Geoff Sweetland, a master of many artistic disciplines, is the creative force behind the musical project known as Dark & Nightshade. The enigmatic artist plays and programs all of the instruments himself, while also delivering emotive vocal performances that convey the weighty themes of his lyrics. But that’s not all – Sweetland’s music is an eclectic mix of sounds, a sonic landscape that incorporates everything from grinding synths to ghostly woodwinds, and biting electric guitar riffs to delicate string pizzicatos.
Dark & Nightshade is the product of years of restless creative energy, honed by Sweetland’s absorption of an eclectic mix of musical styles. As a former audio engineer, he records and mixes the majority of the project’s content, bringing his technical expertise to bear on his already formidable musical talents. He also creates all of Dark & Nightshade’s music videos, displaying his prowess as a visual artist.
At its core, Dark & Nightshade’s music is an exploration of the turbulent nature of modern society, with lyrics that delve into the themes of death, loss, and the struggles of daily life. The project’s first album, which debuted in 2021, was created during the pandemic lockdown in New York City, and the environment of the time is unmistakably woven into the sonic quality and lyrics of the songs. It’s a poignant and deeply affecting record that manages to capture the zeitgeist of the moment while remaining timeless in its emotional resonance.
All in all, Dark & Nightshade is a unique and innovative musical project that showcases the impressive range of Sweetland’s talents as a musician, songwriter, and audiovisual artist. With more music on the way, there’s no telling where Sweetland’s restless creativity will take him next – but one thing’s for sure, it’s sure to be an exhilarating ride.
An iconic guitar riff and thunderous drums underpin the new modern/alt rock track by Dark & Nightshade. An energetic rhythm meets haunting lyrics and atypical synths on the new single, Vapors.
Composer/Author: Geoff Sweetland
Instruments: Drums: Jason Moser
Everything else: Geoff Sweetland
Mixing: Geoff Sweetland
Mastering: Adrian Morgan, Timeless Mastering
Clamorous Head is an ode to insecurity. Another Dark & Nightshade foray into the electronic genre, it is both a haunting and hopeful statement about the desire to belong.
Composer/Author: Geoff Sweetland
All Instruments: Geoff Sweetland
Mixing: Geoff Sweetland
Mastering: Adrian Morgan, Timeless Mastering
Weighing in at 10 songs, Dark & Nightshade’s self-titled debut album runs the gamut of styles from orchestral to electronic. Conceived during the height of the 2020 pandemic, the album confronts many demons, real and imagined.
Composer/Author: Geoff Sweetland
All Instruments: Geoff Sweetland
Mixing: Geoff Sweetland & Kazuri Arai
Mastering: Adrian Morgan, Timeless Mastering, Brooklyn, NY
Take The Halo Off was inspired by the BLM demonstrations in summer of 2020, and our collective need to shed our naiveté surrounding the heavy hand of “justice” in America.
Composer/Author: Geoff Sweetland
All Instruments: Geoff Sweetland
Mixing: Geoff Sweetland & Kazuri Arai
Mastering: Adrian Morgan, Timeless Mastering, Brooklyn, NY
Have you ever thought about leaving everything behind and starting over? Submarine is about the desire to abandon society and pursue more fulfilling adventures elsewhere; perhaps at the bottom of the ocean. Lost in a sea of swirling synths, the song evokes happy and sad emotions surrounding the subject.
Composer/Author: Geoff Sweetland
All Instruments: Geoff Sweetland
Mixing: Geoff Sweetland & Kazuri Arai
Mastering: Adrian Morgan, Timeless Mastering, Brooklyn, NY
Just how shady are hookup sites? It depends on who you ask. But it’s among the many ways one might deal with the excessive downtime of a global pandemic. Lyrically, the song explores this, as well as the amount of time wasted in the pursuit of these elusive online connections. It was written and recorded in Covid-plagued New York City at the height of the pandemic, which is arguably a better use of downtime than trolling hookup sites.
This is the first single for Dark & Nightshade.
Composer/Author: Geoff Sweetland
All Instruments: Geoff Sweetland
Mixing: Geoff Sweetland & Kazuri Arai
Mastering: Adrian Morgan, Timeless Mastering, Brooklyn, NY
Dark & Nightshade is an independent and self managed music project. For more information, please email info@darkandnightshade.com
Official Dark & Nightshade webiste: www.darkandnightshade.com
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