Silk Reveal Dreamy Distortion Drenched New Single ‘July’ Ahead of Irish Tour Dates (Irish Shoegaze)
Silk is the new project from Virgins guitarist/songwriter, Michael Smyth, with Michael as the sole contributor in Silk, he is responsible for the writing, performing and recording of the music. The result is a sound defined by swathes of dreamy distortion juxtaposed against beautiful shimmering passages while Michael’s vocals are treated as a texture amongst the emotive soundscape. This creates a wall of sound for the listener to bathe in, equal parts heavy as it is floaty and ethereal.
The impetus for the project is described by Michael, “I constantly feel like I am rushing towards the inevitable infinite oblivion. Further exacerbated by the marking of years spent circling the sun. To that end, it’s important that I fill the time remaining with joyous, creative acts. The sharing of ideas is an essential part of that, which brings us to Silk.”
Previous singles, ‘Faze’ and ‘But then, yes’ were recorded as experiments for Michael to hone his engineering and mixing skills which ultimately lead to the birth of the project. However, on new single ‘july’ we hear the first song written specifically for the project. The result is the most focused and realised release to date, moving between shimmering choral guitars to a tsunami of dreamy distortion and fuzz, and blissed out feedback drenched in modulating reverbs as Michael sings of subtle betrayals.
When it came time to mix and master the track, Michael turned to Allan McGreevy of New Pagans at his Badlands studio. The result marries the wall of sound, and ethereal textures of shoegaze with an 90’s alternative rock punchiness. The single is released ahead of the band’s first Irish tour dates.
Catch the band live:
August 30th Belfast, Oh Yeah at GazeFest w/ Whitelands
September 20th Belfast, Ulster Sports Club
October 2nd Dublin, Sin E
October 3rd Waterford, Luca Records
October 4th Drogheda, The Watchtower
“Shoegaze needs bands that take risks with noise and feeling. Silk is doing both. Cementing them as one of the most essential new acts’ – Static Sounds Club
“Pure shoegaze” – Golden Plec
“Dreamy chorus” – Hot Press
“Dense, dreamlike with a killer chorus” – Static Sounds Club
“Like hearing someone you love talk quietly in the next room while you fall asleep” – Start Track
“Something that tweaks the conventions of moden-era shoegaze” – Analogue Trash
“An ocean of hallucinatory resonance” – Turn Up The Volume Blog
“Vocals two floors below the mix, guitars fuzzy and loud as God intended” – Shoegaze Blog
“This song encapsulates everything we love about shoegaze” – Drowned In A Sea Of Sound