THE SHORES OF ORION PUT CHILDHOOD FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION INTO SONG

The San Antonio synthwave project takes inspiration from The NeverEnding Story and Blade Runner 2049.

The Shores of Orion make synthwave with vocals, synthesizers, guitars, bass and drums. Founded in San Antonio, Texas, in January 2018, the project’s catalogue includes the album Godspeed and singles “Joi,” “Trapped Inside” and “Moonchild.”

Released April 9, 2024, “Moonchild” is an original tribute to The NeverEnding Story. The members grew up with the film and wanted to write something of their own in response. Its lyrics deal with getting older, losing direction and trying to recover the imagination that once made everything feel possible.

K. Rowland handles vocals and lyrics, with Gilbert Carrizales on production and synthesizers. Gaberiel Adrian Vasquez contributes guitars, recording, mixing and mastering, alongside bassist Exor Sales Elano Jr. and drummer George Garcia. Josh Newell filmed the accompanying video in San Antonio, with editing by Carrizales.

“Joi,” released in May 2022, draws from the holographic character in Blade Runner 2049. The song examines virtual companionship and whether affection can feel real when the person offering it is artificial. Alyssa Autumn Lozano also contributes vocals and synthesizers on this one.

The seven-track Godspeed, released on Bandcamp in January 2020, tells the story of a man finding love again. Bryan Akcasu of Two Cheers supplies vocals and lyrics as the album follows a relationship’s collapse, the decision to leave and the beginning of another connection.

Together, these recordings introduce a band whose interest in fantasy comes from films they grew up with, relationships they have written about and memories they want to preserve

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