Photo by Mike Gray

PawPaw Rod is one searing guitar solo away from becoming an honorary member of Funkadelic. The Oklahoma local’s latest single, “Shadow,” is a groove worthy of any and every occasion. With it’s infectious, splashy bass line and snappy lyricism, bolstered by Rod’s keen Family Stone-esque fashion sense, it’s the perfect tune to get even your most left-footed friends up and on the dance floor.

It’s a jam, plain and simple. Produced by Jono Dorr (The Neighbourhood, Janine, Hayley Kiyoko), “Shadow” is filled to bursting with roomy, swinging drums and wah-soaked riffage, topped by a sweet set of twinkling, whistle-worthy synth runs. Its packed full of instrumental flavor, but never misses the opportunity to let Rod’s buttery vocal style demand the listener’s full, undivided attention.

“Shadow,” while an absolute sonic delight, is no mess of sunshine and rainbows. For the man bringing funk back to it’s mainstream glory days, Rod’s latest single is one of his more introspective tracks to date. “Shadow” takes his listeners down memory lane, but it’s not the neighborhood they remember. As he walks down old tired streets he used to know, corners he used to recognize like the back of his hand, he realizes he’s in a foreign land. The people are changing, too fast he’d say, and before he’s even realized it, so has he. Rod comes to the harsh realization that he’s left so many important things behind and filled those cavities with ego, pride, and ambition, scarring himself in the process. As he looks back over his shoulder, down the beaten path he’s since travelled, he finds the only constant glued to the soles of shoes– his shadow.

“Your shadow is like your inner child, and part of getting older is acknowledging that part of you and allowing it to exist within you,” said Rod. “You can’t be afraid of your own shadow– you have to embrace it wholeheartedly.”

Ahead of the release of his latest single, Rod made two huge announcements, revealing the release date for his upcoming EP, Doobie Mouth (An EP From PawPaw Rod), the latest installment in the eclectic PawPaw Rod series of tapes, set to hit shelves August 9, 2024. Subsequently, Rod also announced dates for his rapidly approaching Doobie Mouth Fall Tour, packed with headlining shows up and down the East Coast and Midwest. PawPaw Rod will also be supporting Still Woozy on the Love Seat Tour alongside Michelle and Gus Dapperton.

Previously published on Tonitruale.