Gold Celeste

Gold Celeste Gold Celeste is steeped in inspiration, drawing from the relentless energy of the ’60s, the sweet soul of the ’70s, the contrarians of ’80s indie and hip-hop, and the lo-fi, shoegaze, and dream pop of the ’90s. Their sound places them alongside modern peers like Dungen, Tame Impala, and Deerhunter, riding the same wave of kaleidoscopic exploration. The band met in Trondheim around 2010 while studying music and recorded their debut album between 2012 and 2015. Their studio, run by singer and bass player Simen, became the creative hub where The Glow took shape. Shortly after its release in 2015, Eirik, Petter, and Simen relocated to Oslo, where they immersed themselves in a damp, cluttered rehearsal space-turned-makeshift studio. There, they recorded hours of music, embraced the analog process of live jamming, and laid down trio song skeletons while continuously expanding their musical toolbox. Around this time, they also welcomed Torstein Holum, Peter Hiley and Eirik Kirkemyr into the live lineup. Gold Celeste continued refining their arrangements, and their 2018 follow-up record, The Gentle Maverick, was a spirited and ambitious voyage. On May 1st, 2020, they released the single Eye of the Storm, followed by the four-track EP Common Ground on May 22nd. Since 2020, the band has been crafting new material, playing occasional concerts, and steadily building creative and physical energy. As they celebrate the 10-year anniversary of The Glow, they see it as both a chance to shake off “demo-itis” and an opportunity to reconnect with longtime fans while reaching new listeners. Vinyl Williams Almost two decades into his career, Lionel (Vinyl) Williams is an enduring fixture of the psychedelic scene. He unveiled his Vinyl Williams alias in 2007, immediately establishing the blueprint for a sound that shimmers like bioluminescent glitter. With releases on labels including Chaz Bear’s Company Records, Requiem Pour Un Twister, and Harmony Records, Williams translates vast, galactic concepts into cosmic sonic textures. It seems fitting that Williams is the inventor of a system for understanding relationships called Musical Astrology — an app that allows you to hear the music of your birthdays, as well as the precise musical pitches of the planets in relation to Earth, on any given day. Sonoda Sonoda (so-NO-duh) is a meditative pop ensemble based in Los Angeles, CA. The quartet approaches live music and dream pop with a delicate, spiritual, and therapeutic perspective. A gentle glow of crystals, salt lamps, candles and flowers adorn the stage as the band creates a welcoming wash of ambience with warbly guitars and oscillating synths. Each performance opens and closes with a soothing ‘Ohm’ sung by front woman Lisa Sonoda, who resounds deeply on stage with her singing bowl, tingshas and chimes. It is in this dream world where Sonoda’s lullaby-pop sensibility conjures the auras of influences like Broadcast and Beach House. From these influences, Sonoda offers a new take on music and dream pop, bringing us a collective deep breath— a refreshment, a renewal: Meditative Pop.
The band started with Lisa Sonoda’s solo projects, Clearing I (2016) and Clearing II (2017), which were later compiled and released on a small tape run on Never Anything Records. Lisa soon expanded to a full band with the help of musicians like Adrian Garcia on additional synth and guitar. Together they made their first full band demo album Karaoke Life (Never Content, 2018). With current members Eddie Ramos on drums and Jacob Maag on bass, they released singles Half-Life / The Mark (Anniversary, 2019), Point of View & Purpose (Flexible/Terrible Records, 2021). They have also toured with Vanishing Twin, Mutual Benefit and Jane Weaver, and performed with bands Good Morning, Claud, Juniore and many more.