From opposite ends of the Southern Hemisphere, a compelling new voice in modern music has emerged. The Transits, a New Zealand–South African trio, are not just a band; they are a cross-continental force powered by creativity, vulnerability, and fearless sonic exploration. Comprised of Ryan Lunn (vocals, guitars, synths, production), Dom Antelme (bass), and Tyrone Smith (drums), The Transits blend sweeping emotion with razor-sharp production, crafting tracks that are as sonically infectious as they are emotionally resonant. Now living and creating between Auckland and Durban, they remain grounded in authenticity while reaching for boundary-breaking innovation. Their compact, hard-hitting songs reflect both personal introspection and collective experience, offering listeners not just music, but a mirror
Their musical foundation is a bold alchemy of classic pop-punk songwriting, electrifying guitar hooks, and intricate synth-forward indie-pop production. Each member brings a unique artistic fingerprint, but it’s their synergy, their emotional honesty and technical precision, that sets them apart. Since the release of their self-titled debut album in 2024, the trio has quickly built a global presence, charting twice in the South African Top 40, with their breakout single When You Went Away reaching the Top 10. With media praise spanning the US, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, and beyond, including a feature in Rolling Stone magazine, The Transits are no longer rising stars; they are a band claiming their place on the world stage.
With their newest release, Dancing With Shadows, The Transits take their most daring creative leap yet, sonically, visually, and emotionally. Released on July 25, 2025, this synth-laced single is a masterclass in duality: a song that feels like sunlight but speaks to darkness, revealing the hidden weight of depression through the mask of melody. Built on lush, immersive textures and lyrical precision, Dancing With Shadows captures the creeping solitude of modern disconnection without losing its momentum. In the dark we starve, until the light sparks, sings Ryan Lunn, distilling both despair and hope into a single breath. At once danceable and devastating, the track pushes the band into uncharted emotional territory while deepening their sonic identity.
The single’s impact was immediate, so powerful, in fact, that The Transits were interviewed live on CNN Brazil the day it dropped. Paired with a groundbreaking, AI-driven music video directed by Arthur Machado and produced by Brazil’s Paranoid Production Company. Dancing With Shadows is more than just a song, it’s an artistic statement. Haunting, hyperreal, and universally resonant, it stands as a bold reminder: sometimes the most beautiful things are born in the dark.
Dancing With Shadows by The Transits opens with a striking sense of mystery. Right from the first few seconds, it casts a dim but alluring glow, immersing the listener into a shadowy emotional scape that blends isolation with an unexpected flicker of hope. The song doesn’t waste time with buildup, it instantly plunges you into an ethereal realm, courtesy of pulsating synths and ambient echoes that seem to pulse like a heartbeat in the dark. The entrance feels like stepping into a dream caught between moonlight and melancholy, where the production doesn’t shout, but whispers with power. There’s a steady rhythm that builds momentum, guided by distant pads and a haunting melodic refrain that gives the impression of dancing alone under streetlights in an empty city.
The instrumentation is subtle but masterful, fusing vintage-style synths with contemporary indie-pop production. The layers reveal themselves slowly: soft, shimmering percussive elements create an undercurrent of tension, while warm basslines and melodic motifs float in and out of focus. The track thrives on restraint, never doing too much, but knowing exactly what to do and when. This is where the real musical genius of The Transits emerges: they know how to let space breathe within the music, allowing the emotional core to be felt more deeply. The transitions are seamless, when the beat gently kicks in, it doesn’t disrupt the atmosphere, but rather expands it, pushing the listener deeper into the mood they’ve conjured.
Vocal delivery in Dancing With Shadows is achingly tender. The lead vocals move with quiet intensity, somewhere between a hushed confession and an emotional exhale. The tone is steeped in vulnerability, with every word carrying the weight of introspection. There’s a trembling beauty in how the vocals float just above the instrumentation, yet never overpower it. Instead, they drift alongside the synths in harmony, almost like a duet between voice and machine. The backing vocals are another highlight, they arrive like distant echoes or memories, accentuating the themes of loneliness and internal conflict with ghostlike precision. This vocal layering enriches the emotional complexity of the track, creating a sensation of both distance and intimacy.
What’s perhaps most striking about Dancing With Shadows is the synergy between the vocals and instrumentation. Rather than competing, they complete each other, like parallel lines that converge emotionally, even if not physically. The instrumentation reflects the same emotional terrain as the lyrics: subtle despair, existential reflection, and the delicate strength of carrying on. The production creates room for each sonic element to shine without clutter. Every synth wave and percussive touch is intentional, building an atmosphere that’s dark, yet never suffocating. It’s this balance that makes the song so hypnotic, you feel like you’re floating through someone else’s solitude, yet somehow relating to it as if it were your own.
Emotionally, the song is magnetic. From the moment it started, you’ll feel wrapped in a sonic mist, one that didn’t seek to explain, but to express. The soundscape was emotionally immersive, moving me to feel reflective and contemplative. It reminds you of moments spent awake at 3AM, when silence feels heavier and thoughts more intrusive. But despite its darkness, the song doesn’t abandon the listener, it subtly guides them toward acceptance, and perhaps even peace, with their shadows. The vibe is melancholic, yes, but also strangely comforting, like a familiar sadness that makes you feel less alone. This emotional duality, between sadness and solace is where the song derives its haunting beauty. The high-quality production cannot be overstated. Every element is meticulously mixed, with clarity and depth that elevate the listening experience.
The dynamic range is beautifully executed; the song never peaks too early, nor does it flatline. There’s a pulse throughout that keeps the listener engaged, building tension and then easing it with thoughtful shifts in arrangement. The use of reverb, spatial mixing, and stereo panning adds a cinematic quality, making it feel like more than just a song, it becomes an emotional short film for the ears. It’s no wonder the track resonates on both a musical and emotional level, it’s designed with intention, and it shows in every second of sound. This cinematic experience is matched and even enhanced by the official music video, directed by Arthur Machado and brought to life by Brazil’s Paranoid Production Company. Visually, it’s a surreal journey through AI-generated dreamscapes that align perfectly with the themes of the song.
Dancing With Shadows is a hauntingly beautiful anthem that turns silent struggles into shimmering, danceable expressions of emotional truth.
The imagery doesn’t try to explain, it evokes. With haunting visuals and hyperreal aesthetics, the video explores inner struggles and fractured identities, reinforcing the idea of dancing with one’s internal darkness rather than escaping it. The visuals almost feel like a mirror held up to the song, both surreal and painfully real, abstract yet grounded in emotional truth. Together, the song and its video form a cohesive piece of art that doesn’t just entertain, it makes you feel, reflect, and, ultimately, connect with your own shadows. Dancing With Shadows isn’t just a track, it’s an experience. A carefully curated blend of sonic beauty, emotional resonance, and visual storytelling. The Transits have crafted something that feels both timeless and current, deeply personal yet universally relatable. It’s a reminder that even in the darkest corners of our minds, there’s rhythm, movement, and maybe even light, if we’re brave enough to dance with our shadows.
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