Events Calendar
|
Latest Issue
|
Membership
|
Log In Sign Up
  • Play

    Play

    • A Beginner’s Guide to Soccer
    • You Spin Me Right Round: D.C. Roller Skating 101 in 2021
    • Leading the League: The WNBA’s Natasha Cloud on Breaking Barriers + Inspiring D.C.
    • Spring Has Sprung: 10 Ways To Get Outside in the DMV
    • Play Week Combines Games + Social Impact
    • High and Go Seek Illustration
    • O Captain, My Captain: Washington Spirit’s Andi Sullivan
  • Life

    Life

    • Local Entrepreneurs Infuse CBD into Wellness
    • 19 Entrepreneurs Shaping D.C.’s Cannabis + CBD Industries
    • Upcycling in D.C.: Transforming a Culture of Consumption
    • The Green Issue: Experts + Advocates Make Case for Cannabis Legalization + Decriminalization
    • The District Derp Story
    • Grassfed Media Champions Cannabis Clients
    • Nat Geo Explorer Gabrielle Corradino on Plankton, the Anacostia + Conservation
  • Eat

    Eat

    • The State of Takeout in the District
    • A New Twist on Food Delivery: MisenBox
    • Next-Level Home Dining Experiences in D.C.
    • Foxtrot Market Is Officially Open for Business in Georgetown
    • Food Rescue + Assistance Programs Fill the Gaps in a Pandemic Food System
    • Hungry Harvest Helps to End Food Insecurity
    • Notable Summer Bar + Restaurant Reopenings to Try this Spring
  • Drink

    Drink

    • Pandemic Drinking: Derek Brown Leads the Way to Low-ABV Future
    • D.C.’s St. Vincent Wine Creates Covid-Conscious Experience
    • A New Way to Binge: Sobriety Anchors Business + Being for Gigi Arandid
    • King’s Ransom + The Handover in Alexandria Celebrate a First Year Like No Other
    • Wines of the World Are Just Around the Corner
    • Open-Air Drinking + Cocktail Delivery Changes in the DMV
    • Denizens Brewing Co.’s Emily Bruno: Brewing Change for Community + Industry
  • Culture

    Culture

    • The Artistry Behind D.C.’s Cannabis Culture
    • The Best Movies of 2021…So Far
    • The Survival of the Brutalist: D.C.’s Complicated Concrete Legacy
    • Plain Sight: A Street-Front Revolution in Radical Arts Accessibility
    • A Touch of Danger in Shakespeare Theatre Company’s “Romeo & Juliet”
    • Artgence + Homme: Where There’s Art, There’s a Story to Share
    • 21 D.C. Makers + Curators to Follow
  • Music

    Music

    • Emma G Talks Wammie Nominations and the D.C. Music Community
    • J’Nai Bridges: A Modern Mezzo-Soprano in a Changing Opera Landscape
    • Punk Legends The Go-Go’s Talk Four Decades of Sisterhood, Resilience + Zero Fucks Given
    • Ellen Reid “Soundwalk:” Exploring the Sonic Landscape at Wolf Trap
    • SHAED Releases First Full-Length Album in a “High Dive” of Faith
    • Obama + Springsteen Present “Renegades”
    • Christian Douglas Uses His “Inside Voice” on Pandemic-Inspired Debut Album
  • Events

    Events

    • Play Week 4.17-4.25
    • Midnight at The Never Get 4.30-6.21
    • Cannabis City Panel Presented by BĀkT DC + District Fray
    • Browse Events
    • DC Polo Society Summer Sundays 5.9
    • National Cannabis Festival’s Dazed & Amused Drive-In Party
    • Vinyl + Vinyasa 4.30
  • Log In
    Sign Up

Log In Sign Up
Photo Gallery: Keshi, Weston Estate + James Ivy at The Anthem
Conor King of Milk. on Making a SXSW Debut
Optimism, Sunshine and Gearing up for SXSW: Danny Davis of Husbands
Christopher Willatt of Oracle Sisters on SXSW, Astrology + “Hydranism”
Abracadabra, The New Wave of No Wave, On Lifting Spirits At SXSW
Radar: Things To Do in D.C. This Week
Home » Articles » Music » Artist Shaolinn Offers a Meditation on Pain + Loss in “Blackstone”

Music

Shaolinn. Photo by Crystina Bond.

Artist Shaolinn Offers a Meditation on Pain + Loss in “Blackstone”

Share:

November 1, 2021 @ 12:00pm | Erin Clancy

The D.C. music scene has always been a vibrant intermingling of world-class musicians with roots in countless genres. As the world attempts to recover from Covid-19, both new and established acts from the area are barreling back headfirst into the music scene — and they’ve got a lot to share. Read on for our reviews of 10 local artists’ impressive new releases. 


Shaolinn’s “Blackstone” is an intoxicating meditation on pain and loss. The hazy, dreamlike music offers a stark contrast to the thoughtful, cerebral lyrics, ultimately lending to a heady narrative that is at once emotionally intimate and deliberately restrained.

Opening track “Heavy Heart” is a perfect example of the singer’s lyrical prowess. An upbeat yet contemplative reflection on the tribulations of youth, the song spotlights a pensive Shaolinn who confesses the role she’s played in her own pain: “I always had a heavy heart/I always had a rough start/but I never tried to take the time/to tell them that I love them so/even when they’re walking out the door/if I just told them how I really felt/I wouldn’t have a heavy soul.”

The EP offers more melancholic musings on romance, with “Frank” exploring the tension between desire and authenticity. In it, a conflicted Shaolinn sings affectionately of a lover: “I can’t comprehend/I love the way you dance,” yet she still reaches the self-preserving conclusion that she’s “gotta leave.”

The EP’s diverse spectrum of emotions matches the multitude of musical influences in the young artist’s work. While it echoes the soulful improvisation of R&B, its lo-fi vibe, alternative beats and layers of synth are reminiscent of the experimental sound of revered psychedelic artists like Mac Demarco. 

Catch Shaolinn at her upcoming show on November 5 at City Winery in Ivy City. Follow her on Instagram @samuraishao.

Enjoy this piece? Consider becoming a member for access to our premium digital content. Support local journalism and start your membership today.
Share:

Related Articles

No Articles

DISTRICT FRAY MEMBERSHIPS

District Fray members receive unlimited access to our digital content, including new articles published daily. We also have membership options available for locals interested in our print magazine, member events, or first-access tickets and giveaways.

Join Today
COMPANY
About United Fray Team Hiring: Join Our Team!
GET INVOLVED
Become A Member 2023 Editorial Calendar Corporate Wellness Contact: Media Pitches + Advertising Inquiries
EXPLORE
Eat Drink Music Culture Life Play Events Calendar
OUR CITIES
Washington D.C. Jacksonville Phoenix
Subscribe

By clicking submit, you agree to receive emails from District Fray and accept our web terms of use and privacy and cookie policy.

© 2023 District Fray.