dark before dawn
— a shiro/keith (sheith) fan soundtrack (2016)

A general self-indulgent mix on sheith and their journey: from pre-Kerberos, their reunion, and imagined ever after. Mix contains quite a bit of pining!Keith because he's the one that's been left behind although a few can be applicable to Shiro as well. Then of course, there are some through Shiro's pov. (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧

Dark Before Dawn is told in 23 songs with 2 bonus "AUs," totaling 25 tracks. It was hard to resist. (′͈∨‵͈♡)

Listen to Dark Before Dawn at 8tracks, playmoss (missing 8 tracks because of content restrictions), spotify or view tracklist with youtube links. ❤

Scroll to the end for notes and links to works that I thought were perfect for a few of the tracks. (*’∀’人)
artists » ashes remain, breaking benjamin, greyson chance, lauv, major lazer, robert mendoza, troye sivan, tydi and x ambassadors

01. FOOLS Troye Sivan

I see a little house on the hill and children's names. I see quiet nights poured over ice and Tanqueray. But everything is shattering and it's my mistake.

Greyson Chance Afterlife .02

I just want to hold you, Keep you in my world. But you wanted to go higher, Take the chance and explode.

03. Without You
Ashes Remain

Hold me now. I need to feel You. Show me how to make it new again. There’s no one I can run to. And nothing I could ever do. I’m nowhere if I’m here without you.

Lauv The Other .04

Who wrote the book on goodbye? There's never been a way to make this easy. When there's nothing quite wrong but it don't feel right. Either your head or your heart, you set the other on fire.

05. Without You
Breaking Benjamin

I wanted to forgive. I'm trying to forget. Don't leave me here again. I am with you forever, the end.

Still Falling .06
Robert Mendoza For You

— a violin cover » It took us a while. With every breath a new day. With love on the line, we've had our share of mistakes. But all your flaws and scars are mine. Still falling for you.

07. Oceans
tyDi & Jack Novak ft. Greyson Chance

I fell into the deep end. You start to rise above me. And I tried to pull you in. Now all that I can dream of, Is a place where you're my love. [...] Still want to fall with you. I want to fall in the oceans like we used to do.

Waiting Outside .08
Greyson Chance The Lines

Rules and regulations, Force you to play it safe. Get rid of all the hesitation, It's time for you to seize the day. [...] Don't wanna have to force you to smile. I'm here to help you notice the rainbow. 'Cause I know what's in you is out there.

09. Unsteady X Ambassadors

Hold, Hold on. Hold on to me. 'Cause I'm a little unsteady. A little unsteady. [...] If you love me, don't let go. If you love me, don't let go.

Cold Water .10
Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber & MØ

And if you feel you're sinking, I will jump right over into cold, cold water for you. And although time may take us into different places, I will still be patient with you. And I hope you know, I won't let go.

11. In The Name Of
Love Martin Garrix & Bebe Rexha

When there's madness, when there's poison in your head. When the sadness leaves you broken in your bed. I will hold you in the depths of your despair. And it's all in the name of love.

Conor Maynard Crash .12

And I really, really, wanna love you. And I'm really only yours. Even if it don't last forever, I wanna let you know. We really had something special, it's hard tryna let it go. I'm just being honest, I'm still in the moment.

13. Atlas Shannon Saunders

When you think no one is watching, I'm watching only you. When you feel no one is listening, I hear through the noise to hear you. If you're looking for the demons to play while with your own, then you should look no further. Here with me, you'll never have to be alone.

Years & Years Shine .14

It's shaking the sky. And I'm following lightning. I'll recover if you keep me alive. Don't leave me behind. Can you see me I'm shining. And it's you that I've been waiting to find.

15. Still Falling
For You Ellie Goulding

It took us a while. With every breath a new day. With love on the line, we've had our share of mistakes. But all your flaws and scars are mine. Still falling for you.

Sound Of .16
Shawn Hook Your Heart

You showed me heaven, you rang up bells. I played with matches, it hurt like hell. Asleep and wake, you're all I see. I can't escape you, can't set you free. I miss your full moon rising, catching a breath in silence. Can't stop this bleeding, can't stop believing.

17. The Wreck
Of Our Hearts Sleeping Wolf

So sing while we’re falling apart. I’ll take you dancing. We’ve lived through the wreck of our hearts. And now we’re just picking up the pieces. Learning how to see when love is in the dark.

I Can't Not .18
Every Avenue Love You

The further I run from you baby, The closer I get to the truth. And I feel like nothing can save me. It's something I just can't undo. Cause I can't not love you.

19. Ashes of Eden
Breaking Benjamin

Stay with me, don't let me go. Because there's nothing left at all. Stay with me, don't let me go. Until the Ashes of Eden fall.

House of Cards .20
Tyler Shaw

But my hope was running low. You appeared out of nowhere. It was more than an illusion. More than I could ever know.

21. It Happens
All The Time Tyler Shaw

Everytime you smile, there's sunshine. There's something in your eyes, I can't deny. Your gravity, keeps pulling me in. It happens all the time.

Lights Down .22
MAX ft. gnash Low

Turn the lights, turn the lights down low. Yeah. Now I'm feeling you, breathing slow. Cause baby we're just reckless kids, Trying to find an island in the flood.

23. Say You Won't
Let Go James Arthur

I knew I loved you then. But you'd never know. 'Cause I played it cool when I was scared of letting go. I know I needed you. But I never showed. But I wanna stay with you until we're grey and old. Just say you won't let go.
artists » conor maynard, breaking benjamin, ellie goulding, every avenue, james arthur, martin garrix, max, shannon saunders, shawn hook, sleeping wolf, tyler shaw and years & years
bonus: AUs

Still Dancing .24
Calum Scott On My Own

« of missed chances, misunderstandings and (unknown) mutual pining. »

"I'm in the corner, watching you kiss her. I'm right over here, why can't you see me. I'm giving it my all, but I'm not the guy you're taking home. I keep dancing on my own."

25. Breathe Lauv

« I should leave 'cause you deserve better. »

"You're my all and more. All I know you taught me, yeah. You're my all and more. But I need room to breathe."

stay a little longer.

Whether you've reached the end after your perusal or just curious about the ending notes, thank you. I hope you enjoyed the journey! ❤

You could say my 'pre-Kerberos' sheith is imagined under the cirumstances that they're already together and Shiro's about to leave for the mission because I don't have any fluffy songs of the two coming together. *sweats* It's mostly angst on Keith's side. ^^;; 8tracks only allows the user to play the tracks in order once and any subsequent replays are shuffled. ;( They're all great songs but I do hope the tracklist was able to paint a complete story. ❤

"Dark Before Dawn" embodies the hope I have for Shiro and Keith's relationship. It's a tale of letting go of the one you hold close but failing to; one where you two are reunited to discover them a changed person but still find yourself very much in love; of being patient and understanding; of allowing oneself to move from the hurt and scars, realizing that you are loved and will always be worthy of love; and finally welcoming love and allowing yourself to be happy. Title is shamelessly taken from heavily inspired by Breaking Benjamin's 2015 album of the same name (I love them sfm; they sing my soul) and also takes influence from Johanna's "Dawn" of Dusk & Dawn, Sa's Colours of the Sky Series and Ame's Flashback/Reality. tl;dr Even with all the flaws and scars, I still love you.

Track 17: The Wreck of Our Hearts is imagined with None's Hurt < Comfort. Track 22: Lights Down Low makes me think of Mikael's Morning Sheith. Track 23: Say You Won't Let Go, reminds me of two sheith!family AUs: the first is Cathrel's voltron sheith family au (also see this tag for more adventures) with dawnstruck's microstorm fic; and the second is sakeesakee's sheith family au. ❤

My personal faves are Ashes of Eden (it's one of my favorite from BB's album; have you seen the mv?) and Lauv's songs (I'm in love) especially Breathe (it's breathtaking). Wendy recently linked me to awkwardspaceturtle's one final act and it fits Breathe so much it hurts. (Thank you, Koala! ❤) I actually have a third song from Lauv (another AU), Reforget (which reminds me of dawnstruck's done with solitude), but 8tracks only allows you to upload 2 songs from the same artist. ;~; I also adore Still Falling For You, both the original and violin cover, (couldn't stop playing both) as well as The Wreck of Our Hearts. Lights Down Low was a last minute addition but I was stoked when I found MAX's newest song and I thought it was perfect. ❤

Dark Before Dawn will hopefully serve as a motivation of sorts to do something productive. But who knows? Thanks for reading! If there's anything to be taken from here, it'd be at least the discovery of new artists (hopefully)? ❤

Fonts utilized are Abril Fatface, Hind and PT Sans which can all be found at Google Fonts while "Cement" background is from Subtle Patterns. Textures used on album covers are from resurgere & shizoo. Script utilized for tracks page is fancyBox 3. This little corner of love is powered by artists, authors and fans who continue to love sheith. Your love, continuous enjoyment and contribution for the two are my happiness as well. ;w; You guys rock! ❤

Published on November 5, 2016, Dark Before Dawn is an Astronomy in Reverse production © 2016-2025 Shinju. All songs are © to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.