Shadow Fashion- Electronic Rock, Dark Wave, Synth Pop
Interview conducted on March 26, 2020
by Dan Locke
Reminiscent of 1980’s New-Wave, Shadow Fashion’s signature sound is Electronic Rock. The music is layered with synthesizers and merged with edgy rock-guitar driven riffs.
Band Members
Pat Fears (Vocals)
Steve S (Guitar)
Svia S (Drums)
Christina J (Synthesizer)
Dan Locke: How did you discover music?
The good stuff? I owe it to my brother. I was in the 5th grade he was in the 7th. All the kids in my class were listening to MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice, and Kris Kross. He started hanging with a small group of punk rock kids who turned him onto everything from punk rock to industrial. Every day he’d come home with a new dubbed cassette tape to share. I remember listening to Bad Religion, Minor Threat, The Ramones, The Misfits, Depeche Mode, NIN, Skinny Puppy, etc. This was like ’90-’91 and I can recall when I first heard Skinny Puppy’s Too Dark Park album and thinking “Wow this sounds like something from a horror movie. Cool!”
How is the music scene in San Antonio TX?
Right now, I feel the scene is doing well and thriving. Everyone works together and supports each other from the promoters, DJs, musicians and venue owners. Some great music has been coming out of Texas in general!
What are your musical roots?
When we were kids just banging on pots and pans and pawnshop guitars which around ’92- ‘93ish it was a lot of grunge, punk, and metal.
Why did you decide to do a 1980s new wave sound for your band?
As piano is my first instrument at the age of 8, I’ve always had a love for keyboards and synthesizers which is incorporated in a lot of new wave.
It’s basically the soundtrack to my childhood that’s just ingrained in me and comes out when writing music.
How did your band get together?
It started out as just something I did for fun when I got a copy of FL studio in like 2008. About 5 songs later I made a Myspace page under the name Heart Attak which people seemed to actually dig.
I never thought I’d do this type of music live but in 2010 played my first show as Heart Attak with a guitar player and keyboardist. It wasn’t until 2013 where I felt we really started taking it seriously and the rest is history.
How did you get your name for the band?
Well we first went by Heart Attak and I never really liked that name but just went with it. Just trying to google or Youtube “Heart Attak” is a mess and nothing but medical information or Demi Lovato would pop up lol.
In 2015 I had an idea to do a solo thing that was purely instrumental synth. I was imagining playing while concealing my identity in a black shroud as a shadow figure and thought the name Shadow Fashion would fit perfectly for that. I pitched the idea of using it for the band just because I liked the name so much and didn’t want it to go to waste on something, I wasn’t too serious about. Everyone agreed and just weeks before we released an EP with the new name.
Any endorsement deals?
None yet but willing to work with Got2b Glued as an endorsement or sponsor. I swear by that stuff and go through about 2 bottles a month. lol
You just released your single “Children of the Night”. Before I check it out I was thinking about Rocky Horror. But it is not. What can you tell me about it?
Well, I can see where you can get a Rocky Horror vibe with all the leather, dance and glam but using the term “children of the night” in the chorus gave me the idea to incorporate the vampire theme in the video.
As the ideas were brewing in my head for the music video a friend of mine invited me to the Houston Vampire Ball and there it was, to take the band to Houston, have some fun and film the night.
How does it differ from your last single, “Forever”?
Well, production-wise we did go about it differently. In the year between both releases, I was able to start setting up our own studio to track our music. Before then we were having scheduling issues with other studios and now, we can just do it all ourselves within our own time which makes everything a whole lot easier.
Is your band into UFO- MetamophoSynth Tour- Roswell NM?
We’re all into the weird, paranormal and the mysterious side of life so while we were on that tour and in Roswell NM you know we had to stop at the International UFO Museum. The truth is out there!!!
Pat and Svia – Tell me about Saturday Nite Shockers?
Svia is actually not part of SNS but the Shockers is another band Me, Chuck and Steve are part of which was from 2003-2010 and recently revived in 2017.
Saturday Nite Shockers falls in the genre of Horror Punk with influences of punk/goth/metal.
Pat- Why did you not do anything with your solo project?
Songs that don’t really fit with any projects I’m involved with go into the “solo project” folder. I have a couple of songs still sitting in that folder but my priorities are with the bands I’m in and these songs are pretty much for fun.
Pat- Synths, guitar or drums. Which one do you like most?
I’ve played piano the longest, fell in love with drums as a teenager and picked up the guitar in my 20’s. I really love it all and I have fun being able to play a different musical instrument in the 4 bands I’m in.
How do you stay healthy on the road?
As a band, we try to eat healthily and stay fit by working out. We each have Planet Fitness “Black Card” memberships which give us access to any Planet Fitness nationwide. Planet Fitness has become our haven not only to get a good workout in but because of SHOWERS!!
Are you going to tour this year?
We’ll be doing studio stuff and another video so possibly next year.
How do you see yourself in five years?
Still doing music for sure. Music is such a big part of my life I would die without.
Anything you like to close with?
I’d just like to thank everyone who’s ever supported us, whether it is coming to the shows, listening to our music or just taking the time to pay attention to what we are doing.
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