We Speak Music
Step Inside Galaxy Shores Psychedelic Dreamscape with His Latest Release ‘Plastique River’
Born out of the stillness and uncertainty of pandemic lockdowns, Galaxy Shores is the phenomenal creation of Los Angeles-based producer and multi-instrumentalist Josh Herren. Fusing the ethereal soundscapes of psychedelic rock with the irresistible hooks of pop, the project has quickly become a sonic oasis for those seeking immersive, cinematic music. What began as a personal experiment during an unprecedented time of isolation has since evolved into a full-fledged musical identity, culminating in Galaxy Shores’ critically acclaimed debut LP, Plastique River.
In 2020, as the world stood still, Herren found himself with time—lots of it. It was in this creative void that Galaxy Shores took shape. Armed with little more than a laptop, Ableton, and a hunger to create, Herren dove headfirst into music production, relying on YouTube tutorials and his passion for instrumentation. Though he had long been a musician, the world of production was uncharted territory. The result of this period of intense self-education was the release of his self-titled debut EP in January 2022. The EP showcased the lush, atmospheric soundscapes that would come to define Galaxy Shores: an alluring mix of psychedelic textures and pop sensibilities.
But for Herren, the EP was only the beginning. Determined to refine his sound, he took drum and production lessons, pushing the boundaries of what he thought possible. This period of artistic growth led to the creation of Plastique River, Galaxy Shores’ first full-length album and a striking evolution of Herren’s craft.
Released to critical acclaim, Plastique River is a swirling, immersive journey that captures the essence of a dreamer wrestling with the weight of massive ambitions. The album’s sound is rich and textured, blending phased-out guitars, analog synths, and vintage drums with Herren’s signature psychedelic production. The result is an album that feels timeless yet distinctly modern, pulling the listener into a world where reality and aspiration blur.
For Herren, Plastique River is more than just an album; it’s a cinematic experience. Each song is crafted as a scene in a larger narrative, moving the story forward and pulling listeners deeper into the world he has created. Themes of self-discovery, the disillusionment of chasing childhood dreams, and the emotional complexities of growing up are threaded throughout the record, making it a deeply personal sonic journal. Tracks like “Sentics” and “Temporary Tethers” reflect Herren’s introspective songwriting, as he confronts the bittersweet realisation that not everything is as it seems when pursuing one’s dreams.
The album isn’t just about personal reflection, though. It’s also a love letter to the psychedelic music genre, which Herren sees not just as a style but as a lens through which he views the world. His reverence for vintage psychedelic rock is evident in every track, but it’s filtered through a modern lens, resulting in a sound that’s both nostalgic and refreshingly contemporary. Influences from the golden era of psych rock are layered with modern production techniques, creating something that feels at once retro and innovative.
While Plastique River captures the journey from isolation to self-discovery, it also stands as a testament to the transformative power of music—for both the listener and the creator. As the project continues to evolve, Galaxy Shores has firmly established itself as a unique voice in the psychedelic rock/pop landscape. The cinematic quality of the music, paired with its emotional depth, ensures that Galaxy Shores will resonate with listeners on a deeply personal level.
Looking to the future, Josh Herren is poised to push the boundaries of his creative vision even further. With Plastique River marking the start of this new chapter, Galaxy Shores is set to continue exploring new sounds, ideas, and emotions. As Herren himself says, the journey is only just beginning.
This October, Hip-hop inna yardie style (old school fusion between reggae and hip-hop) collective L’Entourloop are set to rock UK stages, with shows in Liverpool, London & Bristol. Their Bristol date at The Trinity Center and their first London date at Village Underground are already SOLD OUT, leading to a second London date being added to deal with the high demand that L’Entourloop’s unforgettable shows create.
The dates will see L’entourloop hitting higher than ever as they perform tracks from their huge back catalogue, as well as their latest 20 track album “La clarté dans la confusion” (“Clarity in Confusion”).
Produced in their now legendary Bandulu Studio, the new album is a result of a patient production process, carried out with care and passion. Throughout the album, L’Entourloop testifies in its own way via a puzzle of film samples, of this strange period that we have just gone through collectively, using all its savoir faire when it comes to make the people dance.
Since 1964, when the song “My Boy Lollipop” flooded the European radio airwaves, L’Entourloop’s love for reggae and its culture has never stopped growing. With this third album, they wanted to pay tribute to the legendary pioneers of this incredible movement – artists and producers such as Tom Wong, Count Machuki, Prince Buster and Lee “Scratch” Perry. An album which is a true declaration of love for soundsystem culture and its children – reggae, dancehall and hip-hop.
The success of their previous albums “Chickens in Your Town” (2015) and “Le Savoir Faire” (2017), with their famous “Banging Hip-Hop Inna Yardie Style” quickly brought L’Entourloop into the spotlight, along with their hundreds of shows performed all over Europe. The mysterious collective continues to bring together an ever-growing audience around the world, as proved by their hundreds of millions of plays on music platforms.
True lovers of vinyl and old cinema, in their perpetual quest for the ultimate sample, the insatiable diggers kept their fans waiting by first dropping the excellent DJ-Mix “Start From Scratch” in the summer of 2021, followed by a series of 3 official remixes, including the Reunion Island anthem “Li Sem”.
Another striking characteristic of L’Entourloop is the great ability of King James and Sir Johnny to gather incredible guests from around the world. Whether with Skarra Mucci and their now classic “Dreader Than Dread” or their excellent EP “Golden Nuggets” (2019), Capleton for the extravagant remix of “Burn Dem Down”, producer Panda Dub they collaborated with on “Le Bonheur” or French singer Biga Ranx for their hit “Push The Limits”, L’Entourloop has the gift of giving birth to collaborations that mark the spirits.
With no less than 32 guests from all over the world, MCs fling lyrics like guns like in a western movie and the new album is no exception!
On the reggae side, Jamaican legends such as Ken Boothe and Bounty Killer meet new generation stars such as Alborosie, Kabaka Pyramid, Queen Omega and Marcus Gad. On the hip-hop side Chali 2Na from legendary US group Jurassic 5, Swedish MC Promoe from Looptroop Rockers, US rapper Rêverie, the excellent JuJu Rogers, French beatmaker Degiheugi and the irresistible South African female rapper Dope St Jude all make appearances.
The UK vibe can also be felt with features from jungle and dancehall pioneers General Levy and Tippa Irie as well as heavyweights of the grime scene Flowdan, Lady Chann and Killa P. Fellow French artists are also in the spotlight with guests such as Big Red, O.B.F and Manudigital. To complete this amazing cast, L’Entourloop has once again called on the incomparable Troy Berkley from Bermuda and the talented trumpeter N’Zeng, formerly of Le Peuple de l’Herbe, to accompany the collective on the road alongwith a new addition – excellent Dutch rapper BlabberMouf, who has just joined the killer new live show.
L’Entourloop UK Tour 2024
05/10/2024- Liverpool (UK)- Hangar 34
06/10/2024- London (UK)- Village Underground – SOLD OUT
07/10/2024- London (UK)- Village Underground
08/10/2024- Bristol (UK)- Trinity Center- SOLD OUT
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