J.P. Shilo
is something of a Mystery Man.
He has spent the last decade helping to create the sounds for such luminaries as Mick Harvey, Rowland S. Howard, The Blackeyed Susans, Adalita
and also his very own Hungry Ghosts.
In 2009, following the death of his friend Rowland S. Howard,
there was a chasm left by Howard's untimely passing, a void which J.P. stepped into almost by accident. By accepting the task offered by These Immortal Souls
& his Pop Crimes
band-mates in channeling Rowland's spirit in the form of ensuing tribute shows, something very strange happened - J.P. stepped out from the shadows and into the spotlight. A role he was unaccustomed to but soon proved he was more than capable of - holding centre stage.
Long-time friend & co-conspirator on many seminal records at Birdland Studios, the elusive and reclusive Lindsay Gravina, saw at these shows the chrysalis of Shilo's talent, from their initial connections as a moody instrumentalist in Hungry Ghosts
into that of a fully-fledged singer/gun-slinger/songwriter.
"It really started out as a dare." says Shilo "I had no intentions of becoming a singer/songwriter, but something in the process of writing these songs for Invisible You, became really enjoyable, and fresh, and uncomfortable, but inspiring all in one."
What came from this was J.P.'s ability to draw yet another bow from his musical talents, blowing people away on a whole other level again with his seemingly natural ability to play anything he sets his mind to.
The record, 'Invisible You' brings together colleagues from J.P.'s past. Steve Shelley, famously drummer for Sonic Youth, invited Hungry Ghosts
to the Sonic Youth's NYC Studios to record their 2nd LP - 'Alone, Alone'. He also released J.P.'s first solo album, 'As Happy as Sad is Blue' on his Smells Like Records
label. Collaborating again, Shelley plays drums throughout this new project. Mick Harvey
lends his unique stylings to the keyboards on these songs, and even Kim Salmon
from the Legendary Scientists & Beasts of Bourbon
makes an appearance playing slide on a song or two.
What happens when you combine all these ingredients together with J.P.'s deft touch and new-found skill as a songwriter? A beautifully produced, genre-defying, shape-shifting slab of dark rock and diverse weirdalisations. 'Invisible You' is an intriguing record - just when you think you know what it is, it changes gears and J.P. moves to croon; makes you weep, makes you dance, makes you fall in love.
'Invisible You' is an extraordinarily strong record, and comes completely from left-of-field.
Following his hugely successful Australian album launch, J.P. will now be stepping out from the shadows and into centre stage to perform 'Invisible You' on a European Tour through October / November.