# Ekali (DJ)

Nathan Shaw (born September 22, 1991), known professionally as Ekali, is a Canadian electronic music producer, DJ, and musician based in Los Angeles, California. To date, he has released one studio album, A World Away (2020) via Big Beat Records and two EP's, Crystal Eyes (2018) via OWSLA and his most recent, Alinea on June 23, 2023, through his independent imprint, Awakening.
Over the course of his career, Shaw has collaborated the likes of ZHU, Denzel Curry, KRANE, ILLENIUM and performed at a series of high-profile music festivals, such as Coachella, The Grass Is Greener, and Shambala Festival.

## History

Originally hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, Shaw's first experiences with music started from a young age, learning the violin and branching out to other contemporary musical instruments as he grew up. He would initially gain recognition in the music industry as the bassist for Vancouver-based indie rock band, Said the Whale which he joined in 2011. Concurrently in-between touring, Shaw also began to learn music production and started creating sample-based instrumentals, as he didn't feel confident enough to perform vocals on his own material. He quickly broke into the local underground music scene as a DJ and would become a member of Vancouver electronic music collective, Chapel Sound. On November 20, 2013, Shaw released his debut single, "Unfaith" via SoundCloud.
In 2014, Shaw attended the Red Bull Music Academy in Tokyo, Japan as the only Canadian participant of that year, to workshop and collaborate with musical peers and contemporaries from around the world. A collaboration during the program between Shaw, American Grammy Award-winning producer/songwriter Om'Mas Keith and RBMA alumni, Austrian producer Dorian Concept called "On Me" would be released Jan 13, 2015 via RBMA and highlighted as a single for their "Various Assets – Not For Sale 2014" compilation.
The following month, Shaw quickly rose to prominence after Canadian rapper and singer, Drake sampled "Unfaith" for his surprise mixtape, If You're Reading This It's Too Late released February 13, 2015 via OVO and Young Money Entertainment on the songs, "Preach" and "Wednesday Night Interlude" both featuring Canadian R&B singer, PARTYNEXTDOOR respectively. Soon after, "Unfaith" was officially re-released to streaming platforms on March 31. 2015.
Following the mixtape's release, Shaw's profile was significantly raised internationally as a producer and DJ. In 2016, Shaw would officially leave Said the Whale to focus on touring his own music and producing full-time and relocated to Los Angeles soon after, to sign a recording contract with American producer, Skrillex's label, OWSLA in 2017. Shaw would go on to release several singles through the label including, "Babylon" featuring Florida-based rapper, Denzel Curry on Aug 18, 2017 alongside the announcement of his signing. Shaw's debut EP, Crystal Eyes was released on Oct 21, 2018 via OWSLA. preceded by lead single, "Leaving" featuring Malaysian singer, Yuna released Aug 24, 2018.
On Jan 24, 2020, Shaw released his debut studio album, A World Away via Big Beat Records, featuring guest appearances by Au/Ra, Elohim, Kiiara, ILLENIUM, Wafia and Reo Cragun.
On June 23, 2023, Shaw released his second EP, Alinea via his independent record label, Awakening Records.

## Discography
### Studio albums

* A World Away (2020)

### Extended plays

* Crystal Eyes (2018)
* Alinea (2023)

### Playlists

* Awakening - Mix 1 (2017)
* Awakening - Mix 2 (2017)
* Awakening - Mix 3 (2017)
* Awakening - Mix 4 (2018)
* Awakening - Mix 5 (2018)
* Awakening - Mix 6 (2018)
* Awakening - Mix 7 (2019)
* Awakening - Mix 8 (2020)
* Awakening - Mix 9 (2022)
* Awakening - Mix 10 (2023)
* Awakening - Mix 11 (2023)
* Awakening - Mix 12 (2023)

## Singles

| Title | Year | Album |
| "Unfaith" | 2013 | Non-album singles |
| "I Won't Lie" with Falcons (feat. Vanessa Elisha) | 2016 | Non-album singles |
| "Akira" with KRANE | 2017 | Non-album singles |
| "Babylon" (featuring Denzel Curry) | 2017 | Non-album singles |
| "Past Life" (featuring Opia) | 2017 | Non-album singles |
| "Blame" (with ZHU) | 2018 | Non-album singles |
| "Blood Moon" (with TYNAN and Hekler) | 2018 | Non-album singles |
| "Helios" (with SLUMBERJACK) | 2018 | Crystal Eyes EP |
| "Leaving" (featuring Yuna) | 2018 | Crystal Eyes EP |
| "Forgot How To Dream" (featuring K.Flay) | 2019 | Crystal Eyes EP |
| "R U I N" (with 1788-L) | 2019 | Non-album singles |
| "Jundo" (with YOOKiE) | 2019 | Non-album singles |
| "Runaway" (with Reo Cragun) | 2019 | A World Away |
| "Be Fine" (featuring Wafia) | 2019 | A World Away |
| "Back to You" (featuring Kiiara) | 2019 | A World Away |
| "Hard To Say Goodbye" (with ILLENIUM featuring Chloe Angelides) | 2020 | A World Away |
| "Drown" (featuring Au/Ra) | 2020 | A World Away |
| "Remember Me (with RemK)" | 2022 | Non-album singles |
| "Purity" | 2023 | Alinea EP |
| "Kindred" | 2023 | Alinea EP |
| "Fool" (featuring Bloom) | 2023 | Alinea EP |

## Remixes

| Title | Year | Artist(s) |
| "Bloom" (Ekali Remix) | 2014 | Dpat |
| "Days In The West" (Drake cover) (Ekali Remix) | 2014 | Tinashe |
| "Sorry" (Ekali Remix) | 2014 | Ciara |
| "Orphan's Son" (Ekali Remix) | 2014 | Eli Muro |
| "Stupid" (Maximus MMC & Ekali Remix) | 2014 | Gucci Mane |
| "Good" (Ekali & Gravez Remix) | 2014 | Sonny Digital |
| "Needy" (Ekali Remix) | 2014 | Pat Lok |
| "Know Yourself" (Ekali Remix) | 2014 | Drake |
| "Prestige" (Ekali Remix) | 2015 | Tre Capital & Sean Leon |
| "Gemini (featuring George Maple) (Ekali Remix) | 2015 | What So Not |
| "Threatz" (Ekali & Gravez Remix) | 2015 | Denzel Curry |
| "Long Time No See" (featuring Atu) (Ekali Remix) | 2015 | Ta-ku |
| "Can I" (Ekali Remix) | 2015 | Alina Baraz & Galimatias |
| "Weight In Gold" (Ekali Remix) | 2015 | Gallant |
| "Smoke & Retribution" (featuring Vince Staples & Kučka) (Ekali Remix) | 2016 | Flume |
| "I Can't Stop" (Ekali Tribute) | 2016 | Flux Pavilion |
| "Mind" (featuring Kai) (Ekali & Gravez Remix) | 2016 | Jack Ü |
| "Meet In The Middle" (Ekali Remix) | 2017 | Ta-ku & Wafia |
| "Language" (Ekali & QUIX Tribute) | 2017 | Porter Robinson |
| "Don't Leave" (Ekali Remix) | 2017 | Snakehips & MØ |
| "Floating" (featuring Khalid) (Ekali Remix) | 2017 | Alina Baraz |
| "When I Look At You" (Ekali Tribute) | 2022 | Emalkay |