Twin Shadow

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Twin Shadow
Twin Shadow.jpg
Twin Shadow at Paradise, Boston, October 6 2011
Background information
Birth name George Lewis Jr.
Origin Bushwick, Brooklyn, USA
Genres New Wave,[1] chillwave[2] synthpop[3]
Years active 2000–present
Labels Terrible Records / 4AD
Website twinshadow.net

Twin Shadow is the stage name of American musician George Lewis Jr.

Contents

History [edit]

Lewis was born in 1983[4] in the Dominican Republic and raised in Florida. Lewis's first exposure to music started by singing in his church choir.[5] While growing up, Lewis listened to punk music, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Boyz II Men, Keith Sweat, and Bobby Brown.[5] Around 2000, he moved to Boston and started the band Mad Man Films alongside Joseph Ciampini (drums) (of Hooray For Earth), and Zak Longo (bass) of Before Lazers. Mad Man Films released two records independently. In 2006, not satisfied with recording music for theatre and films, Lewis moved to Brooklyn, NY and started the Twin Shadow project.[3] Twin Shadow was the Rolling Stone Band of the Week on October 7, 2010.

Forget (2010) [edit]

"In spite of being lumped in with bedroom-bound '80s obsessives like Toro y Moi and Washed Out, Dominican-born George Lewis Jr., a.k.a. Twin Shadow, distinguishes himself on his debut album, Forget, with pungent synthesizer and crooning vocals that ride atop his songs instead of settling, shoegaze-like, below the instrumentation. Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear handled production in addition to signing Twin Shadow to his Terrible Records label, so he's due some credit for the record's gloomy, idiosyncratic soundbank and new-wave charms. Whether with the rumble-strip drone and steam-pipe hiss of the standout track 'Castles in the Snow' or the Morrissey impression on 'Slow', Twin Shadow deftly sidesteps the major pitfall of similar acts: pleasant but undifferentiated songwriting that privileges mood over memorability. Album title be damned, Forget is crowded with turns that stick to the synapses, like the black-light beach-party of 'Tyrant Destroyed' and the stricken refrain of 'Does your heart still beat?' on 'Tether Beat'. The subject matter is familiar enough, dealing as it does with the joys of summer and sweetly aching melancholia, but Twin Shadow manages to stand out in a cluttered genre thanks to world-beating, danceable hooks and a surfeit of style."[6] Forget has also been described as "steeped in 1980s new wave",[1] "building from streaks of haunting synth textures",[7] having "sophisticated melodies", "R&B intimacy", and "poetic lyrics",[8] and "hazily new wave-tinged pop".[9]

Confess (2012) [edit]

In 2012, the follow-up album, Confess, produced by Lewis himself, was released. Lewis gained inspiration for the album after experiencing a motorcycle accident in Boston.[10] Two of the album's songs, "Five Seconds" and "Patient", were transformed into a music video saga which drew inspiration from Lewis's novel Night of the Silver Sun.[11] The A.V. Club described the album as "filled with Morrissey-esque yelps and Human League-worthy choruses, [...] Twin Shadow manages to digest his influences rather than simply replicate them. Confess retains the humid fog that saturated Forget, but the instrumentation is brighter, louder, and sharper. Synthesizers punch through the atmosphere, and Lewis' exquisite croon floats above it all."[12]

Tours [edit]

Twin Shadow played Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2011, Sasquatch Music Festival in May 2011, San Miguel Primavera Sound in May 2011 and both Pitchfork Music Festival and Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in June 2011. He supported Florence and the Machine at certain performances during their 2011 U.S. Tour.

Twin Shadow at Lincoln Hall in Chicago, August 5, 2012

Collaborations [edit]

  • "Hex Girlfriend" (March 2012): A Twin Shadow Remix of Neon Indian's song, "Hex Girlfriend[13]
  • "Psychic Chasms" (September 28, 2010): Neon Indian released a remixed version of "Psychic Chasms", called "Mind Ctrl: Psychic Chasms Possessed". Twin Shadow remixed the song titled "Psychic Chasms", which is listed as track 19 on the album.[14]
  • "A Place We Like" is from like-minded pop revivalists Twin Shadow and Hooray for Earth. Released as a bonus track with a limited edition version of Twin Shadow's BNM'd Forget, "A Place" was written by Hooray For Earth and performed by both artists, with Twin Shadow contributing vocals and guitar.[15]
  • Pretty Much Amazing points out that new wave revivalist Twin Shadow has remixed Lady Gaga's politically charged single "Born This Way", adding plenty of squelching sounds and rhythmic tics in the process.[16]

Writing [edit]

Lewis has written a novel called The Night of the Silver Sun.[17]

Discography [edit]

Studio albums [edit]

Singles and EPs [edit]

  • "Changes"[18]
  • "The One" (Live on KCRW)[19]

Filmography [edit]

Episode #1.435 (2011) (writer: "Castles in the Snow" / performer: "Castles in the Snow")
As himself – musical guest[20]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b Colville, Liz (4 October 2010). "Twin Shadow: Forget". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2 December 2010. 
  2. ^ http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/forget/
  3. ^ a b http://www.indierockcafe.com/2012/08/concert-photos-twin-shadows-confess-tour-san-francisco/
  4. ^ Bermingham, Finbarr. "Twin Shadow: Born in the 80s". The Skinny. Retrieved 27 September 2012. 
  5. ^ a b //blog.urbanoutfitters.com/features/twin_shadow
  6. ^ http://www.avclub.com/articles/twin-shadow-forget,49568/
  7. ^ Drever, Ryan (18 November 2010). "Twin Shadow - Forget". drownedinsound.com. Retrieved 2 December 2010. 
  8. ^ Berg, Jeffery (22 November 2010). "Twin Shadow – The New New New Wave". Retrieved 2 December 2010. 
  9. ^ Wright, Lisa (12 November 2010). "Twin Shadow - Forget". nme.com. Retrieved 2 December 2010. 
  10. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (5 July 2012). "Twin Shadow – Interview". Retrieved 9 July 2012. 
  11. ^ Minsker, Evan (10 July 2012). "Video: Twin Shadow: "Patient"". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 6 September 2012. 
  12. ^ http://www.avclub.com/articles/twin-shadow-confess,82177/
  13. ^ http://pitchfork.com/news/45625-listen-twin-shadow-remixes-neon-indian/
  14. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/mind-ctrl-psychic-chasms-possessed-mw0002036070
  15. ^ http://pitchfork.com/forkcast/15014-a-place-we-like/
  16. ^ http://pitchfork.com/news/41891-listen-twin-shadow-remixes-lady-gaga/
  17. ^ http://pitchfork.com/news/47366-read-an-excerpt-from-twin-shadows-novel/
  18. ^ http://pitchfork.com/news/44015-listen-to-twin-shadows-new-single/
  19. ^ http://www.4ad.com/releases/21774
  20. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4446382/

External links [edit]

Authority control
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Twin_Shadow&oldid=542600584"