Near Death Experience don’t do half-hearted. They don’t phone it in. They show up loud, groovy, and fully alive — and with SHAKE, they’re here to remind you to do the same.
This new track from the London-based psychedelic rock’n’soul outfit wastes no time. Drummer Joshua Van Ness kicks it off with a rhythmic gut-punch, all funk and force, setting a pace that dares you to stay seated. It’s impossible. By the time Ian Whiteling lets loose with his soulful yell of “Shake me!”, you’re already halfway out of your chair, whether you meant to be or not.
The chorus is big, catchy, and absolutely unashamed. NDX lean into joy here, but it’s joy hard-earned — not blind optimism, more like a survivor’s celebration. There’s a sweat-soaked soul energy running through it all, but it never feels retro or derivative. It’s alive. Saxy bursts from Jack Dawkins cut through the groove like neon through fog, while Amar Grover’s deep bassline keeps the whole thing grounded with a low-end swagger that’s pure dancefloor glue.
And there’s a beating heart beneath all the movement. “I want you, I need you, I’ve gotta believe you,” Whiteling belts in the bridge, not with glossed-up polish but with the urgency of someone trying to shake off more than just inertia. It’s not just about dancing. It’s about pushing through the fog, dragging yourself toward whatever dream still matters, even when the odds are garbage.
There’s even a sly nod to disco in the track’s final stretch, a wink and a strut before it rides the chorus out on a high. It feels like the kind of song that could soundtrack a late-night drive with the windows down or blast from a club full of people who’ve had one too many but still aren’t going home.
As Whiteling puts it: “Hell! We might never get there, but at least we can say we gave it a damn good try!” That’s the core of SHAKE. Not perfect polish or glossy finish — but guts, motion, and giving it everything anyway.
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