We Speak Music

Phil Mac releases Halloween hip-hop banger ‘Shiftin’

Published

2 years ago

October 18, 2024

Don Reed

In Phil Mac’s insane new video for new banger ‘Shiftin’, which is set for release on 23^rd 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 9^th November.

‘Shiftin’ is out 16^th October via Stray Cat Records.

‘Shiftin’ video is out 23^rd October.

We Speak Music

J. Jefferson & Brian Gentile Drops New Single ‘A Red Red Rose’

Published

22 hours ago

August 19, 2026

Philomena Marie

J. Jefferson & Brian Gentile’s ‘A Red Red Rose’ is a haunting introduction to their forthcoming project, combining dark folk, Americana and Scottish storytelling into a deeply emotional listening experience. The song draws inspiration from the spirit of Robert Burns without attempting to simply reproduce his celebrated work. Instead, it takes the themes of enduring love and separation and gives them a fresh contemporary setting.

The atmosphere is one of the track’s greatest strengths. From its lyrical imagery to its spacious musical arrangement, the song feels almost cinematic in its presentation. Photographs, deserted roads and wide open skies become powerful symbols of memory and distance. These details give the listener a strong visual impression while reinforcing the song’s central idea that genuine connection can survive even when people and places are separated.

There is also an impressive balance between intimacy and scale. The songwriting feels personal and vulnerable, but the overall production creates a much larger emotional landscape. Fans of Gregory Alan Isakov, Nick Cave and The White Buffalo may find familiar qualities in the combination of storytelling, darkness and Americana influences, although the duo bring their own perspective to the sound.

As part of ‘Scotland – A Love Letter’. Fourteen Postcards from the Highlands, the single feels particularly meaningful. The wider project looks beyond conventional travel imagery and instead focuses on the emotional connections created by landscapes, people and experiences. This makes the song feel like more than a standalone release. It becomes one part of a larger musical portrait of Scotland.

‘A Red Red Rose’ succeeds because it feels sincere rather than overstated. J. Jefferson & Brian Gentile allow the music and storytelling to take centre stage, creating a song that is atmospheric without losing its human warmth. It is a thoughtful piece of modern folk and an intriguing preview of what promises to be a richly emotional project.