On June 12, 2016, the face of Orlando, Florida changed. The vacation destination took a backseat to worldwide coverage of the deadliest mass shooting in history at The Pulse Nightclub.
Eight days later, Shadow Pearson, from the alternative rock band, The Actomatics, assembled a team of over 100 people to perform her soulful “City Song – Finger on the Pulse.” The song features a choir representing the ‘Voices’ of Orlando. The proceeds from the song benefit the onePulse Foundation 501c.
This pop song, written by Shadow Pearson, is designed to give back and bring healing to the world. “You shot the light, but you can’t take the heart,” is a resolute and hopeful message.
Shadow’s group, The Actomatics, form the backbone of the piece. Team City Song has blossomed into many facets with a growing personnel. Feeling the song deserved a separate identity, one for the people, from the people, singing ‘This is our city, Orlando’ she chose the name Shadow Pearson & The City Song Players. Pearson refers to those involved with the project as Team City Song. Signed to Star 1 Group, the song debuted worldwide in September 2016.
In this interview feature, we speak with Shadow Pearson about this song, influences, and much more.
Full Q&A along with links and streams below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
I was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. For some reason the Magnolia State delivers a lot of music to the world. I am proud of that association. I am a storyteller. I straddle a few lines. Pop~Soul~Rock~Country. My group The Actomatics are defined more by sound than genre.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?
I was playing early as a child. Music was always apart of my family. When writing came for me I did not run. I was captured and remain so. It was never a choice to do or not do. I am.
Who or what are your biggest influences when it comes to your creativity?
There are things to notice everywhere. Folks like Charles Dodgson and Carlo Collodi remind me of wordplay and syntax. Yo la Tenga and Sonic Youth bring melodic noise and landscaping. Then someone like Ac/Dc tells me to simplify and turn it up.
And ROCK.
How is your new release different than previous ones? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?
Shadow Pearson and the City Song Players is a project group. Writing and recording City Song~Finger on the Pulse was a gift to the world from myself and the rest of Team City Song. All proceeds go back into the One Pulse Foundation. We are speaking for the people. The lyrics are a collective voice. We. Our message is from the people.
Do you face any challenges as an indie musician in a digital age? On the flip side, how has technology helped you (if it has)?
These are exciting times to be an artist. You can reinvent your product as often as you like and get it quickly to an audience. Perhaps something more at root for problem is having to govern it on your own. Most artistic types are not well-inclined to map out their entire career. But I see that everyone is learning. We are too.
How do you feel about streaming services? Any romantic attachments to the physical formats: vinyl, 8-track, cassettes, CDs?
People need to be turned on to what you’re doing. If that is what streaming is designed to do then I am fine with that. Stream it a few times and then require purchase. Why not. As for formats I have to think alot of folks are not discerning that vinyl sounds so much truer than MP3/4/CD. Or that it doesn’t matter. Factor in expensive and time consuming and how many artists are pressing on vinyl? So there’s that. However people are coming by their music I’m happy that they are. As for me approaching 4500 pieces of vinyl by now…we have a turntable in the kitchen.
Where can we follow you online and hear more music?
Anything else before we sign off?
The official City Song video will be released this Winter. Green Frog Entertainment in Atlanta is shoring up.
The Actomatics have a live record coming out accompanied by a full length performance video ~ The Actomatics Live at The White House.
