Neil Ahmed

We Are Abington: Shaun Bily

Doylestown native and current Penn State Abington Student, Shaun Bily, released his first official single, Woke Up

The majority of high school graduates, whether they have the socioeconomic means to afford college or have to take out student loans, tend to have the same plan: go to college (without a lot), earn a degree (but party a lot) and get a job (that pays a lot). 

Shaun’s path to landing at Penn State Abington is one of a kind. He graduated from high school virtually, and started playing hockey “professionally” for Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League at age sixteen.

The OHL is one of three Major Junior Hockey Leagues in Canada that ultimately form the Canadian Hockey League. The CHL seeks to find the best of the best. The league only allows you to play from ages 16 to 21, and the best players tend to get drafted before the age of 18. The Canadian Hockey League is the bridge to the NHL and of the 713 players on NHL Opening Day rosters, 339 were former CHL players. 

Every single hockey player’s goal that plays in any professional Canadian league is to become drafted and play in the NHL, If you play in the OHL, your only goal is to play in the NHL. And in Shaun’s case, he was considered an elite prospect, or the best of the best, in the Canadian Hockey League at only age sixteen. 

Unfortunately, Shaun suffered major injuries during his first three years in the OHL, including a broken leg and a torn labrum which both required months of rehab. He was able to play parts of six seasons in Canada and put up great numbers when healthy. What’s worse is that, now age 22, he cannot play hockey for Penn State, or any college in the United States because the NCAA considers the CHL a “professional” league and he technically lost his NCAA eligibility once he signed his contract to play junior hockey in Canada. 

I’ve gotten to know a little bit about Shaun because we’re in the same class and we’re currently working on a group project. If you type “Shaun Bily” into Google, it’s obvious that he’s an extremely talented hockey player. But what I didn’t know is how much of a role music has played in his life and how good his songs are. As a kid, he grew up with a professional studio in his home because his father is a musician. He spent countless hours working on beats and vocals and recorded “Woke Up” in his house. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our norm, and we’ve all had to take precautionary measures as far as social-distancing is concerned. Having the convenience of a recording studio in his home gives him the ability to focus on music. He said he’s always loved music and one of the keys to creating music “is just doing it.”

Many artists try to cater their music towards an audience. Bily reckons that “liking [his] own music,” and not having an audience around him, has become one of the many keys in his new (but old) venture.

He also mentioned that “artists have to have an ability to let go of [the idea of] dogma,” (the opinion of others). When Shaun creates a song, and finally comes to liking it, he releases it. It just that simple for him.

Releasing “Woke Up” showed his ability to like, create and pursue something that can potentially make him money, similar to hockey. But in both cases, I highly doubt that he played hockey or now creates music “for the money.” 

I think Shaun will take a lot from what he’s learned from playing hockey, and apply it to music. In a sense, perfecting either craft is impossible, but continuing to work on something you love to do, doing it with passion, and having the courage to do what most can’t is the reason he’s become elite at multiple activities. 

Originally from Bucks County, Shaun wants to gain a local audience with his first single and see where it takes him. He’s also released a few more snippets of songs on his TikTok and Soundcloud. Aside from being a full-time student, Shaun Bily spends much of his time producing his own vocals and intends on releasing a mixtape in the near future. Now 22, a sophomore, and a student, I’d argue that his potential in music is just as impressive as his hockey accolades. I hope you give “Woke Up” a listen and support our community at Penn State Abington. I’m beyond glad I did. 

You can find his Shaun Bily’s music on Apple Music, Spotify and all other major streaming platforms.

(Photo Credits: Shaun Bily)