LA-based psychedelic rock/pop project Galaxy Shores, led by producer and multi-instrumentalist Josh Herren, invites listeners to explore new dimensions with their latest full-length album, Plastique River.
Galaxy Shores, the brainchild of Josh Herren, seamlessly blends analog and digital elements to craft a soundscape reminiscent of classic psychedelic rock while maintaining a modern edge. With Herren’s love for crafting expansive sonic environments, the new 11-track album takes listeners on a vibrant journey through the highs and lows of chasing dreams, battling insecurities, and navigating the unknown.
The opening track, “Sentics,” sets the tone with its layered guitars and hazy synths. The song gradually builds, wrapping the listener in a warm, meditative, and slightly psychedelic atmosphere that feels like the perfect introduction to the cosmic journey that lies ahead.
Track two, "Melancholy Daydream," delves deeper into introspection. With its soft, melancholic vocals and lush instrumentation, the track floats effortlessly to create a chilling, dreamlike state. The use of phased-out guitars adds a swirling, immersive quality that makes for a standout moment on the album.
As the project continues, "Temporary Tethers" introduces a more upbeat, groovy feel, building on the previous track’s introspection to create a truly cathartic listening experience. The sci-fi-esque synths and vintage drums give this song a feel-good energy that's impossible to resist.
Onto a track we've had the pleasure of featuring a few months before, "Shop Nostalgia" offers a perfect mid-album showcase of Galaxy Shores’ style. With its groovy, retro vibe and infectious melodies, the song blends 70s psychedelia with modern synth-pop elements. In other words, it's an instant favorite.
In track five, "Aimless," Galaxy Shores pulls things back, leaning into a more contemplative and ambient sound. The slow, expansive melodies feel like a journey through space, and Josh's gentle vocals are the sweet cherry on top. It makes for the perfect soundtrack to your moments of solo peace and reflection.
"Liminal Space" and "Pillars Of Creation" continue the journey, with both tracks delivering a balance of serene soundscapes and emotionally charged crescendos. Both songs are an excellent example of the vast sonic atmospheres Galaxy Shores can create, offering their signature swirling guitars and synths to create an unforgettable, immersive experience.
"California Blvd. (Interlude)" acts as a short, atmospheric, guitar-heavy breather. Its laid-back, almost cinematic quality offers a peaceful pause before diving back into the album's deeper, more dynamic tracks.
Track 9, "Never Been So Sure," brings a surge of positivity with its bright melodies and uplifting vibe right from the get-go. The track stands out as a feel-good anthem on the album, a moment of pure love and happiness. It's an incredible contrast to the more contemplative songs that dominate the album.
Closing out the project, "Zoo-Woe-Shaw" and "Astorian" deliver an emotional peak, blending high-energy, head-spinning production with raw, evocative melodies that smack us over the head. In other words, it's a chilling, transcendent, and wildly refreshing experience compared to the cookie-cutter projects of today.
If Galaxy Shores has made anything clear, their sound knows no bounds. Dive into the unforgettable listening experience of Plastique River, now available on all digital streaming platforms.
Welcome back to Buzz, Galaxy Shores! We’re captivated by the spacey, immersive vibes of your new album, Plastique River. What inspired the overall concept behind the project?
Thank you so much for having us back; I'm glad you enjoyed the album! The name 'Plastique River' comes from a movement class I took back in college. It's an acting term that entails using movement and breath to trigger and feel emotions, stepping into "the plastique river," and letting one emotion and movement carry you to the next, and so on.
It always fascinated me in class and stuck with me as I left college. I even had the teacher who first taught me about it feature in a monologue in the opening track, where he describes the concept behind the "Plastique River" is.
I wrote the songs with that term and concept in mind, so many of the lyrics in the album are very much written in a stream-of-consciousness fashion, without many repeated lines or hooks or a standard song structure, if there is one. Lyrics are how I tend to journal my thoughts and feelings. In arranging the songs, I tried to make the tracklist like a semi-chronological collection of sonic journal entries, so you are moving from one emotion and life experience to the next right along with me.
