Julian Shah-Tayler is a singer-songwriter, producer and remixer born and raised in Leeds, England, and now based in South Pasadena, a bucolic city situated between Pasadena and Los Angeles. Influenced by 80s and 90s New Wave, Britpop and Electronic Rock, he creates music that some of his fans have described as “if David Bowie and Depeche Mode had a baby”. In fact, he’s in a Depeche Mode tribute band called Strangelove, and also a Bowie tribute act The Band That Fell To Earth. He’s had an illustrious and successful music career spanning over 20 years, both as a solo artist under the music moniker The Singularity, and as a collaborator with numerous musicians and producers. He won a “Golden Trailer” award for his work with Lana Del Ray on the trailer for the Disney film Maleficent, and had one of his songs performed by “Tellavision” during the “Unite for Humanity” charity event at the Oscars. Three of his songs were used for the music movie Plush directed by Catherine Hardwicke (who also directed Twilight). Shah-Tayler also cofounded a charity called “Art Angeles”, which provides music instruction for underprivileged kids in Watts.

In May of 2023, I reviewed his album Forget That I’m 50, an ambitious collaboration with friend and mentor David Chatfield, in which they – along with a host of other musicians and vocalists – reimagined the ten songs of David Bowie’s classic 1973 album Aladdin Sane. (You can read that review here.) Since then, the prolific artist has kept himself busy by releasing Diamond Dogs (Golden Anniversary Edition), a cover tribute to the 50th anniversary of another classic Bowie album, as well as numerous singles, including covers of such songs as Prince’s “Sign O The Times” and Bryan Ferry’s “Slave to Love”. His latest single, released today, December 20th, is “Malicious Intent (The Untalented Mister Ripley)“, a powerful and scathing rebuke to someone he thought was a long-time friend, but who ended up betraying him. The track will be included on his forthcoming album Honne/Tatemae, scheduled for release on March 7th.

About the song, Julian elaborates: “There is never a good time to realize that one’s good intentions are being taken advantage of, one’s trust is being betrayed, one’s loyalty is rejected, and one’s help is ridiculed. I had a friend – an Untalented Mister Ripley – who followed my every move and rode my coat tails in careers, work, music for over 20 years. He slept with too many of my Exes. He used my contacts and friends in the industries AND in real life. He shadowed me, contacting me only when he needed my help. This pattern, I realized too late (through conversations with his “friends” and exes), persisted throughout his relationships and he treats ALL as a means to HIS ends. It was only when he chose to move in close to my daughter that I realized what a disgusting piece of filth this man was and that his intent towards me had always been malicious. This song is about dealing with the emotions surrounding his mediocrity and releasing the anger I feel without taking it into a physical space.“

The song features harsh, discordant synths, menacing strings and tumultuous drums, fortified by a torrent of violently crashing cymbals, all of which beautifully create an unsettling, almost diabolical soundscape for Julian’s angry, emotionally wrought vocals. He practically spits the bitter lyrics denouncing his former friend who’s hurt and betrayed him:

I can’t believe you are so weak, 
You fairground clown
Bewilder me in mediocrity
You started war, I’ll burn it all down

Malicious Intent
You got, I got. 

You coward, user, my enemy, 
Untalented Mister Ripley
My shadow’s always been your guide
So I’ll come round and knock out all your lights

Turn it off, make it stop. 
Make it stop. 
Make it stop

The "Truth that Hurts" is you’re wasted space
You "Crash" and burn, "Three Second" RATE
You use what’s mine to plant your seed
This “winning spin” is the FAIL you need

Malicious Intent
You got, now I got it too, you got, now I’ve got it for you. 

Turn it off, make it stop. 
Make it stop. 
Make it stop
Make it stop

The video shows repeated imagery of a photo of Julian and his former friend, with the friend’s side of the photo being set aflame:

In addition to the song, Julian’s also released two terrific remixes by Danny Saber and FLIPX. Here are all three tracks on Bandcamp:

Julian’s socials:  Facebook / Twitter/X / Instagram / TikTok

Find his music on Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music / Bandcamp / YouTube