Pioneer 11

Pioneer 11 (composed of Bryan Gomez, Alex Hastings, and Joey Kehoe) is a shapeshifting musical project searching for the future of contemporary psychedelia. Named after NASA’s 1973 robotic space probe, Pioneer 11 and their collaborators transmit hybrids of electronica, dance, and psych-rock from uncharted sonic coordinates. While their work could fit alongside group influences like <a href="spotify:artist:4aEnNH9PuU1HF3TsZTru54" data-name="Caribou">Caribou</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2933wDUojoQmvqSdTAE5NB" data-name="DARKSIDE">DARKSIDE</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:7Eu1txygG6nJttLHbZdQOh" data-name="Four Tet">Four Tet</a>, Pioneer 11 have channeled their inspirations into a wholly singular sound and ethos. Cosmic outlaws and musical outliers, they reject tie-dyed nostalgia and remain rooted in the uncomfortable digital present — chronicling how technology continually warps society while forecasting our frightening future.

Based in Los Angeles, Gomez and Hastings initially bonded over shared musical inspirations, synthesizing them while searching for their sound for nearly a decade. That formative work culminated in signing to burgeoning indie label POW Recordings and releasing their 2019’ debut, Gravitorium. FADER premiered the album, calling Pioneer 11 “no ordinary band” and praising the album’s “transcendent and psychedelic feel.” The duo then channeled Gravitorium’s hip-hop leanings into <a href="spotify:artist:4O2Llr1swLj5NwetPozo5p" data-name="Unexplained Aerial Phenomenon">Unexplained Aerial Phenomenon</a>, their rap trio with Portland rapper <a href="spotify:artist:6r9gZeBSEYduP33cyKRzOC" data-name="Bryson the Alien">Bryson the Alien</a>. UAP’s 2022 debut, Casual Abductions, featured a host of indie rap giants, including <a href="spotify:artist:5CuU6SRJjbbZL926nSGGxX" data-name="Open Mike Eagle">Open Mike Eagle</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4bbjivSh1oG4NOc7uYHfw5" data-name="Lil B">Lil B</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3N71zVVdCs6uCgk8w31v26" data-name="Fat Tony">Fat Tony</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:1vmLIa1VRY38hZoar8AyYS" data-name="Chester Watson">Chester Watson</a>, and received a “Best Hip-Hop on Bandcamp” stamp from Bandcamp.