In honor of Pleasure Month, Atwood Journal has invited artists to take part in a sequence of essays reflecting on id, music, tradition, inclusion, and extra.
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Right this moment, Shamir shares his essay, “‘Neverwannago’ a Day With out Like St. Joan,” a few expensive musical and private friendship, for Atwood Journal’s Pleasure Month sequence!
Shapeshifting Philly-via-Vegas artist Shamir (he/she/they) launched his ultimate solo album, ‘Ten,’ on Might 19 by way of Kill Rock Stars – fittingly, on the tenth anniversary of his debut, ‘Ratchet’. After a tumultuous decade within the music trade, ‘Ten’ is a love letter to the buddies who formed his life – ten songs written by these closest to him, produced from unused demos and discarded concepts given new life. It’s a reclamation of music as a shared language, moderately than a efficiency of self. The only “Neverwannago” was written by Shamir’s shut buddy, Like St. Joan (aka Drew Harmon), and channels a ‘90s alt-girl nostalgia wonderland. That is the story of their musical and private friendship, for Pleasure Month.
Performing and collaborating with everybody from Le Tigre and Courtney Barnett to Troye Sivan, Rina Sawayama, and Mac DeMarco, Shamir’s profession has been considered one of fixed evolution – from the dancefloor irreverence of 2015’s ‘Ratchet’ on XL Recordingsto the lo-fi catharsis of his self-titled 2020 album. ‘Heterosexuality‘ adopted in 2022, a searingly confessional file that wove collectively industrial prospers and razor-edged vulnerability.
Over the previous decade, Shamir has navigated a music trade that has by no means fairly recognized what to do with him — fluctuating success, trade indifference, and, at instances, outright hostility. ‘Ten’ is, in distinction, an train in love. It’s a reclamation of music as a shared language, moderately than a efficiency of self. If there’s any lingering query about whether or not this really marks the top of Shamir as a solo entity, he leaves little room for ambiguity. “I’ve carried out and mentioned all I needed to say,” he states plainly. “I by no means need to really feel like I’m forcing my artwork.” He has spent the final ten years working by means of the storm, and now, surveying the wreckage, he has chosen to stroll away. ‘Ten’ isn’t the sound of an artist burning out. It’s the sound of an artist setting himself free.
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by Shamir
I met Drew Harmon (aka Like St. Joan) 10 years in the past after I was 20 years previous.
We had been speaking on-line for a number of months previous to assembly. Drew discovered my music fairly early on and was one of many first folks exterior of my dwelling state of Nevada to achieve out to me. We bonded on our love for music and songwriting.
Drew is a Texas boy by means of and thru. Born and raised in Texarkana, he moved to Austin for school. We lastly met irl at SXSW 2015. It was not my first SXSW by any means, in actual fact it was my third. Nonetheless, SXSW 2015 was my first SXSW performing as “Shamir,” the shiny new critically acclaimed pop star everybody needed a chunk of. I used to be completely overwhelmed and overstimulated by any and all the things occurring in my life at the moment.
I invited Drew to satisfy me at considered one of my many showcases for that day. The plan was to hyperlink up and take it from there. Contemplating it was our first time assembly in particular person, we meant to spend a considerable period of time collectively, however my schedule was too hectic to completely join. I keep in mind feeling so embarrassed as a result of I needed to transfer over to the subsequent obligation, inflicting him to stroll and speak to me while being surrounded by my pack of handlers. Ultimately it grew to become painfully clear to the each of us that my consideration was a lot too monopolized. I don’t keep in mind how or once we ultimately parted methods. I simply know that by the top of the day I barely had time with the one particular person I meant to see, and I felt terrible about it.
The following day I apologized and tried to concoct a plan for Drew and I to satisfy up away from the insanity. He advisable Torchy’s Tacos away from downtown. I snuck out with out letting my managers know, and Drew I frolicked till my managers began to frantically summon me. Speaking to Drew instantly felt like catching up with an previous buddy. I immediately felt kinship, and I additionally felt immediately protected with him. He was the primary particular person I met put up fame that felt like a real connection, and never somebody investing in a proportion of my consideration.
Flash ahead 10 years later, I stay in Philadelphia. Drew now lives in Portland. I’ve misplaced my thoughts a number of instances and frequented a psych ward or two, with a bipolar prognosis as well. Drew misplaced his father and have become sober after an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. By means of all of it Drew and I speak practically each day, and he wrote the primary two tracks on my ultimate album Ten.
My relationship with Drew is a illustration of my album’s theme.
Ten is a love letter to my tribe, my chosen household.
The world is full of a lot loneliness and isolation. I really feel extremely blessed to not solely have a bunch of associates who’ve stood beside me in my highest highs, and lowest lows, but in addition is gifted sufficient to write down me an unimaginable album. That is my legacy. I can’t management how my profession will likely be perceived retrospectively, and admittedly I don’t care.
I’m simply blissful I can say I ended it extra fulfilled than I used to be after I started. – Shamir
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:: learn extra about Shamir right here ::
:: join with Shamir right here ::
:: stream/buy Ten right here ::
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📸 © Jason Rodgers
an album by Shamir
