Shawn is a Barcelona-based writer and editor who specialises in electronic music. A Bay area native who’s spent decades immersed in independent music culture, his work as a music journalist has made him one of electronic music’s most prominent voices, particularly as he has routinely put many of the genre's thorniest issues under the microscope. Author of the First Floor newsletter, Shawn was formerly an editor at Red Bull Music Academy and XLR8R and has also contributed to such publications as Pitchfork, NPR, SPIN, Resident Advisor, DJ Mag, Bandcamp Daily and Beatportal. His first book, First Floor Vol. 1: Reflections on Electronic Music Culture, was released on Velocity Press in 2023.