Sun Araw Explained

Sun Araw
Birth Name:Cameron Stallones
Alias:Prince Sunarawma

Aristocrat P. Child

DJ Si Si Si Gracias

Birth Place:Austin, Texas, U.S.
Origin:Austin, Texas, United States
Genre:Experimental, neo-psychedelia, hypnagogic pop[1]
Years Active:2007 - present
Label:Not Not Fun, Woodsist, Sun Ark Records, Thrill Jockey, Gotta Let It Out, Keroxen, MIDA, Goodfellas, Mental Groove Records, RVNG. Intl, Monofonous Press
Associated Acts:Magic Lantern, Vibes, Pocahaunted, Celebrate Music Synthesizer Group, Duppy Gun

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.

Biography

Originally from Austin, Texas, Stallones now resides in Long Beach, California.[2] Stallones was associated with the Not Not Fun label, and released his debut album, The Phynx, in 2008.[3] 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.

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]

Name

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 bandsbut his one man show Sun Araw is something he can always rely on when he takes a break from other music projects.

Musical style

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 like "Thanks and Praise" are described as "beyond dub, dancehall, roots, (his previous release) Ancient Romans, never really sounding like... the aforementioned genres". 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).

Discography

Studio Albums

All released by Sun Ark Records unless stated.

EPs

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".

Singles

All released by Sun Ark Records unless stated.

Live Albums

All released by Sun Ark Records unless stated.

DJ Mixes

All released by Sun Ark Records unless stated.

Live bands

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.

Sun Araw Band V

Releases:

Sun Araw Band IX

Releases:

Sun Araw Band X

Releases:

S. Araw Trio XI

Releases:

Sun Araw Band XII

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:

S. Araw Trio XIII

Releases:

S. Araw Trio / Band XV

Releases:

Sun Araw Band Ensemble (2017)

Releases:

Sun Araw Duo XVI (2024)

Release:

All Sun Araw Live Band releases are released by Sun Ark Records unless otherwise stated.

Music Aliases

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

Aristocrat P. Child was an alternate alias of Cameron Stallones used to publish DJ mixes.

DJ Si Si Si Gracias

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.

Prince Sunarawma

Members:

The record sleeve notes this as a "hurricane jam(!)", recorded during hurricane Irene.

Celebrate Music Synthesizer Group

Members:

Turban Chopsticks

Members:

Turban Chopsticks was a live recording / jam session recorded live in Adelaide 2012.

Sohni Chambers

Members:

Each track is a live jam recorded at various times in the day, recorded on the tracklist.

Hold The Phone

Members:

High Ceilings

Members:

In popular culture

Notes and References

  1. News: Keenan. Dave. David Keenan. Childhood's End. The Wire. 306. August 2009.
  2. Steeply, M. Hugh 2009 "http://www.tinymixtapes.com/features/sun-araw Sun Araw: Interview", tinymixtapes.com, August 2009, retrieved 2012-05-20
  3. True, Chris "http://www.allmusic.com/artist/sun-araw-p1179756/biography Sun Araw Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2012-05-20
  4. Raggett, Ned "http://www.allmusic.com/album/beach-head-r1716226/review Beach Head Review", Allmusic, retrieved 2012-05-20
  5. Web site: Simpson . Paul . Sun Araw . AllMusic . December 9, 2021.
  6. Web site: Sun Araw, M. Geddes Gengras and the ICON GIVE THANK crew's top 20 reggae finds from Jamaica . Fact Magazine . December 9, 2021 . May 15, 2012.
  7. Web site: Heavy Drone for Bunnies. Ryder. Caroline. 2010-06-10. LA Weekly. 2021-12-09.
  8. Web site: Heaney . Gregory . Off Duty/Boat Trip - Sun Araw . AllMusic . December 9, 2021.
  9. Web site: Pareles . Jon . Private Electronic Lagoons Just Above the Aural Horizon . The New York Times . December 9, 2021 . April 22, 2012.
  10. Web site: Raggett . Ned . Ancient Romans - Sun Araw . AllMusic . December 9, 2021.
  11. Web site: Sharp . Elliott . Sun Araw & M. Geddes Gengras Meet The Congos: Icon Give Thank . The A.V. Club . December 9, 2021. April 10, 2012.
  12. Web site: The Congos / Sun Araw / M. Geddes Gengras: Icon Give Thank . 2024-02-24 . Pitchfork . en-US.
  13. Web site: Jagernauth . Kevin . Exclusive: Listen To Sun Araw's Neil Young Cover 'Thrasher' From Sundance Film 'The Woods' . IndieWire . December 9, 2021 . en . January 10, 2011.