IN TOUCH: THE TOUR Shallou with Origami Human

Shallou makes music for summer sunsets, winter wonderlands, and other contexts where sharpened senses meet heightened emotions in the glow of a profound, often wistful calm. Born Joe Boston in Washington D.C., Shallou grew up in Rockville, Maryland, studied in New Orleans, and moved to Chicago to focus on music before eventually resettling in LA. He released his EP, Souls, in 2018, with lullaby-grade chimes and breathy falsetto melodies. Shallou’s sound is characterized by gorgeous production that wraps the listener in a warm blanket, while other times evoking strong emotions or an urge to dance. He is one of the few electronic artists at his level to push the limits of a live show — touring with a live drummer and guitarist. Though his live shows have taken on several iterations throughout his career, his own abilities shine through, including live vocals, keys and DJing. Shallou has played major music festivals like Coachella at the Sahara Tent and sold out some of the US’ most iconic venues. His debut album Magical Thinking saw him bring his collaborations to a new level, pairing with expert songwriters like Ashe and iconic pop voices like Daya. The same year, he teamed up with chill contemporary Petit Biscuit for their single “I Leave Again,” moving the chill genre even further into the limelight. Once the pandemic began to subside, Shallou emerged with his follow-up EP, The Long Way Home, in 2021. Handling all vocals himself, this was a turning point in Shallou’s career for establishing an artistic identity. The EP features emotive dance tracks (“Heartaches, “Here”) as well as cinematic indie songs (“Corners,” “Pacifica”) with writing assists from the likes of Panama and Elderbrook. In 2023, Shallou has taken on the ubiquitous house music genre, determined to leave his own distinctive stamp on it.