Shadowlark – Control (Video Premiere)

Leeds’ Shadowlark have a fascination for 80s synths but their sound is grounded in far more varied inspirations. While the synergy of lead singer Ellen Smith, Chris Quick on keys and drummer James Warrender owes something to the timeless melancholy of bands such as Fleetwood Mac, it also draws on the dramatic soundscapes of artists such as Lana Del Rey and Bat for Lashes, while their energy has something of sister act Haim about it. They create songs that are cinematic, hypnotic and ethereal.

Personal struggles are at the core of the band’s identity. Lead singer Ellen Smith says, “sometimes the age-old clichés are the most fitting. My best work definitely comes at times of hardship and music is genuinely the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do. Last year my relationship broke up and I lost my home and a lot of confidence – but the music I have written since has been my most honest and best to date. Getting on stage and performing these songs is my version of therapy.”

The Skinny are thrilled to premiere the band’s second video, Control. “When we wrote this song people assumed it was written about a lover, but it was never intended to be a love song,” Smith tells us. “It’s about trying to figure out what you're gonna do with yourself when you don't quite know yet, but you live in a place where the pressure is so high. You don't want to be just a piece of data, you just need a bit of time get to where you're heading, take the plunge and do your thing... and sometimes you need a little help. The video gets the idea across perfectly."