We Speak Music
Phil Mac releases Halloween hip-hop banger ‘Shiftin’
In Phil Mac’s insane new video for new banger ‘Shiftin’, which is set for release on 23rd Oct, a joker inspired dark clown represents the Bristol rapper’s demons, addictions, depressions and fears. Teased at the end of his last video for ‘Follow’, where the clown appeared in a crowd at the very end, the video deals with how the dark side of ourselves may always be hiding in the shadows, whilst we strive to better ourselves in life. The track is out now via Stray Cat Records.
“Shiftin is a track I wrote a little while back, around a time which was involving me going thru a lot of pain and growth thru self reflection, breakdown in relationships, drink and drug abuse”, explains Phil. “I’ve also been wanting to better myself but also I find it hard scratching the surface of who I am as a person, and how I struggle with just living life, but I’ve always been striving to better myself and face up to some of the difficulties I face in order to overcome and learn about myself, acknowledging setbacks and mistakes”, he further reveals.
The heavy hitting track twists with menacing paranoid moods as Phil spits tightly wound rhymes about his trials and tribulations battling to shake free and find a way through his pain. CMHDVisuals created the ‘Shiftin’ video, which features Milo Mooney in the role of the dark clown, Alex Greenwood as an ex-girlfriend and Phil up-front laying down his fierce bars, with Phil and the clown coming together at the end of the video on the Christmas steps to represent acknowledgment of the darkness. It’s a fun eerie horror show in time for Halloween that also portrays some of the real darkness that Phil has been through and how he’s trying to see that pain is a gift:
“I’ll always continue to seek freedom from my demons, but I’ll also be accepting that they are there. I know this journey of life we are all on is a path of ups and down. Challenges will always present themselves and life will not always be plain sailing, this track reminds me of that, life is always moving, but I’ve also realised… even when it doesn’t seem like it, pain can be a gift, and there is always a lot to learn from the difficulties we face in life. We are always Shiftin!!”.
Phil Mac plays ‘Sober Spaces’ in Bristol on 9th November.
‘Shiftin’ is out 16th October via Stray Cat Records.
‘Shiftin’ video is out 23rd October.
London-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Waz-u returns with his second album, Preludes: Dusk Psalms, set for release on 16 May 2025 via independent label Biodiversity. The 15-track record further refines the artistic depth of his debut, blending electronic textures and classical compositional techniques in an intricate, immersive listening experience.
Ahead of the album release, Waz-u is dropping an exclusive vocal version of ‘Vermillion: G Major’ from the album, accompanied by its original instrumental version. ‘Vermillion’ with Lilyg will be released on 18 April 2025, evoking intimate indie-folk and pop and follows the release of a vocal version of ‘Lament’ with Tom Norrington. ‘The singles are a way to give a voice to the atmosphere of the record and to lyrically encapsulate some of the themes explored,’ explains Waz-u. ‘Lily and Tom are good friends of mine and have both been listening to early iterations of these preludes – it felt right to involve them directly on this record.’
‘Preludes: Dusk Psalms’ marks a new branch of Waz-u’s emerging sound, guided by the duality of tradition and innovation. Combining his musical roots in early ‘90s dub techno and classical music, the album weaves carefully layered synthesizers and electronics to evoke the ambience of sacred music — from the gentle timbres of a choir or an organ to the quiet, open, and reverberating spaces of a church. Also featured throughout the album is experimental musician G9 LUV, who creates textures and drones by bowing his bass guitar, resulting in cello-like sounds. The release follows Waz-u’s 2024 debut LP, Prayer For Dawn, which merged dub, techno, and electronica in an exploration of the ritualistic traditions associated with both organized religion and dance.
Bringing the album’s themes to life, Waz-u will celebrate the release of Preludes: Dusk Psalms with a special performance at Our Holy Redeemer in Clerkenwell, London on 14 May 2025. Set against the church’s resonant acoustics, the event will feature live performance arrangements, including a choir, with further details to be announced soon.
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