Brendan Shane on The Nocturnal Affair’s Journey and New Music
On Wednesday, May 6, 2026, Brendan Shane of The Nocturnal Affair sat down with Loudwire Nights to celebrate the release of the band’s latest single, “Oxygen,” and reflect on the winding road that brought him to this moment in his career.
For Shane, the journey into music was not a straight line. Before finding his footing with The Nocturnal Affair, he spent years navigating the complexities of the metal scene. “I was in a few metal bands before this one and growing up, you have a dream to be all you can be in the music industry,” Shane shared. He noted that the reality of band dynamics—often plagued by ego and conflicting visions—taught him valuable lessons about what he truly wanted to create.
Reflecting on his past, Shane recalled working with producer John Moyer of Disturbed, a collaboration that yielded a strong EP but ultimately fell apart due to internal friction. “We had a killer EP and then we ate each other from the inside out… I kind of got sick of nobody listening to my ideas,” he admitted. This frustration became the catalyst for a new creative direction, leading him to lean into his love for goth rock.
The birth of The Nocturnal Affair was unconventional. Initially operating under the name “the Feels,” the project began as a secretive endeavor. Shane recounted a bizarre but pivotal moment when a talent buyer at the House of Blues forced the band to perform at a corporate event, leading to a memorable, masked performance that solidified his confidence in the project. When it came time to move beyond the anonymous phase, the name “The Nocturnal Affair” felt like the perfect fit for the atmosphere he was cultivating.
Looking ahead, Shane confirmed that the band has plenty of material in the works. “We sure as hell have enough tracks for a full-length album,” he said, noting that fans can expect a steady stream of new music throughout the year. As the band prepares for upcoming dates in Europe with Fear Factory, Shane remains focused on building the foundation he once felt was missing in his earlier years.
Beyond the music, Shane’s path is equally fascinating. Before committing to rock, he spent over a decade in the special effects makeup and haunt industry, even working for major entities like UFC and ESPN. It was a period of professional success that left him feeling unfulfilled, eventually leading to a “quarter-life crisis” that pushed him to pursue music full-time—a decision encouraged by his father shortly before his passing.
Listen to the full conversation in the player below.
Listen to the full conversation in the player near the end of this article.