Elle Shimada announces forthcoming album “LULLABY FOR THE RIVER IN MY DREAMS” and shares new single “ANSWERED PRAYERS”
ANSWERED PRAYER
‘unique brand of cinematic electronica’ — NOTION
‘emotive cinematic compositions’ — DJ MAG
Rapid-rising, genre-defying violinist, producer, curator, DJ and multi-instrumentalist Elle Shimada announces her highly-anticipated new forthcoming album LULLABY FOR THE RIVER IN MY DREAMS, set to release 18th July 2025. This comes alongside a brand new single “ANSWERED PRAYERS”, following previous releases such as “RED RIVER” and “FREEDOM”.
The Tokyo-born, Melbourne-based multi-hyphenate continues to affirm her status as one of the most exciting and singular talents in the musical landscape with latest single “ANSWERED PRAYERS”. Combining a multitude of genres from drum and bass to jazz, the track displays Shimada’s creative talent in full force, creating textured soundscapes and emotive cinematic compositions.
Speaking on the release, Shimada states:
“I think it’s a flex to be soft—after all the storms we survive. To remain kind and dream big despite it all—that’s powerful. I’ve written so many songs about searching for home, feminine rage, politics and documenting the storms in my internal and external worlds. But this one is a soft exhale. A lullaby for the river in my body.”
“ANSWERED PRAYER is about choosing peace, unapologetically— choosing love because it feels the fuck good. It’s for anyone who’s been running through chaos and is finally ready to rest in presence, inside their body.
Not because the world feels safer. Not because we stop resisting.
But because we choose to create safety within ourselves, so we can stand in our power.
This song is a reminder that peace of mind isn’t passive—it’s claimed, fostered, nurtured.
That we are all ready, the moment we choose it.
Easier said than done, tbh. But that self-loyalty. It’s a necessity.
Hope this song can serve you as a reminder that we are ever transforming, turning kinder and deeper every moment we choose peace.
Happy Birthday to me & my new album today
Old me is dead (rest in pity bitch)”
“ANSWERED PRAYERS” comes as the next release taken from Shimada’s highly- anticipated sophomore album LULLABY FOR THE RIVER IN MY DREAMS, a fourteen-track sonic journey serving as a safe space for emotional processing. Throughout, Shimada showcases her innate talent at bridging a multitude of sounds and genres, serving as a sonic diary to help navigate through the seven stages of grief. With LULLABY FOR THE RIVER IN MY DREAMS, Shimada invites listeners to join her in embracing softness as strength, and vulnerability as resistance.
Shimada has fast become renowned for her captivating output, regularly combining thick layered string lines with heavy new-jazz influenced beats, making for emotive, cinematic and other-worldly atmospheres that wouldn’t be out of place on any international dancefloor. Already clocking a legendary mix for The Lot Radio this year, Shimada has also completed key tour support for heavyweight names such as Alfa Mist, Live., Obogjayar and Flying Lotus. A driving force behind grassroots, multidisciplinary art and community events, Shimada comes fresh from completing an ambitious 26-date tour across Asia too—cementing her presence as a global artist with undeniable range and resonance.
2022 saw the delivery of Shimada's acclaimed debut album HOME # LOCATION via The Jazz Diaries—a journey through spiritual jazz and Drum n Bass in search of home beyond the geographical, touring in Australia, Europe, America, Indonesia and the UK with tenacious reception globally, racking up key tastemaker support across the likes of THE GUARDIAN, DAZED, NME, DJ MAG, and CULTED. Since, Shimada has released a slew of high-grade singles including the recent “PUSSY POWER POLITICS” alongside POOKIE and 2023’s remix for “Lucky” with Killa P and MadStarBase.
An unapologetically unique and authentic voice, who has decided to delve deep into her roots to form new musical and cultural connections, Shimada reminds us that the musician’s journey is filled with necessary twists and turns, and is the search that is truly developing her talent and repertoire. Intertwining with intersectional feminism, queerness, cultural curiosity, global and political mindset, Shimada utilises the uniting power of music to cultivate a dance-floor-activism, that is inclusive, honest and raw. All points to one of the most powerful young female voices coming through right now.
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Birthed by Elle Shimada (@elleshimada)
Creative direction Wackie Ju (@wackie.ju)
Drummer, Co-writer Lucky Pereira (@surana.lp)
Synthesizer, Co-writer Kurt Lam (@kurtt.lamm)
Mixing Moses Carr (@mosesesom)
Mastering Nick Herrera (@nick_herrera_production)
Creative / Production Team
Videographer, Producer Vincent Tran (@vincenttran.send)
Videographer Simon Kim (@simonkiiim)
Video editing Elle Shimada (@elleshimada)
Photography Mira Peddler (@mira____pedlar)
Hair Xeneb Allen (@curlysiouxsie)
Makeup Meg McConville (@moochimade)
Nails (@nailjoel.doll)
Hair Assistant Adam Anthonisz (@addysnips)
Gaffer (@___jap_________)
Styling Assistant (@anti0tina)
Wardrobe @NicolandFord, @Wackie.Ju, @Youkhanna
Team
Kim Suree (@kim.suree)
Aakanksha Sidhu (@aakankshasidhu)
Made possible by @creativeaustralia
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body
