Twin Shadow Is Finally Free on His Eponymous LP
Singer George Lewis Jr. embraces creative freedom—and unpredictability—on his fifth studio album

Twin Shadow’s debut album, Forget, encapsulated the sound of determined first-timers looking to break through in 2010. Beach House was eagerly trying to redefine the elusive genre of shoegaze with Teen Dream, Tame Impala would embark on a notable career with Innerspeaker, Sigur Ros frontman Jonsi tried his hand at a solo career by releasing Go and Sleigh Bells garnered critical acclaim for Treats.
Twin Shadow, born George Lewis Jr., didn’t nestle neatly into this bustling climate. Forget was a hazy, despondent record with irresistible grooves and a softness that revealed itself after a few uninterrupted listens. His sound, which was initially pigeonholed by critics as a modern iteration of ‘80s nostalgia, trivialized the innate complexity of a young Black artist who was freely experimenting.
Regardless of the assumptions that came with constructing synth pop, Lewis Jr. made the trek to a major label. His last two albums, 2018’s Caer and 2015’s Eclipse, came out through Warner Bros. and kept his signature smoothness despite the application of mainstream sheen. His self-titled fifth LP is being released under his own imprint Cheree Cheree, suggesting a return to a more hands-on approach. Quite impressively, you can hear this new level of intimacy in the details.
The singer has always been open about his own personal struggles, which have encompassed everything from substance abuse and depression to love. However, Lewis Jr.’s music has consistently magnified the beauty of the pain instead of its harrowing effects. Over the years, songs like “Castles in the Snow,” “Five Seconds” and the HAIM-assisted “Saturdays” proved gripping with their contagious melodies and climactic intensity. However, there was always an intentional disconnect between Lewis Jr. and the emotional content of his songs. It was as if he was on the outside, viewing the dramatics of his relationships and narrating their demise for an intrigued audience.