Twin Shadow

George William Lewis Jr., publicly known as Twin Shadow, was born in the Dominican Republic in 1983 and raised in Florida. His musical journey began in his church choir. Early in his career, around 2000, he formed the band Mad Man Films in Boston with Joseph Ciampini and Zak Longo, releasing two independent records. After moving to Brooklyn, New York, in 2006, Lewis initiated the ‘Twin Shadow’ project, marking a shift towards his distinctive sound. His debut album, “Forget,” released in 2010 on Terrible Records and produced by Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear, received critical acclaim, appearing on numerous “album of the year” lists, including Pitchfork and Stereogum. This early work established his sound, often described as synth-pop with an 80s new wave influence, characterized by haunting synth textures, R&B intimacy, and poetic lyrics.

Lewis continued his musical output with “Confess” in 2012, which he self-produced. This album was inspired by a motorcycle accident, and its tracks “Five Seconds” and “Patient” were adapted into a music video narrative based on his 2012 novel, “The Night of the Silver Sun.” “Confess” debuted on the Billboard 200 and Top Rock Albums charts, selling 30,000 copies in the US by 2015. His third album, “Eclipse,” released in 2015 with Warner Music, represented a conscious move towards a more accessible sound and a departure from heavy guitar use. The track “To the Top” was featured prominently in the trailer, soundtrack, and end credits of the film “Paper Towns.” In April 2015, Lewis and his band were involved in a tour bus crash, resulting in reconstructive hand surgery for Lewis and injuries to other band members. Despite this, he released the “Night Rally” mixtape later that year, comprising recordings from 2010 to 2014.

Lewis expanded his creative endeavors beyond music, demonstrating a significant interest in fashion. The New York Times highlighted his involvement, noting his status as a prominent figure in the music world’s fashion scene. He was featured in Levi’s “Live in Levi’s” ad campaign. Since 2010, Lewis has collaborated with Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osbourne, designers of the CFDA-award-winning line “Public School,” serving as a muse and composer for their runway shows. He composed music for their spring/summer 2015 and spring/summer 2016 collections at New York Fashion Week and modeled for the brand. His acting credits include a role as a fictionalized version of himself as a DJ for Radio Mirror Park in the video game “Grand Theft Auto V” (2013) and a feature film debut in “Future World” (2018). His commitment to his Dominican heritage is evident in his music, notably with the release of “Hollow Days” (2018) which incorporates bachata sounds, and his self-titled 2021 album, recorded in the Dominican Republic.