Sun Araw | |
---|---|
![]() Performing live in March 2011 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Cameron Stallones |
Also known as | Prince Sunarawma Aristocrat P. Child DJ Si Si Si Gracias |
Born | Austin, Texas, U.S. |
Origin | Austin, Texas, United States |
Genres | Experimental, [1] neo-psychedelia, [1] hypnagogic pop [2] |
Years active | 2007 - present |
Labels | Not Not Fun, Woodsist, Sun Ark Records, Thrill Jockey, Gotta Let It Out, Keroxen, MIDA, Goodfellas, Mental Groove Records, RVNG. Intl, Monofonous Press |
Website | sunaraw |
Cameron Stallones, better known as Sun Araw, is an American musician. Previously a member of the band Magic Lantern, he has released several albums of experimental music, including a collaboration with Jamaican reggae group The Congos. He has also worked as part of the Not Not Fun label 'supergroup' Vibes.
Originally from Austin, Texas, Stallones now resides in Long Beach, California. [3] Stallones was associated with the Not Not Fun label, and released his debut album, The Phynx, in 2008. [1] This was followed later that year with Beach Head. [4] He has been prolific since then with three albums released in 2010 and two in 2011. Stallones also collaborated with Pocahaunted on the Passage album. [1]
Stallones set up his Sun Ark studio in his Long Beach home, where he records most of his music.
His 2012 collaboration with M. Geddes Gengras and The Congos Icon Give Thank reached number seven on the Billboard Top World Albums chart. [5] Sun Araw and The Congos also performed live together. [6]
Araw is a Tagalog word meaning sun or day, depending on context, so Stallones' stage name literally translates to sun sun. However, as Stallones recounted to LA Weekly, [7] he considers his name to mean "sun day", which is a pun referring to Sunday, and more specifically the Christian Sabbath day. Therefore, Stallones considers his stage name to mean "sacred rest", despite "rest" not being one of the meanings of araw. One justification for this he provided was that he participates for a time in many bands —but his one man show Sun Araw is something he can always rely on when he takes a break from other music projects.
His 2010 album Off Duty was described by Allmusic writer Gregory Heaney as "pulsing, Krautrock-influenced retro-futuristic lo-fi." [8] Jon Pareles, writing for The New York Times , described Sun Araw's music as "a happy jungle of electronic repetition and live playing. Loops and echoes reconfigured reggae, funk and Afrobeat in dizzying ways; the music cackled and hopped, ready to trip up dancers or just get trippy in decidedly 21st-century groove." [9]
His style has been characterized as experimental, containing "sampled loops, echoed vocals, bursting bass, and random moments." [10] His music has also been described as "neo-dub" and "psych-rock." [11]
With releases like Icon Give Thank in 2012, it is described by Andy Beta of Pitchfork as a "psychedelic gospel album". [12] Furthermore, tracks like "Thanks and Praise" are described as "beyond dub, dancehall, roots, (his previous release) Ancient Romans, never really sounding like... the aforementioned genres". [12] This "psychedelic" flavour to his music can be found in other release such as On Patrol or Off Duty.
Pitchfork currently features 10 reviews of Sun Araw releases from 2010 to 2020, with an average rating of 7.34 (out of 10).
All released by Sun Ark Records unless stated.
All released by Sun Ark Records unless stated.
Both Sun Ark Prayer Tapes had a combined physical tape release by Briefield Flood Press, under "Sun Ark Prayer Tapes 1 & 2".
All released by Sun Ark Records unless stated.
All released by Sun Ark Records unless stated.
All released by Sun Ark Records unless stated.
Sun Araw, despite being Cameron's solo project, is often played live with others in band or trio combinations.
This is often named as the "Sun Araw Band", but there are exceptions. These are usually numbered ascending from 1 upwards, written in Roman Numerals. This number change often occurs when the members change, but there are exceptions.
Band formations are listed with a list of members along with their role (where available), as well as credited releases.
Releases:
Releases:
Releases:
Releases:
Releases:
Live Kraniche Bei Den Elbbrücken is credited to Sun Araw Band XII, despite not sharing the same members or instrumental roles. This variation of members is listed below:
Releases:
Releases:
Releases:
Release:
All Sun Araw Live Band releases are released by Sun Ark Records unless otherwise stated.
Cameron Stallones over the course of his career has also made music under several aliases other than Sun Araw. These aliases define either solo releases, or group projects.
Known aliases are listed below, with their own releases, discographies and information.
