Keeping fans on the edge of their seats for the duration of the summer, trance luminary Shogun has been hard at work gearing up for the release of his third studio album Black & Gold.
Having already released some widely revered teasers from the album in the form of ‘Dakota’, ‘Space Capsule’, ‘Face In The Crowd’, ‘Lucky Strikes’ and ‘Over You’, there is only one single left unheard. ‘Dynasty’ completes the six-track project and the wait for listeners is now over as ‘Black & Gold’ is available now across all digital streaming platforms.
‘Black & Gold’ is a unique double-sided project that features everything from high energy festival anthems to electro-pop productions, ultimately showcasing the bona fide versatility of Shogun’s production capabilities. The ‘Black’ side of the LP is comprised of Shogun’s trademark club-primed anthems including the only single yet to be revealed before the albums official release – ‘Dynasty. ‘Dynasty’ is an explosive and all-encompassing classic trance track that sees Shogun’s Asian heritage shine through while the rising build falls into a wildly intoxicating drop, securing its place as the true standout track of the project. ‘Dakota’ and ‘Space Capsule’ impel the momentum of the ‘Black’ side as their booming basslines and pounding kicks build stronger to complete LP’s string of massive tracks that will surely grace the floors of clubs and festivals across the globe.
The ‘Gold’ side of the LP sees Shogun break his customary trance mold with a combination of introspective, emotional and dialed back records including ‘Face In The Crowd’, ‘Over You’, and ‘Lucky Strikes’. Comprised of plush synths and airy vocal chops from songstress Adara, ‘Face In The Crowd’ is a true testament to Shogun’s eclectic production capabilities. Further proving his artistic versatility, Shogun brings forth an electro-pop treat with ‘Lucky Strikes’ showcasing electrifying guitar riffs and glossy vocal toplines. Completing the “Gold” side is ‘Over You’ which makes for a melodic and emotionally compelling clubhouse hit.
With a string of impressive singles released over the summer, the Orange County native now sees his hard work come to fruition with the release of his double-sided Black & Gold LP. After catching the eye of trance legend Armin van Buuren, Shogun is surely no stranger to the scene as he has released on the Armind label and become the first Asian American to sign with the internationally renowned Armada Record Label. After becoming the first-ever Chinese American DJ in the DJ Mag Top 100 and holding his place in the Top 100 on four separate occasions, the trance luminary landed slots at a plethora of clubs and festivals around the globe, establishing himself as true trance royalty. The ‘Black & Gold’ LP will surely solidify the trance luminary’s standing within the forefront of the electronic dance music industry as it is set to be the most versatile, well-rounded and powerful body of work Shogun has produced to date.
