Shallou on Punk Roots, DJing as Stand-Up Comedy, & Why Limits Make You Sound Like You

In this conversation, Clavette speaks with Shallou about trading DC hardcore for ambient electronic without trading the ethos, treating a DJ set like a stand-up comedian's tight five, and why creative limitations beat any AI tool. They discuss the decade-long partnership with manager Carson he's still working with, how the modern dance fan has gotten educated enough to play both Dom Dolla and German acid house in one set, and why pre-release virality has flipped the economics of the song itself.Who is Shallou:LA-based DJ and producer Shallou (the project of Joe Boston) has spent over ten years building a catalog that sits between ambient electronic, downtempo, and modern dance. Born and raised in the Washington D.C. area, he started making music as a hobbyist while studying in New Orleans, then built the project out of his college dorm in collaboration with his manager Carson, who has stayed by his side from day one. After early Spotify editorial playlist support and a 2018 touring breakthrough that included Coachella and Lollapalooza, Shallou has continued to evolve his sound, balancing the slower, melody-driven material that defined his early catalog with sets that push toward higher-BPM club environments. His most recent full-length, "In Touch," landed in late 2023.Follow ShallouInstagram: @shallouFollow Stereo PunksInstagram: @stereo.punks