Lead Me To The Glow

Released September 28, 2018

Although the 3rd official full length album from Austin, TX based artist Shmu, 'Lead Me to the Glow' revisits some of the 90s shoegazing rock sounds that were explored on 'Shhh!!!!' & its companion EP 'Oooze', its focus is more emphasized on softer & rounder shapes. One could say it is a

Lead Me To The Glow

Released September 28, 2018

Although the 3rd official full length album from Austin, TX based artist Shmu, 'Lead Me to the Glow' revisits some of the 90s shoegazing rock sounds that were explored on 'Shhh!!!!' & its companion EP 'Oooze', its focus is more emphasized on softer & rounder shapes. One could say it is a meditation of the last 40 years of music collapsing in on itself & attempting to create a post internet pop music, utilizing mid 80s pop and R&B sounds, early 90s vaporwave-esque muzak samples, mixed with some 70s psych/R&B & yacht-rock influences that are glitched out with modern electronics are all melded together & melted down like a burnt cassette in the sun.

'Lead Me to the Glow' begins with a burst of creativity, at midpont explores the end of our Universe, and then becomes a meditation on rebirth, the afterlife and infinity. Put another way, this is an archetypal hero’s journey from our troubled 2017/current times through the looking glass into something akin to Ray Kurzweil’s Singularity where everything feels much faster and faster, and glowing rainbows are the most boring thing from our pre-transhuman past that anyone cares to remember.

Shmu is: Sam Chown - Lead & Background Vocals, Drums & Percussion, Samples/Loops/Programming, Bass Guitar, Guitars, Keyboards/Synths Chase Dungan - Lead & Rhythm Guitars Joel Coronado - Bass Guitar on 'Hololeaps' & 'All Will Be Erased'

All Songs Written, Arranged, Edited & Produced by Sam Chown Mixed & Mastered by Sam Chown & Evan Kleinecke @ 5th Street Studios Visual Art by Keith Rankin Horn Arrangements on 'Lead Me to the Glow' Written by Sam Chown Trombone performed by Mark 'Speedy' Gonzales on 'Lead Me to the Glow' Saxophones performed by Thomas Van Der Brook on 'Lead Me to the Glow' Trumpet performed by Derek Phelps on 'Lead Me to the Glow' Guitar Parts on 'Hololeaps' 'Burn Baby Burn' 'Wave' 'Amulet' & 'Your Favorite God' Written by Chase Dungan Vocals Performed by Thax Douglas on 'Wave' & 'Your Favorite God' as well Lyrics Co-written By Thax Douglas on 'Burn Baby Burn' 'Wave' & 'Your Favorite God' Vocals Performed by Carrie Bickley on 'Burn Baby Burn' & 'Amulet' Vocals Performed by Brittany Drake on 'Burn Baby Burn & 'All Will Be Erased' 'Lead Me the Glow' contains samples from 'Black Renaissance' by Black Renaissance Special Thanks to Joel Coronado, Chase Dungan, Noah Schwartz & Harry Knazan for helping shape the music into its current form

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Released August 17, 2018

PRIVATE LIFE is the collaborative project between Christopher Royal King (THIS WILL DESTROY YOU) and drummer/multi-instrumentalist Sam Chown (SHMU). The impetus stemmed from King’s desire to start a high BPM, futuristic cyber-synth group comprised of him on modular synths with the accompaniment of two drummers (editor’s

Released August 17, 2018

PRIVATE LIFE is the collaborative project between Christopher Royal King (THIS WILL DESTROY YOU) and drummer/multi-instrumentalist Sam Chown (SHMU). The impetus stemmed from King’s desire to start a high BPM, futuristic cyber-synth group comprised of him on modular synths with the accompaniment of two drummers (editor’s note: absolutely no clue what happened to the other drummer).

After a series of conceptual meetings and rehearsals, the duo hatched out schematics and installed configurations wherein Chown’s drums would trigger additional modular synths beyond King’s main melodies. Demos were cut and the duo saw tremendous sonic potential in their unique approach. A few months later, the duo holed up in Austin’s 5th Street Studios to capture the seven songs that would become their debut album.

“Silent Partner” is a fascinating blend of cyberpunk, dream pop, psych, prog & kraut vibes from the 70’s, bits of thrash, and modern modular electronic synths. Think of it as the latest operating system update for a computer with plenty of Talking Heads, Gang of Four, and Bloc Party on the hard drive. credits

PRIVATE LIFE: Christopher Royal King Sam Chown

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Oooze

Released July 29, 2016

Shmu ~ all songs played, written, performed & produced by Shmu (Sam Chown) with the additional stellar team of: Karla Manzur - Vocals on 'Armor & Orchids' & 'Cum 2u ~ Radio' Chase Dungan - Guitar on the 2nd verse of 'Sheila' Joel Coronado - Bass Guitar on the 2nd verse of 'Sheila'

Mixed & Mastered by

Oooze

Released July 29, 2016

Shmu ~ all songs played, written, performed & produced by Shmu (Sam Chown) with the additional stellar team of: Karla Manzur - Vocals on 'Armor & Orchids' & 'Cum 2u ~ Radio' Chase Dungan - Guitar on the 2nd verse of 'Sheila' Joel Coronado - Bass Guitar on the 2nd verse of 'Sheila'

Mixed & Mastered by Evan Kleinecke & Shmu at 5th Street Studios

©all rights reserved