104. EP Review of Cut You Out by Fireside Shadow
Originally Published March 26th, 2025
About the Artist
It’s funny how some things stick with us; resonate with us. I’ve had a lot of influential people in my life with regards to music. One of them is one of my college professors, Lynn Peterson. Mr. Peterson is the kind of guy that you might look right past if you saw him in a crowd. He’s soft spoken, not very tall, and maybe his most remarkable feature might have been his glasses, which were about as thick as the bottom of a glass soda bottle. Yet, he is one of the most memorable people in my life. One thing I’ll remember him saying is, “Nobody will be as influential in music as The Beatles were (this was said back in 2002). He then said the thing that prompted the thought exercise. “One person came close: Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails.”
Not that significant of a comment, really, if you look at it on the surface. But if you analyze what he said, damn. He’s right. Rock music changed composition of music altogether. We went from big band, swing, and jazz music; club music like Sinatra and the rat pack, to plugging guitars into amps, more structure, and ways to push the boundaries of the rules music theory dictates. That evolved from acts like the Beatles to Pink Floyd, Queen, then Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, etc. so many more examples but hopefully you’re staying with me. The 80’s introduced a new element to music to the forefront by synthesizing popular music. This digital frontier was untapped and had endless potential. None sought to do with it what NIN did, however. Credit for bridging rock and synth can probably go in a few different directions but I will always go to NIN as the pioneer that realized its possibilities.
Thirty years later, this bridge has evolved into some of the most interesting music played by some very talented musicians. One of those acts is Minneapolis, Minnesota’s Fireside Shadow. First starting in music as the leading lady for a rock band, she discovered her interest stemmed more in the production of the song; not just being a lyricist, but combining all of the elements to produce a total package. So, Reba Dougherty started the Fireside Shadow solo project.
Her debut would be the single Spider's Eye, which released in August of 2024. Using metallic percussive sounds, a driving fuzz synth part, and an effect that sounds like a creepy rhodes tone, Fireside Shadow jump into the production arts with both feet. As 2024 concluded, she would release 3 more singles.
About the EP
Cut You Out is a 6 song EP that released on March 15th, 2025. In addition two the 4 singles that were released at the end of 2024, it includes the title track, Cut You Out and a bonus track, Smile At You. It has a run time of 23 minutes. Vocals and music all performed by Fireside Shadow.
About the Music
In her Spotify bio, Fireside Shadow references NON, as well as Paramore, which I had already aligned to this work prior to reading the bio. In Cut You Out, she performs the transition of the notes by sliding up and down to each following note. This is an effect that Hayley Williams has perfected. Here, Fireside Shadow has had success within her own work as well, utilizing this tactic.
The production of the music sounds incredible. It has a mechanical theme; often using additional percussive sounds mixed in with more traditional percussions. For instance, an effect that sounds like a chain being pulled acroos a concrete floor. Fireside Shadow uses an arsenal of interesting synth effects to set the tone within each song.
All of the great things that are being done with production would be lost without the vocal performance of Fireside Shadow. She is within her element in this genre of music. She has moments where it is clear to me that she has a very lovely voice. She also deliberately utilized a gifted skill of incorporating a dirty, grungy, screaming element to her vocal performance that is sensational. In addition to Williams, it reminds me of an older song by an Australian band, The Veronicas, and they had a song called Revenge is Sweeter (Than You Ever Were) that makes me stop what I’m doing to listen every single time I hear it. Fireside Shadow has that same capability with finding beautiful things in very distressing places.
Final Thoughts
As all sharp objects are, Cut You Out is necessarily rough around the edges. Fireside Shadow has demonstrated that beauty comes from dark places too, not just from the shiny happy ones. She’s not afraid to dirty up a harmony, or a chorus part. The instruments are even getting dirty, with different fuzz, distortion, and other kinds of effects that give this an almost post-gothic feel.
This album doesn’t shy away from its emotion. The anger is palpable. It almost makes me feel uncomfortable. And I can’t begin to convey how much I absolutely love that. I feel like I am right there with them in this experience. It’s as if I’m watching a 3D movie and I’ve just been hoisted into the mix of it.
Fireside Shadow is in the very beginning of her career as a recording artist. That’s almost scary as she’s demonstrated such growing potential. She’s already experimenting. She’s already taking risks. She’s already unapologetically vulnerable and honest. She’s got every tool in her bag and I am eager to see what she builds with them.
Check out her YouTube Channel where she has several music videos posted!
Cut You Out is on all major streaming platforms and released on March 15th, 2025!
Go press play!
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