Life & Work with Josh Rheault of Los Feliz, CA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Rheault.

Josh, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Massachusetts and got my start in the Boston music scene, playing in bands and learning the ropes of recording and playing live. That eventually led me to move to Los Angeles to study audio engineering. From there, I built a career as a touring musician, producer, songwriter, and tech. That path ultimately led to my current project Shell Pink and the work I’m doing today.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh man, I’m not sure that anybody that works in music would say it’s been a smooth road! Being freelance means constant uncertainty and work can be insane for months and then suddenly disappear. When COVID hit for example, the entire touring industry shut down, and like a lot of people in live music, I lost all my work overnight. Even as things reopened, the landscape had changed. It’s always hard to feel like you are staying relevant in an ever changing industry and navigating those changes while trying to grow creatively is super challenging. With that being said, these struggles are what pushes me to adapt, diversify my skills, and stay committed to making music in whatever form I can.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a musician, producer, songwriter, and the artist behind Shell Pink. I also work as a touring guitar /keyboard player, and tech. My career so far has really given me a 360 view of the music industry, from writing and recording songs in the studio to making sure they translate properly onstage both for myself and other artists.

Touring has been the best education over the years. I’ve been fortunate to work with all kinds of artists in so many different settings — from grinding it out in vans playing to a handful of people, to being on the road with arena-level legacy acts and Grammy-winning artists. Every experience has taught me something. Working on the technical side taught me patience, precision, and how to solve problems on the fly, while playing has shown me the importance of feel, connection, and supporting someone else’s vision in the moment.

Right now, my main focus is pushing Shell Pink forward. After spending so many years supporting other people’s projects on the road, it feels exciting and grounding to pour that energy into my own voice and into collaborations that stretch me creatively. I’m dedicating more time to songwriting sessions, production work, and expanding the world of Shell Pink, shaping it not just as a music project, but as a long-term creative identity.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I think live music will become even more important in the coming years as it’s one of the few parts of the industry that still creates real connection with fans while providing an income for artists. At the same time, musicians (especially independent ones) will have to keep getting more and more creative with how they market themselves. Without the support of labels, artists are needing to become their own content teams, strategists, and promoters, finding new ways to stand out in a crowded digital world. I think the trend could be moving toward to a more DIY approach, more direct-to-fan relationships, and an environment where authenticity and innovation matter more than ever. Oh, ya and there’s also AI but I’m not even going to talk about that, we all feel that dark cloud looming overhead!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.instagram.com/joshrheault
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshrheault
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/shellpinkmusic
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/shellpinkmusic
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/5yDVIMEEooEmjZFiQ9
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KokJHUKp3elEuZDTusiGl

Image Credits
Kevin Coffey