theSHIFT may be a new band, but individually each member of this trio — comprised of John Shannon (vocals/guitar), MJ Lambert (drums) and Ben Geis (bass) — already has a strong performance pedigree. Shannon has both recorded and toured with artists such as John Mayer, Ben Harper, and Lauren Hill; Lambert and Geis have opereated largely in the world of hip-hop, playing in backing bands for Big Daddy Kane and Slick Rick. Bringing together their extensive musical experiences, the group has recorded a six-track EP entitled 7th Direction.
“theSHIFT is about altering your consciousness through the sheer power of rock ‘n’ roll,” declares Shannon. “Our lyrics don’t question the government; they question the nature of your reality.”
Shannon tells PopMatters about the album, “We are psyched to release 7th Direction out into the world and connect further with our fans. Making this record was a leap into the unknown for us, navigating what our sound had been and what it was becoming at the time. We stand behind it as a statement of vision for the band and hope that people will take the chance to get into it.”
7th Direction is out on 14 April.