Sun Atoms - Take This Love

In a whirlwind of sonic serendipity, Portland psychedelic gaze-wave outfit Sun Atoms presents their new single 'Take This Love', a sonic odyssey that transports listeners to a realm of pure musical enchantment. The fun continues in the clever sci-fi video, created by Bradley Tuazon at Oregon's world-famous Airplane Home. On July 26, this 2-track single will be released via Little Cloud Records digitally and on 7" vinyl, previewing Sun Atoms' sophomore album.

Sun Atoms is made up of bassist Peter G. Holmström (The Dandy Warhols, Pete International Airport), vocalist Jsun Atoms (The Upsidedown, Daydream Machine), multi-instrumentalist June Kang, Mars de Ponte (LoveBomb Go-Go), L.A. drummer Eric Rubalcava and Boise native Derek Spencer Longoria-Gomez (Hi Hazel). 

Mixed by iconic producer Jagz Kooner (Massive Attack, Primal Scream, Oasis, Garbage) and mastered by Keith Tenniswood (Spiritualized, Death In Vegas), 'Take This Love' stands as a testament to Sun Atoms' commitment to musical innovation and creativity with Jsun Atoms delving into introspective realms, while pondering the “hieroglyphs in bright lights” illuminated by the desert stars. Its lyrical crowning blow lies in the line “take this love and shove it up your heart”.

'Take This Love' came to life in the wee hours of the morning following a transformative show in the enigmatic locale of Pioneertown. Once at Joshua Tree Recording Studios, the band found themselves ensconced in a creative fervor at 3am, recorded by Tommy Dietrick (The Brian Jonestown Massacre, David J, Mark Gardener, Smallstone, Sky Parade). As the desert sands whispered ancient mysteries, the band delved into uncharted territory, forging a unique sonic tapestry that transcends convention.

“We thought we'd be back earlier in the night, but hanging with friends after the show pushed us back a few hours. When we arrived at the studio, the house kit was already set up for our drummer, Eric. He and Tommy captured a driving thunderous rhythm, perfectly accenting the sequencing pattern June Kang brought in on the MPC. Peter came up with another one of his brilliant, hooky-pirate bass lines while our guitarist Derek tightroped the threshold of melody and fuzz. Enigmatic Martian muse Mars de Ponte added a celestial touch with ear-worm guitar leads and ethereal keys that linger long past the final chord. Peter later doubled the lead guitar line with a toy xylophone and Portland vocalist Allison Green (The Black Doors) also added her signature rich texture to the vocals," explains Jsun Adams.

Venturing into strange new sonic frontiers, the B-side 'And The Lion Saw The UFO' emerges as a sci-fi cautionary tale, resonating with experimental Krautrock beats and psychedelic textures. Initially recorded with Eric Crespo of experimental psych outfit Abronia, and featuring the illustrious Gregg Williams (Sheryl Crow, The Dandy Warhols) on hand drums, this auditory odyssey delves into dreamlike reverie, blurring the line between reality and imagination.

Meticulously crafted and imbued with cosmic energy, Sun Atoms' music captivates the senses, operating beyond the boundaries of sound and space. A genre-defying fusion of psychedelic rock, indie pop and post-punk, Sun Atoms push the boundaries of their own sonic exploration, inviting listeners on a musical escapade that defies categorization.

"From the start, 'Take This Love' captivated my ears with its mesmerizing rhythm and unapologetically bold lyrics. While the themes of love are familiar, Jason's lyrics always carry an element of surprise. The line "hieroglyphs in bright lights" inspired the wild idea of interdimensional love, a concept that, though unconventional, highlights the transcendent nature of love—a connection we can sense even without a shared language. Our idea was ambitious but the best way to visualize the song was through the story of two inter-dimensional beings trying to find each other," says video producer Bradley Tuazon.
 
"I had always wanted to film at the airplane home in Hillsboro, and this video's concept was perfect for it. Bruce Campbell (owner of the Airplane Home) kindly allowed us to film there. We didn’t really have a budget so we had to maximize our visuals with what was available to us. The location aided us in creating something fun, memorable and off the wall. From start to finish, we had just under a month to finalize storyboards, make costumes, and figure out logistics on top of our full-time jobs. This is the fifth production our crew has done this year, and I'm humbled each time we come together to create something special."

Earlier this year, Sun Atoms released their 'Ceiling Tiles' single on 7-inch vinyl, featuring the new wave-inspired single 'Ceiling Tiles' and the charismatic B-side (a unique fuzzed-out tribute to Leonard Cohen) called 'Tower of Song (in the key of JAMC)'. They also played a series of sold-out concerts with Dinosaur Jr. and shows with Federale, The Veldt and TREMOURS, in addition to playing Seagaze Festival and Treefort Festival, where they shared the stage with Ty Segall, A Place To Bury Strangers, Neko Case and Built To Spill.

The band debuted in 2021 with the album 'Let There Be Light', produced by Peter G. Holmström and mixed by iconic producer Stephen Street (Blur, The Smiths, The Cranberries), which involving contributions by The Black Angels’ Alex Maas, The Vandelles' Jasno Swarez  and Gregg Williams (Sheryl Crow, Blitzen Trapper). Since then, Sun Atoms has also played shows with Modest Mouse, Fishbone, Besnard Lakes, The Veldt and New Candys, and has shared the stage with the Allah Las, Broncho and Night Beats.

On July 26, 'Take This Love' will be released on 7-inch vinyl and fine digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. In the meantime, the 'Ceiling Tiles' single is also available on beautiful 7" vinyl.