Performer Page
Performer Page
Sun Atoms
hometown: Portland, OR
Portland psychedelic gaze-wave outfit Sun Atoms present their sophomore album 'Everything Forever', set for release on November 8 via Little Cloud Records. Meticulously crafted with cosmic energy, their magnum opus features notable guest appearances by Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock, Jasno Swarez of The Vandelles, and Lauren Andino of Tremours, amongst others. This sophomore album realizes the promise that was there in the debut not only musically, but in a sacred sense. This album gets between the ears, then heads south down past the brain and into the heart.
"Sun Atoms is a tripped-out opus packed with droning electronics, shimmering guitars, dayglo melodies and a deep, whispered delivery" ~ Brooklyn Vegan
"Pulsatingly addictive from its trippy melodic pop core to its psychedelic fringes... the catchiest goddamned music we’ve caught this year" ~ Stereo Embers Magazine
"Swirling keyboards, chiming psych tinged licks and the foreboding attitude dashed vocals craft a foreboding and bristling concoction, it has echoes of the Mission, The Sisters of Mercy or the propulsive sound of Leonard Cohen‘s 'I'm Your Man’ album" ~ God is in the TV Zine
"Artistic leap into an enthralling intersection of post-punk, indie rock and new wave... a gateway for your consciousness to coast into fascinating sonic realms" ~ The Spill Magazine
“Sun Atoms bend and blend through luminary influences Leonard Cohen, The Cure, Moon Duo and Nick Cave in an amalgamation that combines psychedelic, dark wave and post-modern pop” ~ Big Takeover
Sun Atoms is made up of vocalist Jsun Atoms (The Upsidedown, Daydream Machine), producer and bassist Peter G. Holmström (The Dandy Warhols, Pete International Airport), multi-instrumentalist June Kang (Soft Shadows), saxophonist-trumpeter-guitarist Mars de Ponte (LoveBomb Go-Go), drummer Eric Rubalcava (Vernor Pantons, Pastilla) and guitarist Derek Spencer Longoria-Gomez (Hi Hazel).
Homström and iconic mixing engineer Jagz Kooner had just finished The Dandy Warhols' latest album, generating an extraordinary symbiosis. Credited with creating some of the most genre-defining songs of the last 30 years, Jagz Kooner began his career working with Andrew Weatherall, remixing and producing for the likes of Bjork, The Chemical Brothers and New Order, as well as mixing for Primal Scream, Massive Attack, Oasis, Garbage and Killing Joke. With Pete producing and Jagz mixing in one of the greatest marvels of prehistoric Britain (Avebury Henge) at Jagz's Stone Circles Studios, the pair elevated the songs by pushing the sonic envelope out into the great abyss. The coup de grace was having Keith Tenniswood (Spiritualized, Death in Vegas) master the album at Curve Pusher UK.
The band recently shared the surreal, psychedelic fever dream of a video for 'Narco Polo' featuring Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse, which Jsun Atoms says "feels like a dada ice cream party inside a Salvador Dali painting". Holmström and Brock have been friends and collaborators for years, and Sun Atoms recently supported Modest Mouse for some West Coast shows. Earlier in 2024, Sun Atoms released the lead single 'Ceiling Tiles' with Leonard Cohen tribute 'Tower of Song (in the key of JAMC)', and fantastic sonic odyssey 'Take This Love' with B-side 'And The Lion Saw The UFO'. Video by Brady Tucson.
A genre-defying fusion of psychedelic rock and indie pop, Sun Atoms push the boundaries of their own sonic exploration. Their debut album 'Let There Be Light' (2021). mixed by producer Stephen Street (Blur, The Smiths, The Cranberries), also involved The Black Angels’ Alex Maas, The Vandelles' Jasno Swarez and Gregg Williams (Sheryl Crow, Blitzen Trapper).
This year, Sun Atoms played a series of sold-out concerts with Dinosaur Jr., crowning the list of shows they have played with Fishbone, Modest Mouse, Federale, Besnard Lakes, The Veldt, New Candys, LSD and the Search For God, Asteroid No. 4, Elephant Stone, and Tremours.
As of November 8, 'Everything Forever' is out everywhere, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. It can also be ordered on vinyl directly from Little Cloud Records.