Atmospheric rock collective SOM – comprised of current and former members of Constants, Junius, and recent Grammy nominees Caspian – will release their new EP, Awake
In an era where a pandemic has forced much of the world into standstill, SOM strives to remain prolific. Following on the acclaim accrued by 2018 debut album The Fall, the quintet originally planned to use 2020 to record their anticipated follow-up. However, lockdowns forced the tireless creatives to improvise. “We were slated to
enter the studio this spring to track the album,” says guitarist Mike Repasch-Nieves. “We couldn’t do that, so we decided to do some songs entirely remotely.” The result is the luscious new EP, Awake. Combining two exclusive originals with remixes by beloved collaborators Holy Fawn, Hisself (Johnny Dang of O’Brother), U Dye (Marshall Gallagher of Teenage Wrist), and Giuseppe Capolupo (The Devil Wears Prada), the short collection is a triumph of self-described “heavy dream pop.” Its concise compositions balance the gritty riffs of Deftones with airy,Tame Impala-esque vocal lines, just as primed for rock radio success as they are for
shoegaze-loving connoisseurs.
In advance of the EP’s release, SOM has unveiled a striking video accompaniment to opening track, “Awake/Sedate” The video was written and directed by Samia Zaidi, a queer Muslim artist and filmmaker based in the East Bay area and Los Angeles. From examining simple meditative moments to complex cross sectionswithin our identities and the worlds we travel through, her work aims to provide a humble and vulnerable perspective that reignites the romance with all that is casual in our daily lives.
Duncan Rich co-founded SOM with frontman and former Constants colleague Will Benoit, as well as Adai founder and now-Caspian drummer Justin Forrest. While touring on The Fall in 2019, the band added guitarists Mike Repasch-Nieves and Joel M. Reynolds, both formerly of Junius and Driftoff.
“Featuring members of such shoegaze and post-rock heavy hitters as Caspian, Junius, and Constants, SOM play the kind of somber, glimmering music that exudes a heavy fog of emotion and introspection around it” - Kerrang!
“For modern lovers looking for something dark, sensual, and just edgy enough, SOM have released a dreamy shoegaze post-rock paean to sinful lust and the false piety of a secret romance” - Revolver
“Perfect for laying in a pile of leaves while quietly pondering everywhere you went wrong in life” - MetalSucks
FOR FANS OF: DEFTONES, FAILURE, HUM, NOTHING, SLOW CRUSH, ALCEST, MY BLOODY VALENTINE, TAME IMPALA
Available on CD (PEL177) and classic black vinyl (PEL177V)
1. Awake/Sedate
2. Youth/Decay
3. Awake/Sedate (Holy Fawn Remix)
4. Youth/Decay (hisself Remix)
5. Open Wounds (U DYE Remix)
6. Prayers (Giuseppe Capolupo Remix)