Mixtape: The Lush Sounds of Bay Area Dream Pop
Download: Mixtape: The Lush Sounds of Bay Area Dream Pop (Podcast #434) This episode first ran on KQED.org. Whether they call themselves post-punk, psych or indie pop, a wide array of Bay Area musicians cultivate lush atmospheres and textural depth in songs that are as sonically detailed as they are catchy. The Bay Area's "dream pop" standouts--eleven of whom are featured in this mixtape--include a number of promising new bands, like Topographies, a quartet whose stellar debut single is an exciting burst of fuzzed-out, propulsive rock. Other highlights include Tanukichan, the project of Oakland's Hannah Van Loon, whose layered music [...]
High Sunn is trying to balance rock stardom and senior year
High Sunn (left) with his guitarist, Freddy (right) At the age of 14, most kids pass the time by hanging out with friends, watching TV, or egging houses. At age 14, SF artist High Sunn debuted his first single : "In The Brain / Loser." "I wanted to sound like Ty Segall!" he says of his debut track. Through the distortion, it was clear that High Sunn had a lot of potential and time on his hands. Now, after four years of online releases, he's dropped his first studio album, Missed Connections. High Sunn (real name Justin Cheromiah) is still [...]
Listen to High Sunn’s jangly new jam “Those Last Words”
In the gap between the release of his much-applauded EP Hopeless Romantic, 18-year old Justin Cheromiah, aka High Sunn, has tightened his talent for writing catchy, jangly guitar tunes that feel both nostalgic and new. “Those Last Words” is the first single off the Bay Area artist’s debut studio album, Missed Connections, and it’s a neat little head-nodder. With an energetic opening guitar riff and a drive that’s a little more urgent than before, “Those Last Words” gives a glimpse into a compact, 30-minute album packed with mixed emotions from relationships and unrequited love, and snapshots of dreams and a [...]