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Music / February 2, 2023

Daniel Luke shares video for ‘Shadow Dance’ announces debut album

Photo credit: Daniel Luke by Anthony O Connor
Music / February 2, 2023

Daniel Luke shares video for ‘Shadow Dance’ announces debut album

Words: Dylan Murphy

Ahead of a debut album, Daniel Luke drops DIY puppeteering visuals.

In the past two years, Daniel Smith spent a lot of him time reimagining the contents of his Spotify playlists as classical music. The pianist, composer, and arranger from Dublin was a member of Gypsies on the Autobahn, spending years touring and recording records. Now, he’s combining his experience to share his own solo works.

Having already shared his debut single ‘Heather’ at the tail end of last year, he’s following it up with ‘Shadow Dance’ and its accompanying video. It comes as the first single from his forthcoming debut album which lands on May 5.

Recorded on his childhood piano with his brother present, ‘Shadow Dance’ is a delicate, but spirited cut that tees up the rest of the record. The video features handmade shadow puppets created by director Adam O Regan and Daniel and a handmade crank box. The completely DIY visuals follows a pig that only find peace between notes of his piano and on the song, Daniel says, “Trying to pick a favourite piece from the album is a bit like picking a favourite child, but if I had to, I think ‘Shadow Dance’ would be mine. ‘Shadow Dance’ tiptoes around dissonance and chromaticism, creating a playful and capricious atmosphere.”

Daniel Luke supports Five to Two’ in Bello Bar, Dublin on February 18, click here for tickets.

Read our interview with Daniel Luke here.

Watch the video for ‘Shadow Dance‘ below:

Elsewhere on District: Body & Soul announce Kneecap, Kojaque, The Murder Capital and more.