The Shadow Knows

  • Interview: Anika

    Annika Henderon in her Finger Pies video (2021) directed by Sven Gutjahr & Annika Henderson

    Annika Henderson is a musician, poet, journalist, film maker, DJ, radio host….the list goes on. In 2010 she released her debut album under the name Anika with Geoff Barrow’s band Beak>. Next, Annika formed the band Exploded View who released two albums, and she also found time to collaborate with people like Tricky, Dave Clarke, and Sam Shackleton.


    At the start of 2021 fashion house Jil Sander released a video for their Women’s Fall/Winter 2021 collection featuring new music from Anika. Following the release of the video I spoke with Annika about the collaboration and her next solo album.

    Read the full interview here.

  • Interview: David Toop

    Rap Attack (1984) by David Toop — Photography by Patricia Bates

    David Toop is an English journalist and musician whose work has appeared in The Wire, The Times, and The Face. His first book Rap Attack was one of the earliest to be published on hip hop, and he has since published books on improvisation, exotica, and ambient music.

    He is also an important member of the improvisational and experimental music scene, and has released albums on labels such as Obscure, Sub Rosa, and Room40, among others. Here we discussed his early experiences with hip hop, and writing Rap Attack.

    Read the full interview here.

  • Zenith Records, Australia’s record presses, & how to press a record

    Zenith’s studio, with lathe cutter in centre.

    In the last 30 years Australia has generally only had one or two companies pressing vinyl across the entire country. We dropped by the Zenith Records plant in East Brunswick where co-owner Paul Rigby talked through the history of their machines.

    Read the full article here.

  • Brother Jack McDuff

    Photograph by Don Schlitten for Screamin’ (1962)

    Perhaps best known for his work with guitarist George Benson, and later being sampled on A Tribe Called Quests’ Scenario, “Brother” Jack McDuff released around 70 albums across labels such as Prestige, Atlantic, Blue Note, Chess and Concord Jazz.

    While he experimented with different styles, McDuff stuck with the organ for most of his career and continued releasing music up until his death in 2001.

    Read the full article here.

  • Issue #1 Out Now

    Our first issue is available to read online now, or to purchase from our store. Inside you’ll find interviews with David Toop, Anika, and Marden Hill, alongside articles on Brother Jack McDuff, and Australia’s record presses.

  • Coming Soon

    The Shadow Knows is a new music zine launching July 2021.

    Created and published in Melbourne, Australia, we will be available to read online, as well as in print with a numbered and limited press run.

    We are putting the finishing touches to our first issue and will be announcing further details soon. Stay tuned.