US/Norwegian heavygaze trio SOFTSUN (with Gary Arce, Pia Isa) release debut album “Daylight in the Dark” on Ripple Music!
Californian/Norwegian shoegaze and post-rock trio SOFTSUN — formed by Gary Arce (Yawning Man, Fatso Jetson), Pia Isaksen (Pia Isa, Superlynx) and Dan Joeright (Earth Moon Earth) — release their spellbinding debut album “Daylight in the Dark” on Ripple Music today.
“SoftSun is what happens when three sonic voyagers collide head-on in a desert mirage, guitars blazing, bass rumbling, and drums that stretch time like a warped VHS tape.” It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine
“When music speaks to the soul it is hard to look away.” The Sleeping Shaman
“This fusion of mellow heaviness and psychedelic textures will haunt you.” Joshua Tree Voice
“This is a trip, a journey.“ Musipedia of Metal
Listen to SoftSun’s debut album “Daylight In The Dark“
+ watch the latest videos Unholy Waters // Daylight in the Dark
SoftSun is the result of a divine collaboration between visionary musicians from opposite sides of the world, from the Californian Mojave Desert to the ever-inspiring grounds of Norway. Vocalist and bass player Pia Isaksen grew up in Norway, while Gary Arce and drummer Dan Joeright are based in the Southern California Mojave desert: their environments are nearly palpable in the trio’s beautifully heavy yet ethereal sound. Arce’s dreamscaping cinematic guitar soundscapes give a stark contrast of balance to Pia Isaksen’s heavy melodic bass-driven compositions as her ethereal vocals levitate the sound and bring a dreamlike shoegaze quality to the songs. A beautiful, forward-thinking record that will fit in right in between Cocteau Twins, True Widow, Yawning Man and Diiv.
Debut album “Daylight in the Dark”
Available now on Ripple Music (LP/CD/digital)
International shop / US shop
SoftSun was formed in 2023 by Gary Arce, Pia Isaksen and Dan Joeright after Arce and Isaksen had been wanting to make music together for several years. It all started in 2020 when Arce played guitar on the first album of Isaksen’s solo project Pia Isa. Discovering how perfect their musical expressions fit together they knew they really wanted to create more music together. With Arce’s unique and beautiful guitar melodies and sounds, Isaksen’s heavy bass and haunting vocals combined with Joeright’s perfectly patient drumming, SoftSun delivers heavy mellow and dreamy music with its own sound.
After a few years of collaborating on two of Pia’s albums from opposite sides of the planet (Moss in Norway and Yucca Valley in California) and becoming good friends, Gary and Pia finally met in person in late 2023. They instantly became inseparable and started planning their musical project.
The first SoftSun songs were written by Pia in Moss and sent to with Gary who wrote guitar melodies for them in Yucca Valley before Pia got on the plane to California in January 2024. During three weeks they wrote more songs and got together with drummer and studio owner Dan Joeright, who turned out to be a perfect fit for the band. After only three practices and two and a half days in Gatos Trail Recording Studio, the trio recorded their first album live, with vocals being previously recorded by Pia in Norway. Dan then mixed the album. On Pia’s next trip to California six weeks later, the trio booked another studio session and recorded a few more songs. The result is their debut album “Daylight in the Dark”, to be released in November 2024 through Californian independent label Ripple Music.
The album was engineered by Dan Joeright and Aaron Farinelli at Gatos Trail Recording Studio, mixed by Dan Joeright and mastered by Kent Stump. Artwork and layout by Pia Isaksen
SOFTSUN line-up
Gary Arce – Guitars
Pia Isaksen – Bass and vocals
Dan Joeright – Drums
SOFTSUN links
Facebook⎪Bandcamp⎪Instagram⎪Spotify
RIPPLE MUSIC links
Website⎪Facebook⎪Bandcamp⎪Instagram
