NIGHTSHADE AND THE FATES | INTERVIEW + TRACK REVIEW

Nightshade and The Fates aren’t just a band — they’re a mood, a myth, and a movement. Emerging from the Gold Coast underground with a sound that drifts between post-punk, dark wave, dream pop and alternative rock, their music feels like it was forged in flickering candlelight and late-night fog. Originally a remote collaboration between guitarist Christopher Zurawic and vocalist Angie Charles, the band has since expanded into a five-piece force known for their emotive, atmospheric live shows and richly textured songwriting.

Their new single Fallen is a brooding, cinematic slow-burn — the first taste of an upcoming EP that promises to delve even deeper into themes of darkness, transformation, and beauty. We caught up with the band to talk about the strange alchemy of their songwriting process, their love of nighttime stages, and why stepping into the shadows often brings the most clarity.

TRACK REVIEW

Fallen opens with a jagged, screeching guitar swell that feels more like a warning than an intro — and it works. There’s a thrill in not knowing exactly where it’s headed, but by the time the vocals hit, you realise you’re exactly where you need to be.

Haunting and distinct, the vocals cut through with a steady command, guiding the track’s dark undercurrent with eerie ease. The rhythm section drives hard, giving Fallen its punchy momentum and weight without ever overwhelming the atmosphere.

There’s a slow-burning tension that builds across the track, but it’s the vocal power progression toward the end that really lands the blow — raw, rising, and full of intent. Fallen doesn’t just set a mood; it drags you into it. And you’ll want to stay.

LISTEN HERE

Your new single Fallen feels like a plunge into something both haunting and beautiful. What emotional space were you in when you wrote it, and what does the track reveal about the upcoming EP?

Shifting of moods was much of our intention. Our guitarist created the bones of the core track and shared it to me so see if it resonated with music or lyrically. I first listened to it, imagined the melody walking up and down the beach in the cold, wet and rain over a few days. I loved the song and felt an easy connection to it. So yes, I guess that gloomy mood transposed through the overall feel. 

Nightshade and The Fates is a meeting point of gothic and alternative rock energies. How did your individual influences collide, and what was the first moment you knew this fusion actually worked?

We were both looking to start a music project and started sharing our own tracks between each other online. We hadn’t met each other, which made our connection all about the music. Christopher, our guitarist shared one of our other tracks ‘Elemental’. I recorded some vocal in a home studio and sent something back thinking it was okay and on the other side thinking I’m sending it to a complete stranger hoping I hadn’t insulted the music or original vibe. I think we both blown away after that. He couldn’t believe what was happening. 

There’s an otherworldly quality to your sound that blurs genre. Do you intentionally try to defy classification, or is genre fluidity something that happens naturally when you’re creating?

It’s definitely natural for us, but where a choice to move the feel, we often choose to be a bit darker. Think Christopher is more the dark wave, goth influence and I bring more alternative style to the music. Vocally, there can be is a low end, goth feel. We allow each other to bring their own natural creativity and we don’t try to reshape it too much. I might send a music track and he might send one to me. We actually wrote 5-6 of the songs by sharing each others tracks prior to our first meet and jam session. 

You’ve described the sound as “eclectic and experimental” with post-punk and dark wave edges. What does experimentation look like in your process, chaos, structure, or something in between? 

As we throw our ideas together they either bounce or blend. We just reinterpret and give it permission to work. With our rock elements, the foundational drum and bass structure holds the song. Even if we all drop out, the rhythm section sits strong. That gives space for interesting sound scapes. We are talking pulling sounds with slide guitar, pulling at pedals and effects to shifts moods through guitar and synthesizer. 

Your live shows are known for being emotive and atmospheric. What’s the goal when you’re on stage, do you want people to dance, reflect, lose themselves, or walk away changed?

We can loose ourselves and enjoy the stage. We try to create a set with atmosphere and bring a show. We move through a few different moods and energies in our set and that is quite purposeful. There are points of dark, moody reflections which kind of shift to elevation and bit of punk fun. We want people to walk away hopefully enjoying it and with a sense of curiosity. 

There’s something cinematic about your sonic palette. If Fallen were the soundtrack to a scene in a film, what would that scene look or feel like?

My visual interpretation of ‘Fallen’ is like driving through a wet, dark haunted forest, through foggy tunnels, searching for a light and way out. Sometimes the car wheels and corners screech and sometimes we reach the mountain top. No matter what, the momentum keeps on moving forward. 

You’ve moved from a collaborative duo into a five-piece band. How has that expanded or shifted your creative dynamic, and what do the new members bring to the vision?

All our songs began as multi instrumental tracks ready for a band, so the framework was there. We always knew we wanted synthesizer to bring more fill and deliver a sonic sound. Each member brings their own groove and rhythm which complements the original track intentions. Having a 5 piece means the tracks can be replicated with real instruments and no backing tracks. Our music goal is to be more authentic in a live space than any recording. 

Your music plays with light and shadow, beauty and grit. How do you balance those emotional extremes without losing cohesion in your songwriting?

I think each song has its own badge to wear. We find what the song is and wants to be and allow that to guide the layers. Be always look for push and pull in a song but aren’t afraid to do what we feel a song needs. I think that’s why our songs are very individualistic. Each song sounds very different to the next and much of our signature sound is the shifting from light to dark and turning on opposing elements. 

You say you only come out at night. What is it about the nighttime that captures the spirit of this band?

We love the dark dive bars, unusual haunts, alternative crowds, rock n romance. The stranger the better. We feel the energy of a stage, the people in front of us and try to deliver that in our own way. The most fun is definitely in the shadows… 

What does success look like to Nightshade and The Fates, not just in numbers or charts, but in the legacy you’re hoping to create?

Success to us is playing on some cool stages. We understand the reality of music. There is such a buzz with a live audience and to see and feel people enjoying it. That’s where it’s at.

LISTEN HERE