Track of the Day: Shakalak – Chipper (2026)
Despite having built a dedicated following over the past few years, I was introduced to Shakalak one month ago. Bridging the realms of psychedelic rock, hip-hop, and some soulful funk fluttering in the back, the Irish five-some can be described as unique, eclectic, experimental and innovative. We began our Shakalak journey with ‘Change’, and today we continue with their most recent single, ‘Chipper’. Want to come along?
Melodically, ‘Chipper’ is not necessarily all over the place but a bit left-field. Holding to a hip-hop flavour, a bold drumbeat pulsates through the track; a sound that keeps you tapping your toe and bopping your head in a steady run. Yet, while that beat is prominent, it quickly becomes lost in a kaleidoscopic ball of off-kilter strangeness. Keyboards run beneath, and I think something in the line of a guitar bounces along, each adding a psychedelic flush to ‘Chipper’. It’s entertaining, engaging, and just when you think you’ve found a pace, a smack of horns sweeps across, muddying the waters while still keeping things intriguing.
The instrumentation breathes life into a “okay, this is a bit odd” sentiment; however, a soothing charm also flits across, making it comfortable while being curious. Just as the tune is fascinating, the vocals bring a bold hip-hop edge to the track. Dark, gritty and rough, while glistening with a rich, honey-soaked depth, the vocal delivery is what imprinted this song on my mind.
Duality, ‘Chipper’ brims with duality. It’s fun and exciting because you have no idea what to expect in the next moment. Yet, as much as it diverges sonically, it has a quaint, tender, universal theme that connects all the dots. Vocalist John Cummins explains:
“’Chipper’ is a witty, groovy, tongue-in-cheek tribute to the ritual fest of the Chipper, in both the daytime and nighttime… It holds warm memories, and it makes me smile to think back. The first verse is lunch o’clock, the second verse is night… ‘Chipper’, the song, is… an ode to the places and people that matter. I swear when you listen to it now, you can almost taste the batter.”
Find out more about Shakalak on their Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Bandcamp and Spotify.
This artist was sent to us by Jawdropper Music.
