Marking our entry point into Jonni Slater’s artistic universe, ‘Between the Shadows’ is a rather curious album. It feels timeless, eclectic and incredibly elegant; yet, there’s also an intimate and personal component in it, with the record continuously oscillating between these two extremes. You’ve got your bright, anthemic cuts and your haunting, melancholic pieces. Such a dualism is a constant feature of ‘Between the Shadows’, an aural chiaroscuro imprinted into Slater’s musical flair.
Hailing from Glasgow, the Scottish songwriter and musician draws inspiration from decades of musical goodness, citing artists such as Joan as Police Woman, Ainslie Wills, and ‘So’-era Peter Gabriel. There’s a high degree of diversity in it, and once again, it’s quite obvious what makes Slater tickle. Vibrant songwriting with cinematic energy, often on a bed of vintage and analogue instrumentation. Recorded in 45/R studio in Glasgow, ‘Between the Shadows’ is a nuanced, tender record, one that needs time and understanding, one that demands trust and loyalty above all. The album will take you someplace familiar. Then into the unknown. Just lean into it…
Delving deeper into his artistic ethos, Jonni Slater explains: “I love the purity of just a voice with solo guitar or piano, but I’m equally drawn to lush, atmospheric arrangements that feel like they belong in a film score and take the listener somewhere out of the ordinary.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Between the Shadows’ on Bandcamp:
