Twin Shadow

Twin Shadow
Twin Shadow "Old Love/New Love" 2013
Background information
Birth name	George Lewis Jr.
Also known as	Twin Shadow
Born	1983 (age 31–32) Dominican Republic
Origin	Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York
Genres	Indie pop new wave[1] synthpop[2] chillwave[3]
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Warner Bros. Records 4AD Terrible Records
Website	twinshadow.net

George Lewis Jr. (born 1983), better known by his stage name Twin Shadow, is a Dominican-American singer, producer and writer, based out of Brooklyn, New York. He has released one novel and three albums: Forget (2010), Confess (2012) and Eclipse (2015).

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.^[2] Twin Shadow was the Rolling Stone Band of the Week on October 7, 2010.^[6]

In 2013, Lewis appeared in the video game Grand Theft Auto V as a DJ for the Radio Mirror Park radio station.^[7]

On April 17th, 2015 Twin Shadow and his band and crew were involved in a tour bus crash.^[8] Both driver John Crawford and Twin Shadow drummer Andy Bauer remain hospitalized, in serious condition. George Lewis Jr. will be undergoing reconstructive hand surgery.

Forget (2010)

Forget has also been described as "steeped in 1980s new wave",^[1] "building from streaks of haunting synth textures",^[9] having "sophisticated melodies", "R&B intimacy", and "poetic lyrics",^[10] and "hazily new wave-tinged pop".^[11]

Confess (2012)

In 2012, the follow-up album, Confess, produced by Lewis himself, was released. Lewis gained inspiration for the album after being involved in a motorcycle accident in Boston.^[12] 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.^[13] 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."^[14]

Eclipse (2015)

After criticising his own work for being too elitist,^[15] Lewis set out to create a more approachable album;^[16] his first with a major record label, Warner Music. Carl Wilson of Billboard Magazine notes that Twin Shadow has left behind much of his "foggy layers of synths and drum machines" reminiscent of the likes of Depeche Mode and Simple Minds in favor of a more contemporary sound.^[15] Eclipse is also noted for Lewis' almost complete departure from guitar playing, a conscious decision according to a Pitchfork interview in January, 2015.^[17]

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. 2014 sees him touring with his "Eclipse Tour", that includes the international festival circuit before concluding in North America.^[18]

Collaborations

• On the limited edition version of Twin Shadow's Forget, there's a collaboration with Hooray for Earth called "A Place We Like".^[19]
• Twin Shadow remixed Lady Gaga's "Born This Way".^[20]
• A Twin Shadow remix of Neon Indian's "Psychic Chasms" appears on that band's Mind Ctrl: Psychic Chasms Possessed.
• A Twin Shadow remix of Neon Indian's "Hex Girlfriend" appears on that band's ERRATA ANEX EP.^[21]
• The iTunes Store edition of Haim's Days Are Gone includes the bonus track "Edge", a song co-written by Lewis.^[22]
• Flume released a mixtape as part of the deluxe edition of his self-titled album. Twin Shadow was featured on the track "Sleepless".^[23]
• Twin Shadow sings lead on “Lost You”, an anthemic track from the Canadian festival-dance producers Zeds Dead^[24]
• Twin Shadow and D’Angelo Lacy collaborated with Wrestlers for single “Say Anything” which was released on Record Store Day (April 19, 2014) on a Red Bull Sound Select limited edition split 7″.^[25]
• Twin Shadow was featured on Big Data's track "Perfect Holiday" from their debut album 2.0.^[26]

Writing

Lewis has written a novel called The Night of the Silver Sun.^[27]

Discography

Studio albums

• Forget (2010)
• Confess (2012)
• Eclipse (2015)

Singles and EPs

• "Changes"^[28]
• "Five Seconds"
• "The One" (Live on KCRW)^[29]
• "Old Love/New Love"^[30]
• "To the Top" (released April 15, 2014)
• "Turn Me Up"

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)
• Wim - 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.

• "I'm Not in Love" (10cc cover) August 2013^[31]
• "I'm on Fire" (Bruce Springsteen cover) September 2013^[32]
• "Silent All These Years" (Tori Amos cover) September 2013^[33]
• "Perfect Day" (Lou Reed cover) October 2013^[34]
• "With or Without You" (U2 cover)
• "Cupid" (112 cover)
• "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (cover of The Smiths song)

Television

• Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

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

As himself – musical guest^[35]

• Conan

Episode #578 (Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014) (song performed: "To The Top")

As himself – musical guest^{[36][37][38][39]}

• Late Show with David Letterman

Season 22 Episode #27 (Tuesday, February 17, 2015) (song performed:"Turn Me Up")

As himself – musical guest^[40]

References

External links

• Official website

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