Interview with The Galaxy

Last Thursday The Galaxy dropped his brand new single Bulletproof, so we taught it was time to catch up and ask him some questions about his new release and the act ‘The Galaxy’!

While 2020 was a really difficult year for everyone, what were some of your highlights from the past year?

For me this year was all about redefining who I am creatively. With basically no shows throughout 2020 there was plenty of time to go back to the core: what kind of music do I want to make. Being someone that finds music he loves in literally every genre makes it hard to choose a side if it comes to my own artist project. That’s also why, this year, I took the time to pursue working as a producer for other artists, too. In that way I’m still able to develop myself musically in the broadest sense. I think I would not have been able to go through this process without a situation like the one we’re in right now, so that has been a very positive development.

Going all the way back, when did you begin to pursue a career in DJ-ing and producing? What was the start of The Galaxy?

I think I started producing around 2009 and started playing at local school parties as a DJ around the same time. I’ve had a couple of artist projects, including one under my own name ‘Sacha Harland’. Around 2015 my former producing and DJ partner Arjen Lubach approached me if I wanted to join him on his journey called The Galaxy. A year later we started working with ACE Agency and got the opportunity to take the The Galaxy show to a professional level.

Let’s dive into your brand new track “Bulletproof” on Be Yourself’s imprint. How did this track come about? Where did the vocal come from and how did you pair that together with the production?

The demo had been laying around for over a year. I tried different things with both the production and a vocal, but the fit just wasn’t there. I asked songwriter Sophie Simmons to write on it, and I decided to give it a shot and sing it myself. This is something I never really did, apart from some altered vocal contributions in ‘Hero’ and ‘Turn Day Turn Night’. I think it suited the overall mood of the song well and combined with the production it just felt right. For me, this is the first time I release a song with my own voice on it in this shape.

The brand new release ‘’Bulletproof’’ sounds like you have found a new home to a new style, how did you transfer to this style in your process as an artist?

I try not to think in genres or styles too much cause that limits my creative process. As an artist project, The Galaxy has always gone back and forth between harder club tracks you might hear me play at shows, to songs with a top line that you might hear on the radio. If you ask me, the times where you could only expect one style or genre from a specific artist belongs to the past. As long as you develop your own way of producing and find elements/sounds that are worth reusing if the opportunity arises, you’re on the right path to finding what defines you as an artist. So, to be honest, when it comes to ‘Bulletproof’, apart from the singing that was kind of a first for me, I just made what I felt like making.

You have played on many major festivals like Tomorrowland, Mysteryland and many more around the world, how do you look back on those times where your life was at a different pace than now?

I miss this. A lot. It has been such a big part of who I am as an artist, that it’s inseparable. And yet, it has been separated. The only thing I can say about this really is that I’ve always enjoyed every single minute of touring, but now I wish I had enjoyed it much more consciously. Although I’ve been very grateful for every single opportunity I got, when I’m doing these tours or shows, it has always been a ‘go with the flow’ thing for me. I only really realize how crazy it actually is what I’m doing when I’m in my hotel room, in bed, after these shows. When we’re all on the road again and the festivals and clubs are open, I’m gonna make sure I’m in the here and now all the time, enjoying every second with full consciousness.

As we look ahead to hopefully brighter times, what are some of your goals for 2021?

My goal for this year is actually pretty simple: release music. I wanna release (what I think is) quality music in the most consistent way possible. It’s time to break the silence and continue building The Galaxy to its full potential.

Last question, what is your ultimate musical experience as a visitor, DJ or producer?

I remember I attended Tomorrowland as a guest in 2012 and I saw Avicii perform. That’s still one of my best musical experiences until this very day. Also, seeing ODESZA perform at Coachella in 2018 was out of this world and so inspirational. As a performer, being able to play Tomorrowland twice and the fact that I’m (normally) traveling to the other side go the world to make people dance to my music have both been really crazy to me in general. Together with the little eureka moments I experience during studio sessions every now and then, these are all pure happiness to me.

Listen to the track here