DJ Shadow spent his teenage years in Davis, California and was a DJ at the community radio station KDVS. During his time as a radio disc jockey, DJ Shadow was significant in developing the experimental instrumental hip-hop style associated with the California-based Solesides record label. His early singles for the label, including In/Flux and Lost and Found (S.F.L.), were genre-bending works of art merging elements of funk, rock, hip-hop, ambient, jazz, soul, and used-bin found records. DJ Shadow is often cited as a leading creator of trip-hop, though this is a label he strongly contests.
Although he previously released a couple of original works (during 1991-1992 for Hollywood Records) by the time Mo' Wax's James Lavelle contacted him about releasing In/Flux on the fledgling imprint, it wasn't until his distribution association with Mo' Wax that his sound began to mature and cohere.
Shadow's first full-length work, Endtroducing....., was released in late 1996 to immense critical acclaim. Following the success of this album, he acted as a shadow producer for Rage Against The Machine for their album, Evil Empire. It is said he influenced the solo on their song "Bulls On Parade". Endtroducing... made the Guinness World Records book for "First Completely Sampled Album" in 2001. Preemptive Strike, a compilation of early singles, followed in early 1998. Later that year, Shadow produced tracks for Psyence Fiction, the debut album by U.N.K.L.E., a long-time Mo' Wax production team that gained superstar guests including Thom Yorke (of Radiohead), Richard Ashcroft (of The Verve), Mike D (of the Beastie Boys) and others. His next project came in 1999, with the transformation of Solesides into a new label, Quannum Projects. Nearly six years after his debut production album, his second album, The Private Press, was released in June 2002. In the same year, the movie "Scratch" (2001, Doug Pray) was released to DVD with DJ Shadow appearing several times throughout the movie.
The documentary films "Dark Days" and "Wisconsin Death Trip" feature music of DJ Shadow while "Scratch" features an interview and more music.
DJ Shadow has also collaborated with fellow artist Cut Chemist. Together they have made two CDs entitled Brainfreeze and Product Placement. These albums fuse jazz, funk, and soul in the framework of a cohesive concept. The second of these (Product Placement) followed a very similar pattern to the first, but using remixes/other versions of the songs in roughly the same order.
In the year 2004, Shadow released his feature length DVD, In Tune and On Time. The DVD features a live performance in London, emphasizing intricate visuals.
In 2005, Shadow released a Deluxe Edition of his first album, Endtroducing.... and a new album, titled "The Outsider" in 2006.
While Shadow's earlier works, especially 'Endtroducing.....', are known for their innovation in genres such as hip-hop, ambient, and trip-hop, his fourth full length album, The Outsider, had several tracks dedicated to Hyphy. This decision has been controversial, leaving many fans feeling alienated. DJ Shadow addressed this point in an August, 2006 interview, in which stated, "Repeat Endtroducing over and over again? That was never, ever in the game plan. Fuck that. So I think it's time for certain fans to decide if they are fans of the album, or the artist."
Also in 2005, Brian Udelhofen began work on the Shadow Percussion Project, an attempt to adapt some of the tracks from Endtroducing... for a live performance group. The result was largely successful and well-received by DJ Shadow himself.
In 2007 DJ Shadow was contacted by the Hollywood Bowl to do a show featuring Freeze with Cut Chemist. However, not wanting to repeat old material DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist came up with a whole new routine entitled The Hard Sell. In 2007 and 2008 they went on The Hard Sell tour and were accompanied on stage by two large video screens with visuals created for the tour.
Discography
Solo Albums
* 1996 - Endtroducing.....
* 1998 - Preemptive Strike
* 2000 - Dark Days
* 2002 - The Private Press
* 2003 - The Private Repress (Japanese Remix Album)
* 2004 - In Tune and On Time
* 2005 - Endtroducing... (2xCD Deluxe Edition)
* 2006 - The Outsider
* 2007 - The 4-Track Era Vol.1 Best of the KMEL Mixes
* 2007 - The 4-Track Era Vol.2 Best of the Remixes and Megamixes (1990-1992)
* 2011 - The Less You Know, the Better
with Q Bert
* 1997 - Camel Bobsled Race (Q-Bert Mega Mix) CD-EP
with UNKLE
* 1998 - Psyence Fiction
with Cut Chemist
* 1999 - Brainfreeze
* 2001 - Product Placement
* 2004 - Product Placement on Tour
* 2005 - Freeze
* 2008 - The Hard Sell
with Dan The Automator
* 1998 - Bombay the Hard Way: Guns, Cars and Sitars
Scale It Back feat. Yukimi Nagano
DJ Shadow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I thought I heard someone say, "Fly far away"
And when you reach up, the sky, I stay
This clueless, I wouldn't know,
We swam in the waves and let it go
Until I heard someone say, "Rise and beyond"
Where you're reaching, knocked over stars
Every moment I see with our clothes
Take me to places where we can stop
I dreamt I came from parking movements
Nothing can steal this treasure from us, babe
I'm still in love now, fighting the suns
Thank justice and come closer to me, babe
I'm falling out now
I dreamt I came from parking movements
Every moment I see with our clothes
Take me to places where we can stop
I dreamt I came from parking movements
Thank justice and come closer to me,
Babe, I'm falling out
The lyrics to DJ Shadow ft. Yukimi Nagano (Little Dragon)'s song Scale it Back are open to interpretation, but one possible meaning is the journey of a couple's relationship. The singer seems to be offering support and guidance to their partner, claiming that they can solve their problems and be there for them. The line "my feet fall over you inside" suggests a deep emotional connection between the two.
