Making waves from Ticino in the Italian region of Switzerland, married which the sounds of 90s East Coast hip hop, artist Reed Blue brings his single Shadow Trip to the forefront. This version a remaster from his earlier work, tightening the track and stripping it back to the core.
The opening and laced through fuzz overload, one in which 90’s kids are no stranger to, serves for a relevant ‘Do Not Distract Me’. “Shadow Trip’s message ‘Do Not Distract Me’ is a powerful message for a world going towards chaos and confusion” says Reed Blue. Presenting as a percussively melodic track. Sounds reminiscent of the traffic and police, the vocal overlays understated act to heighten the contrast between relaxed and chaotic energy that Reed Blue aims to embody, pulling you in and creating dynamic sonic waves.
Like its creator, Shadow Trip has been through reinventions and a journey to become the track it is today. With pen to paper first being made on the cusp of the millennium yet never released before, Reed Blue determined to capture society of the time of its’ release, the single was repurposed to encapsulate the current day. “We don’t have to be distracted. We need to stay focused and not give into fear”.
Discovering a plethora of music not native to his home town in Switzerland through his DJ brother, rap and club music became a part of Reed Blues everyday repertoire. With the support of a sibling making a name for himself in music in Ticino, Blue was exposed to pioneering sounds of techno and hard house.
Reed Blue using rap as his outlet in the early 90s, he found himself experimenting with others’ beats and collaborating with bands, including the local reggae club. From this, Blue developed his song writing, finding fulfilment in becoming a composer and lyricist.
For fans of DJ Shadow, DJ Krush and Quantic, you can find Reed Blue and Shadow Trip via the links below:
Shadow Trip (Remastered) is available now everywhere! Check out Reed Blue’s socials below:
Words by Olivia Barnes