Shadow Child Releases DNA EP
Renowned UK DJ and producer Shadow Child today releases his new EP DNA via London Records – a five track collection that sees the groundbreaking artist reconnecting with the sounds that first inspired him. Blending acid house, breakbeats and rave influences with a contemporary production style, the project channels decades of dancefloor experience into some of his most direct and club-focused music to date.
Featuring lead single “Falle Acid” with acclaimed Guinean vocalist Falle Nioke – whose previous collaborators include Joe Goddard, Ghost Culture, Barry Can’t Swim and sir Was – DNA also sees Shadow Child join forces with acclaimed Manchester electronic trio Delphic on the EP’s focus track, “Holding Back,” a collaboration that reflects his own family roots in the city. Both songs are accompanied by live performance videos filmed at London’s legendary nightclub fabric. You can watch “Falle Acid” now, with “Holding Back” coming soon.
DNA has already earned strong early support from BBC Radio 6 Music in the UK, including a mix broadcast on New Music Fix Daily last night, as well as BBC Radio 1, Point Blank FM and Rinse FM. Reflecting on the project, Shadow Child says, “The DNA EP in part draws from my connection with Manchester, bringing together acid house, rave and much more. The EP is the precursor to a wider body of work coming in the following months and provides club tracks with instrumental excursions that I’m so happy with.”
With his recent single releases, Shadow Child has garnered widespread support from leading tastemakers and key figures across the global electronic scene including Gilles Peterson, Pete Tong, Luke Una, Benji B, Sherelle, Yotto, Groove Armada, Vintage Culture, Horse Meat Disco, Danny Howard, Charlie Tee, Claptone, Arielle Free, Clash Magazine and Defected.
Coming to prominence in the early 2000s with his bass-driven electro house music as Dave Spoon, Shadow Child has toured the world with residencies at Cream in Ibiza and with BBC Radio 1, as well as producing remixes for the likes of the Pet Shop Boys and Dizzee Rascal and working with Pete Tong. In 2012, he retired the Dave Spoon moniker and reestablished himself as Shadow Child, casting out anew to deliver a self-titled EP of thumping deep house that was on heavy rotation with the likes of tastemakers Eats Everything, Richie Hawtin and TEED.
As Shadow Child, he has since carved out a distinct niche in bass-quaking records that reference the rave music of his ‘90s upbringing coupled with earworming vocal samples. His head-nodding track “23” was featured on Flying Lotus’ radio station on Grand Theft Auto V, while he has also set up his own record label Food Music and released euphoric dancefloor pop with Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears and producer Doorlyas Lovequest, all while continuing to fill dancefloors across the globe.
Speaking on the evolution of his sound – heard in today’s single and set to develop across future releases – Shadow Child reflects: “I came out of the pandemic questioning my place in the dance music world and where I wanted to go next. I was inspired by the lo-fi explosion of artists a few years back like Mall Grab and DJ Seinfeld and it made me go back to my roots, exploring the raw, stripped back sound of the jungle and rave tunes I grew up with.”
Now entering a new chapter with London Records, Shadow Child joins their frontline roster alongside emerging artists Alewya and Joalin, while the label continues to release new music from pioneering acts like Orbital and Goldie.
He’s also collaborating with renowned British graphic artist and video director Jimmy Turrell, known for his work with Beck, Kasabian, The Chemical Brothers, The Rolling Stones and the estates of Elvis and Aretha Franklin.
Right now, Shadow Child stands at a personal and artistic peak. Stay tuned for much more new music and news of his debut solo album to follow very soon.
Photo Credit: Anna Francesca Jennings