Bracing For Twin Shadow: An Artist Deep Dive 

By Kyle Halligan-Duffy 

Music Journalist 

Upon hearing of Twin Shadow being one of the showcased artists in 2025’s SXSW Music Festival I got excited, but not without hesitation. Like a lot of people, I was exposed to Florida native George William Lewis Jr’s music through snippets of his discography. Mainly his song “Saturdays” featuring the hit sister band Haim and his song “To the Top” featured on the Telltale published “Tales of the Borderlands” video game. Both are among his top listens on Spotify. So, in preparation, I decided I would finally dive into his full swath of albums where there are currently five with number six –Georgie- on the horizon. “Brace”, from his fourth studio album Caer, has been on repeat in my playlist for weeks now and nothing prepared me for the sheer eclectic nature of Twin Shadow and his ability to subvert expectations in the pop music genre.  

“These albums give us something familiar but changed. They give us our fractured memory personified-” 

Our musical journey starts with Twin Shadow’s debut album Forget released in 2009. This album reminds me of other debuts of the past where it has many good ideas but doesn’t have a singular identity yet. There isn’t one clear idea that is showcased but a hodgepodge of ideas where Lewis is seemingly trying to see what sticks. Luckily some did. “Shooting Holes” captures the throwback pop style that Twin Shadow is currently known for with a funk foundation that carries on throughout his library. And “Castles in The Snow” gives us a dissonant new wave feel that brings forth the emotions at the heart of each track I listened to later on.  

From 2012 to 2018 we dig into the USDA quality meat of who Twin Shadow is as an artist. Confess (2012), Eclipse (2015), and Caer (2018) gives us Lewis in his prime and all the unexpected, impassioned and moving music that anyone who has had even a small taste of Twin Shadow should sink their teeth into. Opening tracks, like “Flatliners” and “Brace”, are deep and intricate and set you up for all the intimacy and heartache each album has to offer. Songs like “To the Top” give us that perfect 80’s arena rock ballad style while keeping it fresh and new and tracks like “You Call Me On” with its heavily distorted guitar samples feel like something late artist George Michael would have written but passed through the proverbial blender. But that’s where Twin Shadow thrives. These albums give us something familiar but changed. They give us our fractured memory personified or, as Andy Green described it in a 2010 Rolling Stone article, as “Weathered Nostalgia”. Songs like “Obvious People”, “The One” and “Watch Me Go” paint a vivid emotional landscape that gives us hints of the past, complete with all the fuzziness of misremembrance. Not to mention the lyrics following love, loss and longing that most of us can relate to. “Trying not to fall permanently into your arms” from “Brace” or “I know it’s absurd to shake when we kiss” from “Beg for the Night” come to mind. 

Official HD video for Brace by Twin Shadow (ft. Rainsford)

Lastly, in terms of Twin Shadow’s entire catalog, 2021’s self-titled record is sort of an outlier. It still has that nostalgic feel that Twin Shadow is known for but shoots even farther back. Back to more classic styles like funk, disco, and even reggae. Songs like “Sugar Cane” are reminiscent of Marvin Gaye, while tracks like “Lonestar” feel more like Bob Marley. This album is certainly worth listening to, but it should be known that it’s more of a personal rediscovery for Lewis. In a 2021 interview with Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop he stated, “My last few records there was a lot of projection. Projecting out to the audience whereas this record was very much me needing – in a place in my life – needing to find why I love music so much” So in reality, this is a record for Twin Shadow by Twin Shadow and that cannot be understated. 

 Navigating through this flashback of harmony, dissonance, memory and emotion was a trip I would recommend to anyone looking for a throwback pop/rock sound with newer interesting ideas. I am looking forward to SXSW this year and seeing Twin Shadow perform these songs live in a fun environment. I will undoubtably be singing along and you should too. And be sure to check out Georgie when it releases March 14, 2025.