Aristocrat P. Child was an alternate alias of Cameron Stallones used to publish DJ mixes.
DB12 003 is a vinyl 12" pressing of Aristocrat P. Child's "Sun Araw Edit Bay #1".
DJ Si Si Si Gracias was an alternate alias of Cameron Stallones used to publish DJ mixes.
Members:
The record sleeve notes this as a "hurricane jam(!)", recorded during hurricane Irene.
Members:
Members:
Turban Chopsticks was a live recording / jam session recorded live in Adelaide 2012.
Members:
Each track is a live jam recorded at various times in the day, recorded on the tracklist.
Members:
Members:
MIDI is a technical standard that describes a communication protocol, digital interface, and electrical connectors that connect a wide variety of electronic musical instruments, computers, and related audio devices for playing, editing, and recording music.
Roland Corporation is a Japanese multinational manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment, and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on 18 April 1972. In 2005, its headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. It has factories in Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan, and the United States. As of December 2022, it employed 2,783 people. In 2014, it was subject to a management buyout by its CEO, Junichi Miki, supported by Taiyo Pacific Partners.
Digital music technology encompasses the use of digital instruments to produce, perform or record music. These instruments vary, including computers, electronic effects units, software, and digital audio equipment. Digital music technology is used in performance, playback, recording, composition, mixing, analysis and editing of music, by professions in all parts of the music industry.
GarageBand is a software application by Apple for macOS, iPadOS, and iOS devices that allows users to create music or podcasts. It is a lighter, amateur-oriented offshoot of Logic Pro. GarageBand was originally released for macOS in 2004 and brought to iOS in 2011. The app's music and podcast creation system enables users to create multiple tracks with software synthesizer presets, pre-made and user-created loops, an array of various effects, and voice recordings.
A digital audio workstation is an electronic device or application software used for recording, editing and producing audio files. DAWs come in a wide variety of configurations from a single software program on a laptop, to an integrated stand-alone unit, all the way to a highly complex configuration of numerous components controlled by a central computer. Regardless of configuration, modern DAWs have a central interface that allows the user to alter and mix multiple recordings and tracks into a final produced piece.
The Congos are a reggae vocal group from Jamaica which formed as the duo "Ashanti" Roy Johnson (tenor) and Cedric Myton (falsetto), later becoming a trio with the addition of Watty Burnett (baritone), and have been active on and off from the mid-1970s until the present day. They are best known for their Heart of the Congos album, recorded with Lee "Scratch" Perry.
Sponge Cola is a Filipino rock band formed in 2002. The band is composed of Yael Yuzon on vocals and guitars, Gosh Dilay on bass, Armo Armovit on guitars and drummer Tedmark Cruz.
Robert Swire-Thompson is an Australian record producer, singer, songwriter, and DJ. He is the founder and vocalist of the drum and bass and electronic rock band Pendulum, as well as DJ and co-founder of electro house duo Knife Party formed of Swire and Gareth McGrillen.
AfterImage is a Filipino rock band formed in 1986, best known for their songs "Habang May Buhay", "Next in Line", and "Mangarap Ka". They disbanded in 1997 and became active again in 2008 after they reunited and released their fourth studio album. After disbanding in 1997, Wency Cornejo, the band's vocalist, pursued a solo career.
