Q&A: Polartropica and Gilbert Louie Ray Shine with “Shiny Things,” a Cinematic Journey Through Love, Loss, and Letting Go
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
LOS ANGELES-BASED GALACTIC DREAM ROCK ARTIST POLARTROPICA returns with “Shiny Things,” a dazzling collaboration with Americana artist Gilbert Louie Ray that blurs the lines between heartache and hope. Blending surfy guitars, banjo, and honeyed harmonies, the track channels the nostalgic warmth of The Beach Boys and John Denver while capturing the bittersweet ache of learning to let go. “This song is about eventually finding it in your heart to learn and grow from all the hard lessons and finally let go with a sense of understanding and acceptance,” Polartropica shares. “It’s about coming back home to yourself with love and forgiveness.”
Accompanying the single is a cinematic music video, a sun-drenched, pirate-inspired adventure filmed in the Salton Sea’s desert heat and directed by Tristan Pelletier. Equal parts playful and poetic, the visual mirrors the song’s themes of self-discovery and acceptance, reminding us that even in heartbreak, beauty endures. With a growing reputation for her genre-defying sound and vibrant storytelling, Polartropica once again proves that her world, somewhere between dream pop, fantasy, and pure feeling, is one worth diving into.
LUNA: For "Shiny Things," you’ve mentioned that the song draws from nostalgic influences like John Denver and The Beach Boys. Can you share more about what inspired the sound and mood of this track?
POLARTROPICA: For "Shiny Things," I was inspired by John Denver's gentle sweet melodies I heard growing up because my dad would always play his records. Gil and I are also both fans of the dreamy harmonies of the Everly Brothers, and the surfy guitars were inspired by the Beach Boys!
LUNA: The lyrics feel both wistful and healing — a reflection on love, forgiveness, and growth. What message or realization did you come away with while writing it?
POLARTROPICA: Falling in love is a roller coaster and at the end of the ride you are never the same. It's nice to be able to remember the beautiful times and that we are all just human trying our best on this floating disco rock. In writing this song I did come to a realization that when you forgive someone, you're also forgiving yourself and that's honestly the best thing you can do to move on and continue living your sweet magical life.
LUNA: How did the collaboration between you and Gilbert Louie Ray first come about?
POLARTROPICA: Thank you! Polar caught me singing a cover of "Soul Love" by David Bowie on my IG stories and reached out to collaborate on making a little recording of the song while we were in Austin for SXSW — instead of a cover, we wrote a whole new song!
LUNA: Can you walk us through how the track came together sonically?
POLARTROPICA: Polar wrote some of the original melody on piano and then we added the acoustic guitar and arranged it with the banjo and drums and omnichord. The electric guitar was added in during the studio recording session!
LUNA: “Shiny Things” feels like a new chapter for you. What makes this song stand out from your past releases?
POLARTROPICA: This song is different than any other song we've done. I love playing with melodies and arrangements, writing stories with my music — and this is another adventure, a road trip through the Salton Sea and grassy knolls of America.
LUNA: The music video is such a fun, cinematic journey — complete with pirates and sword fighting! How did that concept come to life?
POLARTROPICA: I love pirates and sword fighting, and for this song we thought it would be fun to have a swashbuckling encounter with my fictional ex at the Salton Sea, a very special place with its own rich history and art community. Director Tristan Pelletier pulled a story together from my “crusty pirate vid” concept, drawing from his love for old westerns and films like Mask of Zorro, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Studio Ghibli’s Porco Rosso. We basically made a music video story out of all our favorite things — including Gilbert’s milk and cookies and his love for two-step. It’s cinematic and full of heart, reminding us to cherish and remember the beautiful times in our friendships and relationships, no matter how they might end up.
LUNA: The video shoot sounded intense — especially filming in the desert heat! What was that day like behind the scenes?
POLARTROPICA: First of all, it was 122 degrees that day, and there was a fire across the Salton Sea from where we were filming. The cool thing was that there was no one else in sight because it was so dang hot. Director Tristan couldn’t even see his monitor because of all the sweat, even with two hats for sun protection! We could only do a few takes because I was in a tight corset and started blacking out from the heat. But after a break — and the best pasta ever at a little Christmas-themed bar — we got back to filming. We blasted the Pirates of the Caribbean theme song to stay motivated. It was one of the most challenging and fun shoots I’ve ever done, and we were laughing the whole time despite the record-breaking temperatures.
LUNA: There’s always a sense of optimism and joy in your work, even when touching on heartbreak. Why is that balance important to you?
POLARTROPICA: In my art, I always want to bring as much hope and joy as I can, even with the most heartbreaking music. There’s so much beauty in the spectrum of emotions we’re able to feel, and I think art is powerful when it shows those different sides together.
LUNA: What’s next for you creatively?
POLARTROPICA: I’m finishing up the final tracks on our Americana-inspired album, including merch and art collaborations with local artist Dieabaddie. We’re releasing a skateboard and CD keychain toy she designed at our “Shiny Things” world premiere and screening at Indietoy:LA. Gilbert is also currently recording his new record!
LUNA: Finally, what words of encouragement would you share with anyone navigating change or heartbreak right now?
POLARTROPICA: Sometimes things don’t turn out the way we want them to, but it’s gonna be okay because you are so special and life is an adventure. Anything is possible — so you might as well go for your dreams and have fun on the side-quests!
