Our obsession with Joseph Turner & The Dudes of Hazard seems to grow with every listen. We last featured the exploration of freedom and self-discovery through their cinematic sophomore single, Travelin’ Heart, so naturally we couldn’t wait to feature the follow up, The Shadow Remains.
The track opens with a remarkable tribal feel featuring a rainstick (cabasa / shekere), drone-like throat singing, and textured drums, expanding into an immersive guitar soundscape with a high spiritual quotient.
We are hypnotized and could immediately imagine this being performed at Burning Man, Medicine Festival, or Soul Revolution Festival. An acoustic guitar solo leads us to the lyrics, “Leave the herd, gather your kin, kill the lights, don’t let them in, they arrive like thieves in the night, skin and bone, obsidian eyes…”
In essence, The Shadow Remains serves as a dark, hypnotic journey through the effects of fear and anxiety. It explores how emotional struggles can leave lasting marks. The repetitive rhythms, mantra-like vocals, along with an immersive dark Americana vibe, are intentionally created to bring to life a feeling of being trapped inside a restless mind whilst simultaneously expressing resilience and survival mode.
Rather than a story of defeat, Joseph tells us that it is a reflection on confronting old shadows, and accepting them as part of our past, ergo transforming pain into power and catharsis. We could definitely imagine it in a psychedelic TV show like Nine Perfect Strangers, and PLUR1BUS, or a movie like Sinners.
The production is breathtaking and visceral, but also feels healing, as aligned with the intention of the track. Experiencing these releases from Joseph Turner & The Dudes of Hazard is truly remarkable, and we are grateful to witness an artist creating such profound and unique music.
Speaking on the release, Joseph confesses, “The Shadow Remains was written while looking back on a period of my life when I spent so long in survival mode that I became afraid of the fear itself. I wanted the music to feel the same way, with layered percussion, mantra-like vocals, and brass all circling the same hypnotic rhythm without ever fully settling.”
He continues, “It’s the kind of track that fits naturally into darker indie, modern Americana, and alternative programming, especially where mood and feel matter more than genre lines. Ultimately, it doesn’t ask for attention, it holds it.”
Naturally we are floored, and have added the dimensional and spiritual release to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TRIPPY playlist, whilst we continue to stream A New Moon, and Travelin’ Heart.