STEP054 – Good Shepherd – What Is Real / Here For You

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Straylight Music Group - © Stepping Forward Records / Published by: We Are Legion ASCAP / Distributed by: Straylight Music Group

— AVAILABLE MAY 23rd 2025 —

Continuing the re-launch of STEPPING FORWARD in 2025 and our debut on Bandcamp, Good Shepherd returns to us with future liquid vibes. Speaking with the man himself about these two songs, he had this to say;

‘What is Real’ draws from the prototype cyberpunk aesthetic. I wanted ethereal pads and and the vocal sample to pull us all back into a melancholy sense of being. The upright bass is a twist, and it’s dynamic is strengthened with an additional bass layer that helps the song progress. I wanted to use live drum break samples and organic percussion layers instead of synthetic sounds for the main drums which fits with the aesthetic of Stepping Forward. The breakdown and second drop are led by an acoustic guitar that allows you to question, “what is real? How do you define real?

‘Here for You’ I wanted to create a hallucinogenic intro that leads into some well layered breaks and tops that pull you back down into reality. The sputtering and undulating bass provides the funk, and the space laser synth is meant to envelope your body is like a warm tingly blanket. And just when you are tucked into that groove, Bam! A techy arp and driving b-line slam you into another gear. I made this track for the drum and bass couch surfer.”