Countdown to the Telepathic Windows Festival 2026 Vol. 1 // An Interview with TALKING TO SHADOWS

• Thanks so much for the interview. Let’s trace the band’s roots and story.

In 2016, Ron posted a Craigslist ad seeking a female vocalist to front a shoegaze project. Cat responded with a link to her SoundCloud, featuring her solo experimental work under Pai Mae, and the connection was immediate. The two began building the project together, eventually bringing in guitarist Greg (again via Craigslist), who fit perfectly from day one. Our drummer Alex arrived through the grapevine, introduced through Greg, and from the moment he joined, everything clicked. We wouldn’t have it any other way. Since then, we’ve been focused on creating music, connecting with our audience, and performing alongside incredible talents. We’re proud of what we’ve built, and regularly humbled by our community.

• What are your main influences and inspirations?
  

Our influences span the spectrum of alternative and post-punk. Ron draws from old-school goth rock: The Cure, Joy Division, Sisters of Mercy; Greg and Alex bring the emotional weight of American Football and the sonic intensity of Smashing Pumpkins. Cat adds an eclectic thread with Cocteau Twins, The Cranberries, and Chelsea Wolfe. Together, those influences collide into something that feels distinctly ours.

• How would you describe your sound?

Imagine the brooding atmosphere of old-school goth rock meeting the lush, layered textures of dream pop, then run it through the emotional intensity of post-rock and the raw, haunting weight of dark folk. Our sound lives somewhere in that space: guitar-driven and atmospheric, with vocals that drift between delicate and consuming. It’s music that feels heavy and ethereal at the same time.

• What do the words ‘Shoegaze’ and ‘Dream Pop’ mean to you?”
  

The term “shoegaze” has always amused us. It literally comes from watching guitarists stare down at their pedalboards, tweaking effects mid-song. But once all those layers kick in, you understand why it’s worth it. The result is something lush and ethereal, melodic tonal atmospheres that feel like a velvet dream. “Dream pop” lives in that same musical space; it washes over you so you feel it as much as hear it. For us, both tags feel like home.

• Tell us a little about your recording process and how you create your songs.
  

Our process typically starts with Greg sharing a riff, which becomes the seed of the song. From there, the whole band shapes it together: Ron sets the baselines, Alex writes the beats; everyone refines the structure together and puts their collective stamp on the final product. Demos are recorded at Alex’s home studio, giving us a space to experiment and iterate. Lyrics and vocal melodies are primarily Cat-driven, and sometimes go through a couple of rounds before you hear the finished version onstage. We’re currently compiling the songs that will take us into the studio in the next couple of months — so stay tuned.

• While you continue to play live intensely, we’ve been waiting for new releases for a while now. When will we have any good news on this matter?

We’ve got a lot in the works, and even more in the pipeline. Life has kept us busy recently, balancing family and work alongside the music, but that hasn’t slowed our creative momentum. We did consider stepping back from live performances for a stretch to focus on recording, but ultimately, we’ve continued to juggle both. Most recently, we’ve made a real collective push to move several works in progress forward, and we’re excited about where things are headed. Thanks so much for your patience, ya’ll. It means everything to us, and we promise it’ll be worth the wait.

• Which song(s) are you most proud of and best represent the band?
  

That’s a tough one, because every song means something different to us and reminds us of what we’re capable of creating together. “Soma” remains a really beautiful track and is emblematic of what we strive for. “Valentina” feels almost channeled from somewhere holy; it captures that dance with dynamics we love to explore. “A Different Kind of Wave” has an addictive, driving quality that carries a real power we’re proud of. And even our older tracks still hold up, “Exit Wound” is as raw and deep as ever. What excites us most, though, is that we still feel like we’re just getting started.

• What kind of old/new music are you listening to? Any bands or artists you are excited about at the moment?
  

We are always listening to new music. We love sharing what our friends are creating, and we make a point of getting out to festivals and shows to support the local music community. Honestly, the best way to keep up with what we’re spinning is to follow our stories because we’re often posting what we’re listening to there. Chances are, if you tune in, you’ll catch the new CQ Wrestling album, cuz Greg’s got that on repeat lately.

• Who would you most like to collaborate with?
  

Collaboration is something we hold close. We’ve been lucky to cross paths with so many incredible artists along the way, and nothing excites us more than the idea of hitting the road with friends we’ve made through this journey. We also love opening our stage to touring bands and hosting shows together. If you’re out there and the feeling is mutual — hit us up!

• What has been your best/worst gig so far (both as a performer and spectator)?

Our worst show was undoubtedly our first. Cat had never performed anywhere before (not even once!!!), and decided the solution to stage fright was liquid courage. It was not. Lesson very much learned. To anyone who was there that night: thank you for sticking with us. It only went up from there (way up!). Since then, we’ve had the honor of sharing the stage with so many incredibly talented bands. A recent highlight was opening for Strange Boutique at Black Cat in 2025 — that was a full-circle moment for us. Honestly, we are grateful for every single time we get to play music alongside this community. It never gets old.

• What are your expectations for the newcomer Telepathic Windows Fest, and what should the punters expect from your performance?

We have high expectations for Telepathic Windows Fest. Just look at that lineup! We are absolutely stoked to perform alongside such incredible talent, and we love that this festival is shining a spotlight on shoegaze. As for what to expect from us: power, dynamics, and intensity. We bring everything we have to the stage every single time, and our goal is always to connect with our audience through feeling — to make you feel something real. And after the show, please come say hi. We mean it. Y’all are the stars in our universe.

• What are your plans for the future?

We plan to keep the momentum going. One of our most pressing goals is to press vinyl once we get these songs finalized. That’s something we’re really excited about. Beyond Talking to Shadows, we stay busy with our other projects too: Ron plays with Ceromantics, and Greg and Alex are part of Sorry Marshal. As for Cat — she’s always getting into something. We love what we do and have no plans to slow down.

• Any parting words?
  

We just want to say thank you so much to Telepathic Windows, White Light // White Heat, The Risers Agency, and Fabrizio for including us in your shoegaze festival! We feel so lucky and honored to be a part of this. We also want to thank all of our listeners and audience who give back to us so much. We love y’all so much. Looking forward to seeing everyone real soon!