I Am the Shaman

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"I Am the Shaman"
Single by Donovan
from the album Ritual Groove
Released10 May 2021
Studio Asymmetrical Studio, Hollywood, California, United States
Genre Psychedelic folk
Length4:23
Label Donovan Discs
Songwriter(s) Donovan Leitch
Producer(s)

"I Am the Shaman" is a song written by Scottish singer Donovan. It was originally released on his 2010 album Ritual Groove. The song and its music video were produced by experimental director and musician David Lynch, with whom Donovan has a shared interest in transcendental meditation. The music video was released in celebration of Donovan's 75th birthday on 10 May 2021.

Recording

Donovan wrote of the collaboration:

He had asked me to only bring in a song just emerging, not anywhere near finished. We would see what happens. It happened! I composed extempore… the verses came naturally. New chord patterns effortlessly appeared. [1]

The song was recorded in Lynch's Los Angeles studio. While the verses are reflective of the folk music which Donovan has been associated with, the choruses, as with much of the ambient atmosphere, are of a more experimental nature. The instrumentation and lyrics of the chorus were produced by reversing the recording. The song was originally recorded for Donovan's 2010 album Ritual Groove, but the music video was produced eleven years later. [2]

It was all impromptu … I visited the studio and David said, "Sit at the mics with your guitar Don". David in same room behind control desk with my Linda. He had asked me to only bring in a song just emerging, not anywhere near finished. We would see what happens. [3]

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References

  1. "David Lynch Directs a New Music Video for Donovan". Open Culture. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  2. "Donovan Taps David Lynch to Direct New Video for 2010 Song 'I Am the Shaman'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  3. "David Lynch Directs New Music Video for Donovan's "I Am the Shaman": Watch". Consequence . Retrieved 19 June 2021.