The Shadow Knows — Issue Four Contents, Intro/Outro

Intro

Welcome to issue 4. It’s a bit later than intended, but we made it! Unfortunately, this might be the final issue in print. We’ll still publish online, and hope to relaunch the zine in some form again in the future, but this will be the last one for now. I’ve also reduced the print run to 50, so lucky you for getting a copy!

But what’s in this issue? Issue 3 was filled with interviews, and this time there’s more long reads for when you just want to sit down, put an album on, and read. But hey, there’s interviews here as well!

Contents

Toshio Nakanishi — On the early career of Toshi, founding member of Plastics and Melon, who introduced the world to the sounds of Japanese New Wave before taking hip hop back to Tokyo and starting Major Force Records.

Summersault — The Summersault music festival was held over the summer of 1995/96 in Australia and has remained a highlight in the memories of all who were there. Stephen “Pav” Pavlovic founded the festival and has recently been celebrating it again with an art exhibition in Sydney. We spoke about his legacy, and that of Summersault.

Maria Moles — Australian percussionist Maria Moles give a career spanning interview and reveals the secret behind the creation of her recent album artwork.

Jberr — Jack Berryman is an Australian electronic musician, who has been sending their music out to the world under the name jberr. They discussed their latest project.

Hania Rani — The minimal pianist from Poland Hania Rani has become increasingly popular with each album release. As her latest album was being teased, we took a look at her career so far.

Free Tibet — Beginning in 1996, Tibetan Freedom Concerts were held around the world and the Free Tibet movement was promoted and followed by musicians and music fans alike. Tibet still isn’t free, but the movement continues. We look back at the concerts, and to the future.

Outro

Is this the end? Possibly. This is the final print issue of The Shadow Knows for now. I’ve always wanted to make a magazine so this was fun to do, but the reality is I enjoy research and writing a whole lot more than marketing and selling stock.

The response to all of the articles has been great, and I’ll keep publishing online, with several new articles planned on various things. I know reading stuff online isn’t as enjoyable as print (especially for long articles) but I hope you’ll keep reading.

I’m also planning some books, expanding articles from previous issues, and I hope to reveal more about those by the end of 2023.

I’d like to thank everyone who has supported this zine. Each issue has allowed me to talk to incredible people and it’s been amazing how open people have been to chat to some guy in Australia who likes writing about music. I’m still blown away I got to speak to David Toop and Anika in issue one!!!

I’d also like to give a special shout out to Dave aka @thedjshadowcollection on Instagram. Dave has run several giveaways of each issue, sent me photos of his collection to use, and is just a lovely person all around. Thank you! Likewise, everyone who shared, liked, and commented on posts on The Shadow Knows Instagram, and of course everyone who shared the articles online too. It’s been very encouraging.

I wish The Shadow Knows was my full time job, but unfortunately not. Maybe it’ll relaunch in 2025 with 100 full glossy pages and 80% advertisements? I doubt it, but who knows?

That’s all for now,

James Gaunt
Editor, The Shadow Knows
www.theshadowknows.com.au
editor@theshadowknows.com.au

The Shadow Knows was produced in Melbourne, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people.

We would like to pay respect to those elders past and present whose lands we meet on, and acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners of this land.

This article was originally published in The Shadow Knows Issue #4, March 2023. Buy the fanzine here or read more at our website.