‘Shark Mission’ the first single, released on April 26, 2024, from the forthcoming Endangered Spirits Volume 2 from deejay Shawn Barry, features world-renowned shark expert and advocate Paul De Gelder, adding his ominous voice on a UK-styled Liquid/Electronic track.
Shawn declares “Our human species has put the ocean and its diverse ecosystem under extreme environmental pressure. As a resident of Southern California and a novice surfer, I am fortunate to be aligned with many ocean conservationists like Paul de Gelder doing powerful work. I am inspired by their contribution to rejuvenating the wildly misunderstood shark population. My understanding of sharks has evolved, and my appreciation and reverence have grown. The fear that once pounded in my heart as I jumped in the ocean has manifested into a rhythm and underwater soundscapes fit for an ocean dance floor.”
Shawn Barry delivered Endangered Spirits Vol. 1 to the public in 2021 as an electronic project from the heart that shed light on animals on the brink of extinction as an offering from his soul to the world. With little expectations, given the global chaos of the pandemic and dark dance floors globally for electronic music at the time of release, Endangered Spirits went beyond expectations by nearing a million listens on Spotify alone. Executive Producer, Dan McConomy insisted at that time that there would be a Vol. 2 because the vision was always to encourage Barry to continue this mission.
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Paul and Shawn met at Gold’s Gym in Los Angeles. By complete coincidence, Barry was demoing up the entire new album at that time and discussed the project with DeGelder who listened to Volume 1 and was inspired to collaborate at Shawn’s studio, tucked away in Topanga Canyon. With a mission to save the world’s most dangerous predator armed with his ominous vocal delivery on the track drives the message home with authority
De Gelder gives us some insight here “Since my near fatal shark attack in 2009,whilst serving in the Australian Navy, I have dedicated much of my life to the conservation of this most misunderstood species. My thought was, that if I myself, someone who has been attacked by a shark can forgive, understand, respect, and want to protect sharks, then surely everyone can.”
The Legendary shark advocate adds “Fortunately, there are great human beings like Shawn out there in the world who feel the same way. I host documentaries about sharks, I’ve written an amazing book called ‘Shark’, showing my passion for them. Now there is an amazing house beat dedicated to them. Conservation of our oceans and the beings that live within it is a hugely important subject. If they die, then so do we. And music is one form in which we can all come together.”
In 2009, as an Australian Navy diver, De Gelder was attacked by a shark while training at Garden Island in Sydney Harbour, Paul lost an arm and a leg in the attack. Drawing on everything his eventful life had taught him, Paul left nothing to chance in his recovery. He fought through excruciating pain, smashing challenge after challenge, all the while amazing the medical staff and the Australian public with his will to succeed. His inspiring story, as detailed in his autobiography “Uncaged”, takes the saying “never say die” to a whole new level.
Paul De Gelder YouTube Trailer:
McConomy smiles about how this all came about, “Shawn and I are kindred souls and he came to me with this album project and asked to put it on the label. Being a music man, who always looks for music with love or consciousness, this was a gift from the universe. The journey of bringing the project to life is a labor of love and we are intent on doing everything possible to make it a success for Shawn and the cause that we are with a million percent.”
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Plans are in the making for Shawn Barry, who also sings and plays many different instruments while DJ’ing for his Endangered Spirits Tour, which includes spectacular visuals linked to all of the albums, making for an immersive experience and enlightenment on these beautiful animals and perhaps bring back from the brink of extinction. Meanwhile, Shawn continues to co-write and play limited dates with recording artists such as LP, Megan Meyers, Earth Harp Collective and The Whispering.
Available and Distributed by The Stereo Flow Music Group - Sony/The Orchard:
For further media photos, interviews, and media, please contact: Dan.McConomy@gmail.com
Dan McConomy
Executive Producer
Bigger Management/TSF Music Group
thestereoflow.com
