Digging in the Qrates with Shadows and Mirrors
Digging in the Qrates is a series featuring the artist and the 5 records that made them who they are today.
Shadows and Mirrors is a cutting-edge dark synthwave duo inspired by the sounds of 1980’s and 1990’s music, incorporating retro synths and pop vocal attitude revealing a layered vintage feel to each track. Created in January of 2015 as a solo project by Brian Diamond, in 2017 he expanded the sound of the group with the addition of Mali Bonavia on vocals. Musically Brian began with alternative and indie rock/grunge influences but after a period of time away from the music scene, he decided to create an electronic project that would come to be named “Shadows & Mirrors.” His first effort The Dangerous EP was released 8 months later after being signed to Nub Country Records (UK).
2016 saw their first formal LP release with ARIA. Mastered by Barry Grint at Alchemy in London, ARIA was produced not only for digital but also on 180G vinyl at Canada Boy Records. The single, “I Don’t Mind” became what would be the introductory song for many fans, gaining airplay around the world. It became the #17 overall track played in 2016 on Artefaktor Radio in Mexico City, which has listeners in over 92 countries. The video for “I Don’t Mind” has also garnered some attention and you can view it below.
2017 finds Shadows and Mirrors releasing their 3rd album titled “Summerland” a concept album loosely based on the events surrounding Los Angeles, California in the summer of 1985
Record #1 — What’s the first record you ever bought?
Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath Vol 4
Originally I purchased this at a local shop, but through the years I’ve accumulated several reissues as well. A remastered version, a 180G yellow variant, and even a translucent clear copy that sounds quite amazing. Like most people when I first heard Sabbath it was those first 2 records, but over time I realized the middle 3 albums, Volume 4, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, and Sabotage really stood out for me. They had longer more intricate solos, the lyrics were complex, and in general the albums had themes that stretched on for an hour, some songs even would meld together. At times you wouldn’t know when one song ended and the other began. These weren’t just radio songs, they were writing full musical pieces from beginning to end. Telling a story in a way that I hadn’t heard before. Other bands of the era were doing the same, Pink Floyd, David Bowie even Alice Cooper. but Sabbath always rang true for me.
Record #2 — What’s the last record you bought?
FM-84 — Atlas
As is somewhat common now I order a lot of records online. Not only is it more convenient, but in terms of this particular pressing, it was the only way to acquire it. I’ve been getting more and more into electronic music over the last 4–5 years and even more so into a sub-genre called “Synthwave”. In a nutshell it’s very 80’s themed, with a lot of retro influence in terms of arrangement and delivery. Some artists are completely instrumental and others incorporate lyrics, but if you have yet to check out FM-84 I invite you to give “Atlas” a spin. It’s very much a record almost everyone in the scene loves not only for the production value but the quality of the vocal. Check out Ollie Wride’s amazing melody on the song “Running in the Night” and soon after it will be the only genre of music you’re interested in listening to. Synthwave is that good!
Record #3 — Your all time favorite record?
Nine Inch Nails – Pretty Hate Machine
How does one even answer this, my favorite record changes every year or half year I think! But I am going to go with an all-timer. One that just doesn’t get old, ever. Pretty Hate Machine bridged a gap for me and turned me into a fan of not just rock and metal but also of electronic music, which opened me up to so many other bands I never would have been into like Front 242, Depeche Mode, New Order, and so many more. I originally had this on cd and would burn it onto a tape which had Nirvana’s Nevermind on side B. I had to buy it as one of my first purchases when I started collecting records, and I own the original pressing and the remastered 180g repress. Every song is good, there’s no skipping. There’s so much raw emotion coming from the vocal delivery and the amazing thing about that is it doesn’t overpower what’s going on musically. Some of the most memorable parts of the album for me are Kinda I Want To and the track The Only Time. There are so many great songs though so it’s difficult to just say what makes this one unique but I think it’s a very sexually-charged album that has a hint of danger and revenge. I like that. Revenge has staying power.
Record #4 — Other favorite records?
Depeche Mode – Violator
Again this was a situation because of the era that I grew up in where I first owned this on cd and had to purchase it when I bought my turntable and decided to start collecting vinyl. I have the original pressing and it sounds fantastic. Dave Gahan’s lyrics on this album and the songwriting in general are particularly good, and I believe the album peaks at track 6 “Enjoy the Silence” which is a favorite track of mine. I later learned this song started out as a slow ballad but at the suggestion of Alan Wilder it became a pulsing synthpop masterpiece. Even though I really like almost all of their releases the production value on this record is simply incredible. You could tell they were at the top of their game when this record came out in 1990.
Record #5 — Other favorite records?
Radiohead - OK Computer
Back when this came out in 1997 I was again listening on cd exclusively but now own the original UK pressing and the recently released expanded blue 3LP edition titled OKNOTOK. There’s really no way to accurately describe the feeling one gets from listening to this album front to back. It has a sort of uncomfortable, almost uneasiness to the vocal delivery. It seems as if at any time Thom Yorke could just snap. His words are full of wild energy, biting sarcasm, and in one word: Brilliant. The songs are melodic, but in an almost out of tune and out of time way. Climbing the Walls and Paranoid Android are the best examples. The musicianship of the guitars and electronic become one symphony and meld perfectly in balance. This was very much a transition record for the band and I believe it’s far and away their most original work, not only for it’s unique songwriting but in it’s general concept. It’s almost likes he means to have a comma there in the title, “OK, computer.” As if he gives in to the technology, and if that was what he was trying to say, he was dead on.
What’s your favorite record store and why?
Recently because of the fact that my tastes have changed in such a way that most of the new releases I want are very limited editions, Discogs tends to be my go to place if I miss out on a particular pressing (about 90% of the music I buy is Synthwave and sold out in a day or two), I can usually pay a little more and find it here.