Alpha Wave Movement is the electronic music project of Gregory T. Kyryluk. Alpha Wave Movement's musical style can be considered ambient, new-age, some space rock, the classic 1970s period German style electronic music otherwise known as Berlin school as well as the ambient aesthetics of Brian Eno, and Steve Roach. Releases such A Distant Signal and Terra have more ambient space elements than other Alpha Wave Movement releases. Beyond Silence has more space rock elements and has a more rhythmic feel in their overall music compositions. In 2007 Alpha Wave Movement released The Mystic & The Machine, a musical exploration of 1970's era romantic progressive rock performed on synthesizers with the addition of UK musician Steve Hillman on electric guitar. The influences of Genesis, Ozric Tentacles, and Camel are quite obvious and intended and shows yet another side of Alpha Wave Movement's composition. Alpha Wave Movement's music is semi electronic-based, utilizing digital synthesizers and MIDI to create its sonic explorations. Aside from the music influences nature and natural landscapes are a continuous source of inspiration for compositions. Alpha Wave Movement has performed at the Ambient Ping Canada and at the Gathering Room USA. Alpha Wave Movement has released music on the Dutch label Groove Unlimited, Silent Records (USA), Waveform Records (USA), Spiralight (USA), Anodize (USA) and on the private label Harmonic Resonance Recordings. Alpha Wave Movement's other projects include Thought Guild, Open Canvas, Subtle Shift, Biome and a solo release as Gregory Kyryluk. The latest release from Alpha Wave Movement is entitled "Soniq Variants"(2011). The release is based conceptually on the use of Ensoniq synthesizers solely for the compositions. Ensoniq was an American manufacturer that spearheaded early affordable synthesizer workstation's the first of which was the ESQ-1 in 1986. Music on this release was composed primarily on the ESQ-1, VFX-SD, SQ-R and a DP4 all of which were made by Ensoniq. Additional use of a Novation synthesizer was also incorporated to add some timbral texture. The year 2012 arrived with a new electronic music project by Gregory Kyryluk under the alias of Subtle Shift. This new project dives head into the ambient dub waterways. Featuring a more sublime percussive foundation, environmental soundscapes. Drawn on the influences of the Detroit and European creative pioneering spirits such as Rod Modell and Yagya, GAS as well as incorporating 1970s electro aesthetics. To date there are four full-length releases by Subtle Shift on the Anodize and Harmonic Resonance Recording labels. In 2014 the electronica world fusion project Open Canvas had a track from the Waveform Records release "Indumani" featured in the internationally popular gothic horror show True Blood. The Open Canvas track "Ojopati" was featured in the final season episode 3.
Les Fradkin is an American MIDI guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, composer, and record producer. He is best known for being a member of the original cast of the hit Broadway show Beatlemania. In addition to playing MIDI guitar, he plays 12 string guitar, the Starr Labs Ztar, guitar synthesizer, SynthAxe, Hammond organ, Mellotron, piano, bass guitar, and Moog synthesizer.
Matthew Lessner is an American artist and independent filmmaker.
Thank You Mr. Churchill is the fourteenth studio album from Peter Frampton, released through New Door Records in North America and through Eagle Rock in Europe.
Pocahaunted was a hypnagogic pop project based in Los Angeles, California founded in 2005 by Amanda Brown and Bethany Cosentino.
Matthew David McQueen, better known by his stage name Matthewdavid, is an American record producer and DJ based in Los Angeles, California. He is a co-founder of Leaving Records. He has collaborated with Sun Araw, Dog Bite, and Serengeti.
RVNG Intl. is an independent record label based in Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 2003 by Matt Werth, the label is run by Werth and focuses on experimental dance and electronic music, often incorporating avant-garde genres. Release formats include vinyl, CDs, and digital downloads. In 2011, they were named one of the top 50 indie labels in America by Billboard.
Aaron Funk, known as Venetian Snares, is a Canadian electronic musician based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He is widely known for innovating and popularising the breakcore genre, and is one of the most recognisable artists to be signed to Planet Mu, an experimental electronic music label. His signature style involves meticulously complex drums, eclectic use of samples, and odd time signatures, in particular, 7
4.
Duppy Gun is a dancehall record label run by Cameron Stallones of Sun Araw and M. Geddes Gengras, based in Los Angeles, California. The label began in Portmore, Jamaica in 2011 after a collaboration between Stallones, Gengras and Jamaican vocal group The Congos on the album Icon Give Thank for RVNG Intl. Duppy Gun releases feature collaborations from American experimental electronic artists and Jamaican singers. Past albums have included production from Peaking Lights, Sun Araw, M. Geddes Gengras, Matthewdavid and vocals by I Jahbar, Lukani, Fyah Flames, G sudden, and Dayone. Since their second release, the 12" vinyl Spy / Up Wit You, the label has been distributed by Los Angeles' Stones Throw Records. The 2014 double LP Duppy Gun Productions Vol 1 featured all of their previous released tracks as well as new music and featured vocalists "from more established roots singers to fisherman to very young neighborhood kids."
Black Midi were an English rock band from London, formed in 2017. Their most recent line-up consisted of Geordie Greep, Cameron Picton and Morgan Simpson (drums). Between 2017 and 2020, the band also included guitarist Matt Kwasniewski-Kelvin. Following his departure, the trio were frequently joined by Seth Evans and Kaidi Akinnibi (saxophone) both in the studio and during live performances. Their name is derived from the Japanese electronic music genre black MIDI, though their own music has no relation to it, instead incorporating styles such as math rock, progressive rock, post-punk, and avant-jazz.
Ancient Romans is the fifth solo studio album by Cameron Stallones as Sun Araw. It was released on Sun Ark Records and Drag City on August 23, 2011.