HER SHADOW CROWN answer five questions that unpack the making of their debut album OBSCURA
Can you introduce yourselves? How long have you all been playing together as “Her Shadow Crown”?
We are a a Melbourne based project led by myself on vocals and songwriting, and Alex on guitar and production.
The idea for Her Shadow Crown first began in 2018, although we have been making music together for many years before.
Since Her Shadow Crown, we have been gradually developing a shared creative language through writing and recording at home.
The project has taken on a much clearer identity more recently through the creation of our debut album, Obscura, which brought together the sound, atmosphere and ideas we had been shaping over time.
You released your debut album OBSCURA earlier this year. Where did you record it and how was the studio process together?
Obscura was recorded in Alex’s studio. I spent about a year developing the initial material at home in small pockets of time, using piano, guitar and a few small gadgets as writing tools.
We then spent around three months shaping the arrangements together and discussing the atmosphere we wanted each song to create. We did not always agree, but we approached those differences calmly and made thoughtful compromises.
The final month was spent recording vocals and instruments, followed by Alex completing the mixing and mastering.
I know you’re not supposed to have favourites, but is there a song that stands out for you off this album? Do you have a favourite?
We genuinely love every song on the album, although Alex and I have different favourites. Alex is especially drawn to “All That I Want” for its upbeat rhythm and the playful character of the synths. He also loves the contrast in melody and emotion between the two main sections of “The Second Planet.” My favourites are “May” and “Playground Broken Heart,” both of which carry a sense of vintage longing that I really love. I’m also very fond of the opening intro, “Strawberry Memories,” and the interlude, “Alter Ego.”
You use a blend of 60s psychedelic pop with 80s Brit-pop influences in your music. How do you balance style with creating something that feels like your own?
We wanted the album to have a consistent atmosphere and identity from beginning to end, even though each song has its own slightly different focus. We tried to shape them into one cohesive emotional and sonic world.
We do listen to a lot of 60s psychedelic pop and 80s British music, so those influences naturally find their way into what we make. However, that description came afterwards, as a way of helping listeners quickly understand where our music might sit.
While writing, we were simply following the sounds, melodies and moods that felt natural to us.
What’s coming up next for the band? Any shows in the near future?
Our vinyl edition of Obscura is currently in production and should be available around the end of August this year. We are naturally quite shy people, and we probably feel most at home writing and making music together in the studio.
That said, we are always happy when the right opportunity to perform comes along, and we would love to play more shows in the future.
You can hear HER SHADOW CROWN debut album OBSCURA on all streaming platforms. This is an I Don’t Blame You Media interview.