There are themes of chasing a seemingly unattainable dream, and wrestling with life change and growing up - not wanting to leave the nostalgia of childhood behind - but by the end of the record, you're able to look forward with hope and optimism because you've grown up and made it this far, so what's stopping you from achieving that dream or being the best you can be. Keep moving forward.
Plastique River is one of the most comprehensive albums we've heard this year. How long did it take to craft the entire project from start to release?
Hearing that really means so much because this album is far and away the hardest thing I've ever done, but also easily the most fulfilling. Before I had even finished our debut EP, I knew the next album would be 'Plastique River.' I even knew what the opening track would be called and had lyrics written, but I also knew I was nowhere close to achieving the vision I had in my head. So before I recorded anything new, I settled in to hone myself instrumentally, starting with drum lessons.
Once I started recording again, I took production lessons as well, which really opened my eyes to see how far I could push my sound forward. I wanted the LP to have a cohesive feel to it, where it didn't sound like some songs were recorded years apart. I worked on the album off and on for about 2 years, recording and mixing in bursts. Then, once I moved out on my own and had some more time, I took 4 weeks and worked nonstop to finish everything up. All in all, it was over two years of work, and a project has consumed me, but I'm really proud of how it turned out.
Your sound often draws comparisons to acts like Tame Impala. How do you feel about those comparisons, and who are your biggest influences?
Kevin Parker is definitely a massive inspiration for me, and he was a large part of the reason I decided to start making my own music. I know it's been done before, but I personally had never heard of an artist recording, mixing, and mastering everything themselves until I discovered Tame Impala.
When I realized he was doing everything himself and still making the music sound real and alive, it really encouraged me that I could maybe do the same one day. My dad also raised me on classic rock, so growing up listening to Pink Floyd, Boston, The Cars, Jimi Hendrix, The Eagles, The Beatles etc... really shaped my personal taste and the sounds I eventually wanted to make. I'm always flattered when people mention Galaxy Shores alongside any artist that I am inspired by or appreciate because that's where I am trying to get to someday, to be the inspiration for someone else to go out on a limb and give it a try. But, even through all that inspiration, I never want to be a carbon copy of anyone else.
How does Plastique River stand out from our debut self-titled album in 2022? What's different this time around?
I think our debut EP really wears its inspiration on its sleeve, and I don't regret that because I was still learning when I was making it, but I definitely wanted Plastique River to have a more refined sound that was more my own. My Spotify listening hours actually decreased significantly during recording because I was so focused on the sounds I was making, and I didn't want to be distracted or subconsciously influenced by someone else's work.
I also really wanted the album to stand on its own with the albums I loved listening to in terms of production quality. The EP was a good start, but after completing it, I was immediately aware of the areas that I wanted to improve on, and I really worked to push myself as a producer to really hone my sound and make a project that doesn't just sound like something fun someone's friend made, but a real body of work that could hold its own in a crowded music landscape.
I also used basically all the same gear I had accrued by the time the EP was done, so it was a fun exercise to push myself as hard as I could with what I already had around me. It's a silly analogy, but I often say it's as if when the EP goes to sleep, it dreams of being this album.
What was your goal regarding the listener's experience with Plastique River? What did you want the album to make them think or feel?
Firstly, I would say, please listen to this album from top to bottom. It is meant to play more as a movie than a collection of random songs, so if you really want to hear what this album has to say or get an idea for the vision, definitely listen all the way through instead of shuffling it. However, I don't think I have a goal as far as what I would want someone to feel. This album is simply a collection of my own thoughts and experiences, so I just hope someone is able to resonate with something I've felt or gone through and that they feel seen in that moment.
Sonically, I really hope people give it repeat listens because there are lots of fun sounds and ear candy swirling around that I put in specifically for repeatability. I love music that has its own world that I can get lost in, and my main goal was to craft my own little world for people to explore, sink into, connect to, and hopefully resonate with on a personal level.
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