Emerging from Philadelphia’s underground in 2024, Sun Within channels a dynamic blend of grunge grit, noise rock abrasion, and the angular intricacies of math rock. Their sound, all feral, weighty and unvarnished, also draws from post hardcore as well as the melodic punch of power pop.
The band’s name, Sun Within, is rooted in a translation of the sacred Gayatri Mantra; a call for divine protection against darkness and a recognition of the inner light that can uplift not only the self, but the collective spirit of those around us.
Proceeds from their Bandcamp release Synthesis + Realization go directly to Backline, a nonprofit connecting musicians with vital mental health support.
The band explains the gesture: “The power of music ceases to exist without musicians. One way to transform adversity into art is through music, but that can only happen if one is given the tools to not be lost to the echo chamber of trauma to begin with.
“Access to affordable mental health care is important and uneven. We decided to donate the Bandcamp proceeds of the song Synthesis + Realization to the non-profit Backline, which connects musicians with mental health resources. And although donating the Bandcamp proceeds of one song by a band you never heard of may be a paltry drop in the bucket, if each of us gave even what we consider an embarrassingly small amount, imagine how many lives could be changed or even saved. A single one would be more than enough. How many of us know a musician who is traumatized or took their own life? Any action is better than no action.”
Sun Within is Geeta Dalal Simons on guitar and vocals, Leah Basarab on bass and vocals, and Katy Otto on drums.
ZR