Shrugboat

**Shrugboat** is the indie pop/rock brainchild of Portland, Oregon-based musician and producer Joel T. Hamilton. Starting as a solo project around 2013, Shrugboat blends breezy, hook-driven melodies with introspective lyrics and a DIY ethos, mixing analog warmth with glitchy electronic textures. Hamilton’s work often feels like a cozy late-night drive soundtrack—nostalgic yet forward-thinking, with nods to ’90s alt-rock and bedroom pop.

Known for collaborative energy, Shrugboat’s releases—like the hazy *Afters EP* (2021) and the dreamy *Love Shift* (2020)—showcase Hamilton’s knack for balancing lo-fi charm with polished production. Live shows (often featuring a rotating cast of friends) and a steady stream of self-recorded gems keep the project feeling fresh and unpretentious, like your favorite basement-show band that somehow also belongs on a summer festival lineup.