The second verse talks about dreams and escaping reality. The singer wishes for a place where they can be together without interruption, possibly suggesting that the outside world can be a hindrance to their relationship. The line "I'm still in love now, fighting the suns" could mean that the couple is still together despite all obstacles, or that their love is so powerful that it can overcome any obstacle.
The chorus "I dreamt I came from parking movements, every moment I see with our clothes, take me to places where we can stop" could refer to the moments of intimacy between the couple. The parking movements could symbolize the beginning of their journey together, and the clothes represent the outward image that they portray to the world. The line "take me to places where we can stop" implies a desire to be in a place where their love can flourish without interference.
Overall, Scale it Back is a song about love, support, and endurance, suggesting that true love can conquer all.
Line by Line Meaning
I swear I solve your life, my feet fall over you inside
I promise to help you improve your life, I am completely invested in you.
And I thought I heard someone say, "Fly far away"
I believed I overheard someone suggest that we should escape and depart from where we are.
And when you reach up, the sky, I stay
As you aspire for greater heights and pursue your dreams, I will remain supportive.
This clueless, I wouldn't know,
I am unsure of what to do in this situation.
We swam in the waves and let it go
We faced and navigated through the difficulties, and now we are allowing them to pass us by.
Until I heard someone say, "Rise and beyond"
Then someone suggested that it's time to go beyond our previous limits.
Where you're reaching, knocked over stars
Your aspirations are so high and ambitious, that you could metaphorically knock over celestial objects.
I dreamt I came from parking movements
I had a dream that I was born from the mundane and ordinary events of life, like parking a car.
Every moment I see with our clothes
I perceive every moment we spend together as unique and special, like an article of clothing we put on and take off.
Take me to places where we can stop
Let's go somewhere we can relax and be at ease.
Nothing can steal this treasure from us, babe
No one and nothing can undermine or take away what we have together.
I'm still in love now, fighting the suns
I am still deeply in love with you, despite obstacles and challenges that we face together.
Thank justice and come closer to me, babe
Be thankful for what we have, and draw closer to me.
I'm falling out now
I am experiencing feelings of great intensity and passion in this moment.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-bj2lu9qt3o
I swear I saw blue light
My feet followed it outside
And I thought I heard someone say
Fly far away
And when you reach up the sky is there
This clueless weather know
We swing the waves, and let it go
Until I heard someone say
Over the rise and beyond
Oh, where you’re reach and knocked over stars
Like light I came from pocket finesse
Every moment I see with eye closed
Take me to places where we can start
Like light I came from pocket finesse, every
Nothing can steal this treasure from us, babe
I’m still in luck– now
Fighting the sounds
Take chances and come closer to me babe
I’m fallin’ out – now
@db60615
This should've been a worldwide hit. This is the type of music we need mainstream.
@paab024
No we certainly don't want this music to get mainstream. The quality of the music will be lowered when in goes mainstream
@FlyKidFlaco
Agreed..but the good stuff you gotta look for it..I'm just glad i got here..
@urilevi9575
Yeah it should have. Agreed. Or at least a lot more recognition.
@maliaschacht8999
Agreed!!
@rastaman1873
Dj shadow been round since mid nineties, underground King
@jakewell8069
This song is just perfect for a summer night, when you go out on the balcony, you have a cigarette, everything is calm and you just watch the city fall asleep. Instant vibes
@muttakinc2281
Yeeee
@RCaIabraro
What would a summer night be without lungs filled with Polonium
@accuwrist
Love your version. In mine, it’s been a big night with stimulants, we’re back home dawn is just breaking and we’re still awake Still feeling buzzed , this song makes us cuddle and touch each other’s pink bits