There’s something truly remarkable about musicians who can combine their diverse influences to create an entirely new sound. Joshua Boon, a producer of soul, dub, and hip-hop music, does exactly that with his latest project, The Forces. While he may have a deep love for The Beatles and The Beach Boys, he’s not content to simply cover their music. Instead, he honors their legacy by infusing their recognizable melodies with his own studio expertise to create a sound that’s entirely his own. The result is a collection of five quirky, beautifully pop songs that are sure to delight fans of both the classic and the more experimental side of pop music.

Of these tracks, “Anne” stands out as a personal favorite, with The Forces channeling the sunny, upbeat energy of Ben Folds on a beautiful day.

How did this record come together?

It was a long but logical journey for me to arrive at this point. My mother played The Beatles’ music when I was a child, and I grew up listening to it. I also love old Beach Boys music, but I’ve always been drawn to hip-hop, funk, and soul. Over the past decade, I’ve mostly produced music in those styles. However, in 2020, I released an experimental funk soul record that might have been too experimental for some listeners and reviewers. Although I needed to get that out of my system, after that I felt a strong desire to create catchy, pure songs that could stand on their own, like The Beatles and The Beach Boys. This desire was my starting point for this record, but I also allowed room for my hip-hop influences to emerge. I believe that original things can come to life when you don’t know exactly what you’re doing and simply follow your intuition. The Beatles mixed genres and created something unique by doing just that, and I hope that this attitude comes through in The Forces!

How do you balance experimentation with commercial appeal in your music?

It’s always a battle to strike a balance between experimentation and commercial appeal. For me, it starts with creating a really catchy song, so I approach it with a bit of a commercial mindset. However, during the production process, I allow my experimental side to come out, as I aim to create something interesting and surprising. I try to have a strong foundation in the melody and lyrics, but the producer in me always has the final say since they are the ones behind the mixing board!

If you could tour the world with two other bands, who would you choose and why?

The easy and impossible answer would be The Beatles and The Beach Boys. But if I had to choose contemporary artists, it’s not an easy decision. I find Malachai interesting because they blend old and new UK music styles in their work. I’m also drawn to something really experimental like Chinatown Slalom or a 60s psychedelic power pop vibe like Benji Hughes.

The meaning of success has changed over the years. What does success look like for this new record?

There is so much good music out there these days, and a lot of it goes unnoticed. I’m grateful for every listener who discovers and enjoys my music. Success for me would mean more exposure for the album, positive reviews, and hopefully, the vinyl record finding its way into people’s homes.

What’s next for the next couple of months?

In September, I will release the full album “Voyages” on limited edition vinyl/digital on Bandcamp (https://the-forces.bandcamp.com/). The instrumental versions of the album will also be available on Bandcamp. The album will feature a special guest artist, and we’ve secured a global distribution partner for the record. Before the album’s release, we’ll drop some tracks to generate interest. Please follow all our updates on https://the-forces.bandcamp.com/ and the-forces.com! You’re the first to know about this exciting news!