Shapeshifter

Record-breaking New Zealand tours, scene-setting appearances at festivals like Glastonbury, The Big Chill, Big Day Out and Parklife, sold-out performances across Europe, multiple music awards, four EPs and five LPs — three with platinum sales — and an army of fans who return to relive the experience time and time again.

These are just some of Shapeshifter’s towering achievements.

The five-strong lineup of PDigsss (vocals), Sam Trevethick (guitar/synths/sampler), Dan McGruer (synths/sampler), Nick Robinson (bass/synths/MPC) and Darren Mathiassen (drums) have created their very own heavy soul; a stadium-sized sound which adds layers of drum & bass, jazz, funk, rock and electronica to solid bass culture foundations.

Originally hailing from Christchurch, the future-shocked soul outfit’s music is crafted by a living, breathing band of musicians, with all the form-changing sonic possibilities live instrumentation offers.

“The essence of Shapeshifter live is that we are completely 100% un-sequenced -no laptop click track. We play ‘off the grid’ using analogue and digital synthesizers.” – Sam Trevethick.

The result is a sound that’s capable of morphing from rolling drum & bass to pummeling guitar-driven jams and horizon-shifting electronic soundscapes – a sound that’s again encapsulated on their newest album Stars (release date: 4 November 2016).

“Stars is a very special album to us. It’s a journey – exploring everything from love, loss and the afterlife; and combining everything from heavy soul, to drum ‘n bass and space-sized synths. It’s also a journey we can’t wait to share with our fans.” – Nick Robinson.

Recorded between their New Brighton and Auckland studios, Shapeshifter spent six months writing ideas and songs before setting down the album at Auckland’s Roundhead Studios with The Upbeats’ Dylan Jones and Jeremy Glenn.

The interstellar result includes a track listing of 11 expertly crafted tunes – tracks that meld their progressive bass music approach, electronic textures and barreling backbeats to create a record that aptly takes their sound to new heights.

Off the grid and out of this world, from the clubs to packed festival fields, Shapeshifter’s transcending sound has already seen them achieve extraordinary things. Now releasing their sixth studio album, the innovative band continue to solidify their status as New Zealand’s premiere live electronic outfit.

http://shapeshifter.co.nz/