno nomination for the TikTok JUNO Fan Choice award.

In 2017, he released the EPs My Side of Your Story. The hit single “Reminding Me” (featuring Vanessa Hudgens) was also certified double platinum in Canada. Later that year, Hook received the Allan Slaight Music Impact Honour from Canada’s Walk of Fame. At the 2018 Juno Awards, Hook was again nominated for the TikTok JUNO Fan Choice award. He released another EP, Take Me Home, in 2020 and followed it with the non-album singles “It All Comes Back to You” in 2022 and “Out of My Head” in 2023.

Cancer Diagnosis

Shawn Hook was diagnosed with throat cancer in January 2023. Later that spring, he had 28 lymph nodes and a tonsil removed and underwent chemotherapy treatment at Vancouver General Hospital.

Charity Work

Shawn Hook is active in various philanthropic endeavors, including sitting on the board of directors of the Unison Fund, a charity that offers emotional support to members of Canada’s music community. He also founded Feed the Need, which helps support food banks in British Columbia.