I recently had a chance to chat with The Lonely People band on things music and food, topping it all off with a delicious cheeseburger. And who doesn’t love a good cheeseburger? Check out the recipe below!

The Lonely People, which started in 2020 during the pandemic, is actually the solo project of Shadow McCloud. Although the name suggests a full band, Shadow is the sole writer, producer, and performer on all the tracks, which will surprise many listeners who think it’s a group effort. Interestingly, more and more bands are being run by just one person managing all the aspects of production, like Tame Impala, Bon Iver, M83, Nine Inch Nails, and Mammoth WVH to name a few. It ties into the “lonely” theme of the band- where the event of forming a band feels solitary as fewer people are learning instruments or joining bands as they used to thanks to technological innovations. Nowadays, it seems as though many prefer to become rappers or social media influencers instead. Shadow draws inspiration from iconic bands such as The Beatles, Sugar Ray, and Radiohead, with The Beatles being a particularly strong influence. The ever-expanding catalog of The Beatles with songs like their last release, “Now and Then”, using John Lennon’s voice via an AI assist, continues to inspire musicians like Shadow.

The Lonely People’s first album, Destruction Man, came out in October 2023, featuring 10 songs, but lately, Shadow has focused on releasing singles, each gaining more traction than the last. The band’s latest single, “Echo”, was first released in August this year, with more new music on the way. The sound for The Lonely People can be best described as pop/shoe, being a hybrid of both pop and shoegaze music genres. Shoegaze encompasses plenty of reverb, delay, and distortion blended with layers of ethereal guitar sounds, creating a dense, introspective, dreamy, and immersive soundscape of music for fans. The Lonely People pair this shoegaze vibe with a pop sound resulting in a lush, atmospheric sound that prioritizes texture and mood for listeners.

The ultimate goal for The Lonely People is to impact listeners’ lives through music and eventually perform in front of large audiences, while also continuing to create personal connections with fans who share the impact of The Lonely People’s songs having helped them through tough times. While achieving commercial success is important to the band, the real goal for Shadow is to make his music have a positive presence in people’s lives. Shadow’s parting message to his fans it to stay hopeful and never give up, reminding them that what they’re seeking is also seeking them. He wants to encourage them to stay positive and always look ahead to tomorrow. Be sure to follow The Lonely People on Instagram at the link below and all streaming platforms for more good music.

Follow The Lonely People Band on Instagram

When it comes to food, The Lonely People loves a good burger, though he keeps them simple and avoids mushrooms. As a burger connoisseur, he loves all types of cheeseburgers and can eat them every day. His all-time favorite nostalgic dish is his mom’s spaghetti, a strong childhood memory. Shadow also enjoys a well-marbled ribeye with the perfect balance of fat and flavor. While burgers are his go-to, he balances them with veggies like potato wedges, mashed potatoes, and roasted asparagus, which he’s a big fan of. On the sweeter side, Shadow loves a Pizookie (a cookie with ice cream on top), cookies and cream ice cream, apple pie ice cream, and Reese’s cups. For this recipe, I decided to make a proper cheeseburger sourced from Bare Bones Butcher in Nashville with grass-fed, hickory-smoked cheddar cheese and a perfect burgerburger sauce, paired with roasted asparagus as a nod to his favorites. Check out the recipe below!

Cheeseburger and Roasted Asparagus

Ingredients for Cheeseburger

4 quality hamburger patties from your local butcher (Bare Bones has the best in Nashville or can also shape the burger patties with 1.5 lbs of grass-fed ground beef if preferred)
Lettuce, tomato, pickles, and sliced onion for dressing the burgers
4 to 8 slices of cheese of choice
4 brioche sesame seed hamburger buns, lightly toasted
Kinders Seasoning Prime Steak with Black Garlic and Truffle
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon butter

Ingredients for Burger Sauce

2/3 Cup Dukes Mayo
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons pickles, chopped
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoon yellow mustard
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Salt to taste

Ingredients for Asparagus

1 bunch asparagus, ends trimmed
5 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Directions

Sprinkle both sides of the burger patties with Kinders seasoning and Worcestershire sauce. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
In a mixing bowl, add all the ingredients for the burger sauce and mix until everything is combined well. Store in an airtight container in the fridge until time to serve the burgers.
Wash the asparagus and pat them dry.
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Arrange the asparagus on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Roast the asparagus in the oven while you begin to cook the burgers for 10 minutes.
Heat the butter in a large skillet on medium-high heat.
Place the patties to cook in the skillet for 4 minutes and then flip to cook for another 4 minutes.
Top each patty with a slice of cheese (two slices if you want more cheese) and cook for 1 more minute.
Dress the burgers with your favorite toppings and burger sauce on a warm burger bun. Serve with the roasted asparagus and enjoy!