Every music journalist knows the feeling when writing about certain songs or topics is hard labour – it goes slow, not a single word feels right and the outcome is not as we wanted it to be. I had moments like this myself and I absolutely loved the track sent for reviewing. On other occasions, writing is the most pleasant thing in the universe – you are typing without breaks, words flow like a river and you know exactly what to write, even before you put the pen to paper (or in the digital age, your fingers to the keyboard). Reviewing Nadia Sheikh’s new single “The Shadows” felt exactly like this – effortless and I was loving every second of it. The song is almost like a Red Bull drink – it gives you wings.
Official bio: From performing at Glastonbury, Kendal Calling and Y Not Festival to recording a brand-new EP produced by Joe Cross (Louis Tomlinson, Courteeners, Hurts), Nadia Sheikh’s 2022 has been full of highlights. Now armed with a new set of songs, she’s set to continue building on the momentum generated by her live shows in 2022 and her previous EP “Undefined” produced by Brett Shaw (FOALS, Florence and the Machine, Lady Gaga), which received widespread support from the likes of BBC 6 Music, BBC Introducing, Radio X, Radio 3 (Spain), CLASH, Line of Best Fit and Fresh On The Net. The British / Spanish artist, who writes and records in both English and Spanish, has toured extensively throughout Europe with previous highlights encompassing Isle of Wight Festival, FIB (Benicassim Festival), Spanish national television (Los Conciertos de Radio 3) and supporting Stereophonics across 19 dates of their 2020 European tour, including sold-out Manchester Arena and Cardiff Arena shows. Her latest single “The Shadows” was released on 13th of January.
Nadia photographed by Briony Graham-Rudd Photography
We have been following Nadia’s career since early 2017 and it has been a real pleasure to see her rise from unknown singer/songwriter to somebody who was effortlessly opening stadium shows before Stereophonics. For some strange reason, we never reviewed her music on our blog and this mistake will be corrected now. Her latest single “The Shadows” released earlier this month is her best one yet and I will eat my socks with a bowl of spicy kimchi if it doesn’t raise her profile even further. I fell in love with it hearing it on John Kennedy’s X-Posure show on Radio X and it deserves every compliment under the sun. I mean there is nothing wrong with it. This should be a real tragedy for a music critic like myself – I can’t find a single thing I could criticize! Instead of worrying, I’m giving Nadia a standing ovation. I don’t think I have ever come across a song that would be just so, how to describe it, ideal. I could always find a bit here or a bit there that I didn’t like such as the production being too polished, the chorus a bit boring, a guitar solo a bit too stretched. With “The Shadows” – it just feels like everything is in perfect order.
The track is a power ballad with pop, contemporary rock and alternative rock roots. It is quite long by national radio standards standing at 4 minutes and 20 seconds but when you are listening to it, you lose track of time. There are influences from Wolf Alice, Juliana Hatfield, Suede, The Beatles and Lana Del Rey (seriously!) Nadia is a master at creating her own beautiful melodies from many genres – acoustic rock, pop, indie, alternative and contemporary rock. Her voice and timbre are second to none – Nadia possesses warmth and richness that is rarely seen in popular music. She was described as “mysterious and enchanting” (BBC1), “spellbinding” (BBC6), “illuminating” (Clash Magazine), “great” (Radio X) and such compliments are not given just to everybody. To be showered with such praise by the biggest names in the industry, artists truly need to deserve them and Nadia does. I don’t know what else I could add to the list but maybe “unforgettable” will do? Her voice is so unique that you will never mistake her for any other singer.
Single cover
The music industry (at the independent level) may be in dire straits but artists like Nadia Sheikh are the main reason we are still writing reviews, promoting local gigs and shouting about acts you have to see. They are the creative forces that are touching our hearts and souls.
If you haven’t listened to her music yet, please go and play “The Shadows” on Spotify or Youtube or anywhere else. I can honestly tell you, without Nadia’s songs in your life, your existence is devoid of real charm and magic. Listening to songs assigned to you by some algorithm, is like eating at the greasy spoon when a real spiritual feast is just next door.
Nadia will soon go on tour and when she arrives in your city, drop everything and go to see her play. You won’t regret going and you will be kicking yourself if you don’t. You have been warned.
Follow Nadia on social media:
https://www.nadiasheikh.com/home
https://www.instagram.com/nadiasheikhmusic/
https://www.facebook.com/nadiasheikhmusic
https://twitter.com/NadiaSheikh_
https://www.youtube.com/nadiasheikhmusic
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1REWoOzJNHGCPDYsSBBghV?si=kp6zcjgIQJuvGxMSwQsh0A&nd=1
https://www.tiktok.com/@nadiasheikhmusic
https://soundcloud.com/nadiasheikhmusic
Rita Dabrowicz
Indieterria 