In this episode, I sit down with Jen Vaughan (Vocals), Darren O’Keeffe (Rhythm Guitar) and Scott McGowan (Lead Guitar) of the band with Mike Jordan (Bass) & Barry English (Drums) making up the rest of Shadows Calling, one of Ireland’s most exciting rising bands blending alt-rock, grunge, and metal into a sound entirely their own.
We dive into how the band came together—born during the 2020 lockdown as the brainchild of Mitchelstown native Darren O’Keeffe. He began writing original material for the first time and teamed up with his sister Jen Vaughan, a seasoned frontwoman with 20+ years in the music industry. Darren later discovered Cork guitarist Scott McGowan through an online musicians’ platform, igniting the dual-guitar foundation that drives the band’s hard-hitting sound.
Their debut EPs, Spirit Shifter and These Scars, showcase their raw energy, collaborative songwriting, and genre-blending edge. All lyrics are co-written by Darren and Scott, with music crafted collectively by the entire band.
We also talk about the creative process behind both EPs—produced and mixed by John Murphy (For Ruin) and mastered by Marco Tervonen of The Crown (Sweden)—plus stunning artwork by Colin Bolger (Spirit Shifter) and Giulia Benvenuti (These Scars).
From studio sessions and live tour reactions to Jen’s perspective as a female vocalist in metal and what 2025 has in store, this episode is packed with insight, passion, and authenticity.
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▸ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1T4NZVz7bX6IzMH2VBnqKC
▸ Merch: https://shadowscalling1.bandcamp.com
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