Skip to main content

Maverick Ad

Home

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Cover Stories
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Legacy Awards
  • Past Covers
  • Weekly Archive
Alt. Rockers SHALE Captures Raw Anxiety In "Shake" And Announce B.C. Tour

Breadcrumb

  • Home
  • Alt. Rockers SHALE Captures Raw Anxiety In "Shake" And Announce B.C. Tour
Shale
Fri Jul 14, 2023
Cashbox Canada

Anxiety is a mental health issue that can make you feel very vulnerable. When you feel this fragile, it can be hard to talk about to your loved ones or anyone who hasn't experienced it. Victoria, BC-based alt.rockers Shale captures the rawness of anxiety in their new single "Shake", along with new British Columbia dates below. Check it out on YouTube here:

The song opens with strong riffs from guitarist Adam Baines before vocalist Kiarra O'Connor comes in with haunting vocals that are reminiscent of ‘90s female vocalists such as Tori Amos and Alanis Morrisette. The first verse demonstrates how sensitive people with anxiety feel, physically and emotionally.

"Shake
I’m shaky babe
Don't touch me there
Don’t feel my pain
Tilting ache
Rather waste my day
Blinking bare
Stern stare"

The vulnerability in the first verse is heightened by the chorus, which implies that they don't want to admit that they are hurting. They feel stuck, because they want to give up the facade of being okay but they also don't want to hurt more.

Yet the next two verses seem to show an internal battle of being torn between staying stuck, giving up, and hoping for something better. The contrast is demonstrated by O' Connor's soft bleak sounding vocals in the second verse that grow braver by the third verse. These verses are given an even greater emotional impact with a brief guitar solo that follows.

In fact, the band confirms the song is about anxiety, specifically O' Connor's experiences. "The song tackles emotional overload and anxiety from my first year at university. The song digs deep into the emotional tapestry of overwhelm vs commitment, giving up vs pushing through."

Without firsthand experience with anxiety or knowing the story behind this song, one might think it was about a break up. Given that first year university stress is a subject rarely explored in songs, this particular track shines especially bright.

Finally, a notable feature about this track is that it was mixed by Darrell Thorp and mastered by Brian Lucey. Thorp is known for his work on The Foo Fighters recent album, while Lucey is known for his work with the bands The Black Keys and Cage The Elephant.

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/3LuGAa5whfoHcwcf7AaLks

Shale formed in 2019 when drummer Michael Voytash and keyboardist Rowan Hensley served as theater technicians at Edward Milne Community School for a production of Grease and saw O’Connor’s leading lady performance of Sandy.

After recording their first EP Wither, they released their first single "To The Ground" in 2022. It would be streamed more than 4,000 times in five days. They would soon follow that with three more singles, "Get Lost", "Held Up', and "Wither". The single "Get Lost" would be accompanied by a black and red music video that serves to heighten the somber and bittersweet mood. 

Only one year after the release of their debut EP “Wither”, they have made a global impression, streaming to fans in over 60 countries and racking up over 40,000 streams. Now, the cathartic moodiness from Wither has carried over to their most recent single "Shake", which signals the band's newfound hope.

Shale Canadian Dates:
July 2: Laketown Shakedown, Lake Cowichan, BC
July 13: Upstairs Cabaret, Victoria BC, with Base Collective & Sarah Osborne
July 15: 39 Days of July Festival in Duncan, BC
July 16: FiLoMi Days Festival in Port Hardy, BC
July 21: Capital Ballroom, Victoria BC, with Quadra Sound
July 22: Sookapalooza Festival, Sooke BC
August 5: Harmony Arts Festival, Vancouver BC
August 24 - Sept 2: BC tour with Cold Fame:
August 24 - Fox Cabaret, Vancouver BC
August 25 - TBD, Kelowna or Kamloops BC
August 26 - Riot on the Roof Festival, Vernon BC
August 27 - Mountainview Brewing, Hope BC
August 29 - The Maq Pub, Tofino BC
August 30 - The Terminal, Nanaimo BC
August 31 - Rainbow Room, Port Alberni BC
September 1 - Lucky Bar, Victoria BC
September 2 - Sooke Music Festival, Sooke BC

weareshale.com

Reviews
Album
Shale
Month: Jul 2022
Autopilot Canadian Rockers Autopilot Unleash Their Take on The Cure’s “In Between Days”…
Brass Camel Mash Genres with Whirling Maelstrom of Sound Across Debut Single, “Easy” Brass Camel Mash Genres with Whirling Maelstrom of Sound Across Debut Single, “…
Catia Dignard Toronto Jazz-Folk Songstress Catia Dignard Shares a Personal and Poignant…
Craymo Craymo Delivers Reggaeton Remix Of Hit Single, “One Love One World (We Are…
DADBOD Award-Winning Canadian Artist, Writer, Producer & Director Brooke Burgess…
Grant Boyer Alt-Rocker Grant Boyer Releases a Fun, Grungy New Single “Alarm Bells (Never…
Jae Ordon New York Jazz-Folk Artist Jae Ordon Muses on Love, Loss and Time’s Passing…
Mike Bern Award-Winning Indigenous Artist Mike Bern Taps Heartwarming Joy When…
Tayler Lynn Tayler Lynn Captures the Breathtaking Beauty of Freefalling Into Love on “Play It…
The Scary Loud Power-Pop Rockers The Scary Loud Go Anti-Establishment with Electrifying “No…
Whiskey Blind Country Rockers Whiskey Blind Spin a Tale of Love with New “She Means The Most to Me”
Sonny Hendrixx Hip Hop Artist Sonny Hendrixx Collaborates With Daxflow On Direct New Single, “…
Zach Oliver Alt-Pop Artist Zach Oliver Releases Summer Single “Coat Check” In Time For…
Lozen - Up Close and Personal Alvia Isabella Nadeau Photography Singer/Songwriter Lozen Debuts Sugary Summer Love Anthem In Her New Single…
Fox Fagan Alt-Indie Darling Fox Fagan Says “Let’s Get Lost” with Release of New Single

Pagination

  • First page « First
  • Previous page ‹ Previous
  • …
  • Page 73
  • Page 74
  • Page 75
  • Page 76
  • Current page 77
  • Page 78
  • Page 79
  • Page 80
  • Page 81
  • …
  • Next page Next ›
  • Last page Last »

CEO/PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF
SANDY GRAHAM

email:sandygrahamemg@gmail.com 

Canadian Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Don Graham
email: dongrahamwriter@gmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Lisa Hartt
email: lisahartt87@hotmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada 
Michael Williams
email: greydread@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

International Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Malin Osth
email: malin@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Jonas Tancred
email: jonas@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - USA
Rob Durkee 
email: rockster2746@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Web Developer/Technical Support
Chris Wardman

email: info@chriswardman.com
website: chriswardman.com

Cashbox Cover Design and Graphic Artist
Jain McMillan

email: jainmcmillan@gmail.com

Contributing Photographer 
Tracey Savein - South Paw Productions
southpawproductions@rogers.com

 

 

 

Footer menu

  • Home
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Archive
  • Issue Archive
  • Past Covers