- @TwoDaff
Silence/Golden - Nick Shane
Updated: May 17, 2023
By Daffs aka @TwoDaff
Nick Shane is a UK Mod/Punk/Indie singer-songwriter based in Scotland. His album ‘Wired to the Moon’ (with his band, The 121’s) has already managed to gain over 200k worldwide streams and downloads, with tracks featured on multiple Spotify and New Music playlists and radio stations worldwide. Throughout 2020-22, Nick also released widely regarded solo tracks such as ‘Cloudy Monday’, ‘Youth and the Young’, and ‘Stranger Times'. (See Below)
Nick has been part of the Scottish music scene for a number of years with his extensive back catalogue, ranging from acoustic/soulful/singer-songwriter numbers, to heavy-mod/grunge chaotically psychedelic dynamics, while also being heavily involved in LGBT+ Rights Activism over the past ten years, leading to him being awarded Outstanding Contribution to Music & LGBT Rights at Scotland’s very first Rainbow Awards in 2015.
Nick is on Reaction Management’s Roster and represents a number of clothing brands such as Madcap, Atom Retro, Merc 1967, Sixty-Six Clothing, Mod Shoes, Ace Face and SubKulture.
Due for release on the 19th May ‘Silence/Golden' which is (In his words) “a blissful Introspection of my 2020s so far” and contains five tracks spanning this period.
Rich and slick melodic guitars
From the get go you are hit with velvety tones, rich and slick melodic guitars with added layers coming from the keys. Nick delivers the opening lines with emotion in an almost moody Weller – esque style. The guitar leads are melodic and with addition of haunting flutes adding to the emotional content of that period (Lockdown) and gives a real complexity to the track.
A glorious Sitar that swirls and embellishes the acoustic
Opening with a glorious acoustic strummed with an intensity that sets up the track for Nicks fantastic vocal. There is a hint of the east with Paul ‘Lefty’ Wright adding a glorious Sitar that swirls and embellishes the acoustic. Backing vocals from Jen Culross give an added flair, contrasting the deep rasping tone of Nick with a mournful tone. It’s a great blend. The track rolls, and tumbles in a ‘Working class hero’ kind of way. One of my favourite tracks.
An East meets West vibe
Another collaboration with Lefty and Jen, and another acoustic track and a B-side to Cloudy Monday. Again, there is an east meets West vibe, as with the previous track it fuses perfectly, Nick has a distinct voice and each track highlights this. The lyricism and musicianship speaks for itself. It gets in your head and stays put. There is a distinct yearning in the vocal, an emotion embedded in sentiment yet it’s a delight to hear.
An emotion embedded in sentiment
Complete the EP, again both tracks are acoustic tracks. Beautifully played with glorious vocals. Each track on this EP showcases sensitivity, emotion and above all the accomplished musicianship that Nick displays. Skilled song writing, melodic guitars and a passionate, powerful vocal. Every track will strike home with someone, delivered in a unique style. You won’t find any hard driven riffs and pounding drums, its just glorious song writing, produced and delivered with an air of skill and oozing class.
Melodic guitars and a passionate, powerful vocal
He draws on a myriad of influences and styles, fuses them and brings out a distinct sound, you hear elements of the sixty’s psychedelia, hints of Lennon and Weller, these are brought forward into the modern day with a relevance that will be interpreted by different people in different ways. Its a journey through the 2020's...so far...
Glorious song writing
Nick is part way through a tour of HMV shops in Scotland, so get out and see him, I will be when he hits Inverness. I am really looking forward to catching him live. The EP will be available on all the usual streaming platforms from 19th May.
You can find out more here