Between Shadows & Balloons with Shadow Show | In Conversation
Written by Kitty Quinn, Photographed by Milan Lazovski, Makeup by Kitty Quinn, Models: Ava East, Kerrigan Pearce, Kate Derringer
MUSIC
10/10/2024
Detroit’s beloved garage-psych power trio, Shadow Show, reemerges like a wonderful daydream with their latest single release. This brand new double A-side 45, Baba Yaga / Spy Balloon à la Rogue Records, perfectly reflects the band’s duality—their sound grounded in the absurdities of real life yet steeped in surrealism. With all members contributing vocals, the band is composed of Ava East on guitar, Kerrigan Pearce on drums, and Kate Derringer on bass. Together, they create a sonic landscape that is as dynamic as it is dreamlike, drawing listeners into their world of hypnotic rhythms and vivid storytelling.
With the release of Baba Yaga / Spy Balloon, Shadow Show takes two very different stories and meshes them together, creating an unexpected yet incredibly fun pairing. As they explain, the track “Baba Yaga” draws on the influence of 1970s Eastern European grooves and the giallo film Baba Yaga by Corrado Farina, which reimagines the Slavic folk legend as a seductive, sinister figure of the night. In contrast, “Spy Balloon” cites some of the band's classic psych-pop influences, stemming from a more current inspiration—the spy balloon hysteria that dominated American media not too long ago. The band approached this strange moment in history with a sense of humor, personifying the balloon to highlight the absurdity of the public frenzy.
Recording these tracks offered the band a chance to explore new sonic territory. In the studio, they layered in textures that would be impossible to replicate live—synthesizers, drum machines, even a flute. “The studio setting is more analytic as far as songwriting and recording experimentation goes,” they explain. However, this doesn’t mean their live shows take a backseat in the creative process. For Shadow Show, performing live is essential for their growth as a band. “Playing live, we learn how to better communicate with each other and our audience,” they say, emphasizing the dynamic exchange that happens on stage. Their live sets may be more stripped down, but they see them as a crucial part of honing their sound, ensuring that the energy captured in the studio translates to the stage.
The decision to pair “Baba Yaga” with “Spy Balloon” on the 45 wasn’t just a matter of convenience—it was intentional, born out of the process of writing the songs together with this release in mind, citing the help of their collaborator Cam Frank. While the two tracks are vastly different in tone and style, they share a certain spirit that binds them. “They’re very different songs but showcase our versatility,” they reflect. This balance between experimentation and cohesion defines much of Shadow Show’s work, as they constantly seek new ways to grow without losing sight of their core identity.
Each member of the trio brings something unique to the table, and though they don’t adhere to strict roles in their songwriting process, there’s a natural chemistry that guides them. “There’s no whole without the sum of the three parts,” they tell me, describing their dynamic as a “power trio of mysterious hue." It’s this sense of teamwork and creative freedom that allows them to craft songs that feel both personal and universally resonant.
In terms of how these two songs fit into the broader narrative of Shadow Show’s body of work, the band views them as a natural evolution from their previous album, Fantasy Now!: "We strive for every release to show our new perspectives and growth as songwriters,” they explain.
When asked about what influenced these songs, the band noted that their “sphere of influence is infinite.” Whether it’s films, books, or just the world around them, Shadow Show is constantly absorbing new ideas and channeling them into their music. They don’t see themselves confined to any one genre, influence, or sound—they’re always looking ahead, ready to evolve with each new project.
Shadow Show delivers two tracks that, while wildly different in inspiration and execution, perfectly encapsulate the spirit of the band. Whether they’re drawing from obscure giallo films or riffing on media hysteria, they approach every song with a sense of curiosity and a desire to explore new creative grounds. These tracks are a testament to their growth, both as individual musicians and as a collective unit, and signal exciting things to come. As they continue to evolve, one thing remains clear: Shadow Show is a band unafraid to dive into the unknown, and their music is all the richer for it.
