Twin Shadow

Twin Shadow
Twin Shadow "Old Love/New Love" 2013
Background information
Birth name	George Lewis Jr.
Born	1983 (age 30–31) Dominican Republic
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.

History

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.

In 2012, Lewis recorded as the voice of the host on Grand Theft Auto V's "Radio Mirror Park" radio station, written by Rockstar Games (North).

Forget (2010)

Forget has also been described as "steeped in 1980s new wave",^[1] "building from streaks of haunting synth textures",^[6] having "sophisticated melodies", "R&B intimacy", and "poetic lyrics",^[7] and "hazily new wave-tinged pop".^[8]

Confess (2012)

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.^[9] 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.^[10] 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."^[11]

Tours

Twin Shadow played Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2011, Sasquatch Music Festival in May 2011 and May 2013, 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

• "Sleepless" (November 11, 2013): Australian beatmakerFlume released a four-disc deluxe edition of his self-titled debut album. One of the discs is a rap mixtape which features "Sleepless," a track by Twin Shadow and Jezzabell Doran.^[12]

• "Edge" (October 2013) is a song featured on the UK deluxe edition of Los Angeles guitar-pop trio Haim's excellent new album Days Are Gone the song is co-written by George Lewis Jr., aka Twin Shadow.^[13]

• "Hex Girlfriend" (March 2012): A Twin Shadow Remix of Neon Indian's song, "Hex Girlfriend^[14]

• "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.^[15]

• "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.^[16]
• 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.^[17]

Writing

Lewis has written a novel called The Night of the Silver Sun.^[18]

Discography

Studio albums

• Forget (2010)
• Confess (2012)

Singles and EPs

• "Changes"^[19]
• "The One" (Live on KCRW)^[20]
• "Old Love/New Love"(featured track on Grand Theft Auto V) ^[21]

Remixes

• Surfer Blood - Floating Vibes (Twin Shadow Remix)
• N.E.R.D. Feat Daft Punk - Hypnotize Remix (Twin Shadow Remix)
• Gypsy & The Cat - Jona Vark Remix (Twin Shadow Remix)
• Bear In Heaven - Lovesick Teenagers (Twin Shadow Remix)
• Oh Land - White Nights (Twin Shadow Remix)
• Lady Gaga - Born This Way (Twin Shadow Remix)
• MS MR - Hurricane (Twin Shadow Remix)
• Hex Girlfriend (Twin Shadow Remix)
• See You Hurry (Twin Shadow Remix)
• Hooray For Earth - "Surrounded By Your Friends (Twin Shadow Remix)
• Sky Ferreira – Everything Is Embarrassing (Twin Shadow Remix)
• SKATERS - Deadbolt (Twin Shadow Remix)

Covers

In 2013, Twin Shadow launched the UNDER THE CVRS series in which he covers requested songs from various artists.

• "Not in Love" (10cc cover) August 2013^[22]
• "I'm on Fire" (Bruce Springsteen cover) September 2013^[23]
• "Silent All These Years" (Tori Amos cover) September 2013^[24]
• "Perfect Day" (Lou Reed cover) October 2013^[25]
• "With or Without You" (U2 cover)
• "Cupid" (112 cover)

Filmography

• Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Episode #1.435 (2011) (writer: "Castles in the Snow" / performer: "Castles in the Snow")

As himself – musical guest^[26]

References

External links

• Official website