flipturn Releases Their Debut Album “Shadowglow”, A Delicate Dance Between Darkness and Light

flipturn began as a high-school band practicing in their parent’s garage, the Florida natives bonding over a shared love of music and performing. Their humble beginnings as a three-part show, with frontman Dillon Basse, bassist Madeline Jarman, and lead guitarist Tristan Duncan, later went on to include guitarist/synth player Mitch Fountain and drummer Devon VonBalson as their music reached new heights. Just this summer alone we watched them captivate audiences across America at some of the biggest music festivals. Known for their infectious onstage chemistry and entracing performances, there’s little doubt that their debut album Shadowglow, will make massive waves for the indie band, who have already been on tour with Mt. Joy, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, and Wilderado, as well as amassed over 50 million Spotify streams. 

Following the momentum of their singles, “Chicago'' and “August”, which earned them devoted fans across the globe, today they release Shadowglow, an elegant dance that sways between the light and dark, taking us on a journey through the interconnected relationship of sin and pleasure. Inspired by the gritty rock of the 2010s indie scene, Shadowglow produces a beautiful story of the trials and tribulations of young-adult life, perfectly illustrating the landslide we all seem to stand on, the one that we spend our youth hoping we don’t tumble right back down.  

Listening to the album front and back (which I have quite a few times this week, caught in the allure and absolute brilliance of it) feels like transcending towards a particular darkness I might have otherwise avoided. Though let me be clear, I don’t associate this darkness with any sort of negativity, rather I regard it with a deep appreciation, for being able to capture the inherent loneliness that comes with being a terminally-online young-adult, and the difficulty in fostering real connections in a society that has shifted its priority towards internet fame and hook-up culture. 

One of my favourite tracks on the album “Goddamn”, does a perfect job at nailing this feeling, speaking of the internet-poisoned mind:

“Goddamn the internet.
Sometimes I wish that love was harder to find,
it’s cheap like cigarettes and I’m running out of breath.”

With the rising popularity in online dating apps like Hinge, Bumble and Tinder, it can feel as though all our connections and relationships are superficial, established through perfectly curated profiles that are ever-accessible with just the swipe of our thumb. Gone are the days of kicking your legs waiting around for love, it’s right there in the palm of your hand, and flipturn channels this rather sinister realization with an abrasive bassline and euphonious reverberations that tackle the feeling of being trapped in an endless cycle of perfunctory online love. 

The entirety of the album is as thought-provoking as it is dance-inducing; their instrumentals paired with frontman Dillion Basse’s hynposiazing vocals creates an intricate experience unlike no other. It makes me feel as though I’m laying on the floor of my childhood room, now stuck in my 23 year-old body, wondering when life got so strange and unrecognizable. Shadowglow was made for sleepless nights, for introspective talks over half-smoked cigarettes, for laying in the arms of a seasonal lover. If “Perks of Being a Wallflower” is THE coming-of-age film (which I will argue that in my household, and among my friends, it most certainly is), then Shadowglow is its counterpart, replicating the same viel of hope, despair, and courage that covers the feelings of invincibility one experiences during adolescence. The album, with all its energetic lightness, doesn’t shy away from the dark, instead embraces it in an intimate hug, hungrily wrapping its arms around not in an attempt to suffocate, but to make its own presence known; to remind us one cannot exist without the other.

flipturn does a wonderful job of contrasting their sharper, darker songs with more calming, lulling tracks likes “Waves” (previously released as a single off the album), and whimsical, groovy melodies tunes present in “Playground” and “Hollow”. The album is a fantasic exploration of modern day adolescence, is a masterclass in humility, and will definitely be on your moody fall playlist. I cannot wait to see what flipturn brings next, but for now you will find me deleting my dating apps and twiddling my thumbs, waiting around for honest human connection.

Follow flipturn on Instagram, Spotify, Twitter, Youtube, and Facebook, and check out their Shadowglow tour dates.