Not Not Fun, Woodsist, Sun Ark Records, Thrill Jockey, Gotta Let It Out, Keroxen, MIDA, Goodfellas, Mental Groove Records, RVNG. Intl, Monofonous Press
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.[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]
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 bands—but 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 "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).
Music from Harvester (movie soundtrack) (2015) - with Nicholas Malkin
21.09.15 (2016), Otoroku - with Orphy Robinson
Adventures In Object-Hood! ("Music From The Great Link") (2018), Ikuisuus - with Noel Meek
DX "CLASSICS" (2019)
Cetacean Sensation (2022, physical release by Discrepant)
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
Hey Mandala! (2008), Not Not Fun
Sun Ark (2010), Not Not Fun
Houston Abstros (2011), Monofonus Press
I'm Gonna Cross That River Of Jordan (2012), released by The Great Pop Supplement - with Spacemen 3
Sun Araw / Ralph White (2013), Monofonous Press
Fluid Array (2019) - with Mitchell Brown
VHW7 (2021) - with Tomo Jacobson
All released by Sun Ark Records unless stated.
Live Albums
Livephreaxxx!!!! (2010), Leaving Records - with Matthewdavid
Activated Clown (2019), NNA Tapes
AQUA X: Super Coracle / Tarzana Split (2023), Keroxen - with Tarzana
La Solo (2023)
All released by Sun Ark Records unless stated.
DJ Mixes
Super Slayerss (2010)
Meteor Hits 2013 (2010), Rose Quartz
MMX (2011), Opening Ceremony
Got To Get Over! (Parts 1 & 2) (2011), Where's Yr Child - VS. Heatwave
Dummy Mix 98 (2011), Dummy Mix
He Who Carved The Crater Created The Key (2011), Dublab
Open: This Is The Literature - Disco Hermetics (2012), Dublab - VS. Heatwave
Forget Our Fates (2014), Sun Ark Edit Bay - with "DJ Purple Image (Alex Gray)"
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.
Live Kraniche Bei Den Elbbrücken (2016), Hafenschlamm Rekords
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:
M. Riordan - Yamaha Portasound-470, bass synthesizer
Release:
LA DUO (2024)
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
Sun Ark Edit Bay #1 (2012), Sun Ark Records
All Your Heart: The Label Under The Label (2012), Sun Ark Edit Bay
Now We're Getting Somewhere! (2012), Sun Ark Edit Bay
We Got Telephones (2012), Sun Ark Edit Bay
Aristocrat P. Child was an alternate alias of Cameron Stallones used to publish DJ mixes.
DJ Si Si Si Gracias
Hallo Wee Trenty Thirty (2013), Tiny Mix Tapes
Parallel Desires (2014), Sun Ark Edit Bay
Thatness / Thereness (2014), Sun Ark Edit Bay
DB12 003 (2020), Duca Bianco
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
Irene (2012), Atelier Ciseaux
Members:
Nimai Larson - Djembe
Cameron Stallones - Guitar
Taraka Larson - Harmonium
Sebastian Jovanic - Synthesizer
Pete Swanson - Mastering
The record sleeve notes this as a "hurricane jam(!)", recorded during hurricane Irene.
Celebrate Music Synthesizer Group
Celebrate Music Synthesizer Group (2013), Sun Ark Records
Members:
Cameron Stallones
M. Geddes Gengras
Tony Lowe
Butchy Fuego
Turban Chopsticks
Mexican Food (2013), Sun Ark Records
Members:
Alex Gray - Drums
Cameron Stallones - Guitar
Tony Lowe - Guitar
Turban Chopsticks was a live recording / jam session recorded live in Adelaide 2012.
Sohni Chambers
Yaw-Mah-Ha (2010), Goaty Tapes
Members:
Cameron Stallones - Galaxie 8180 Organ
Nick Malkin - 5-Piece Drum Kit
Each track is a live jam recorded at various times in the day, recorded on the tracklist.
Hold The Phone
Safe Breezes [Improvisations for strings and synthesizer] (2011), Sun Ark Records
Members:
Cameron Stallones - "Strings"
Barrett Avner - Synthesizer
High Ceilings
High Ceilings (2014), Sun Ark Records
Members:
Cameron Stallones
Dave Saymek
Mitchell Brown
In popular culture
The tracks "Harken Sawshine", "Horse Steppin", as well as an original cover of Neil Young's "Thrasher" were featured in the 2011 independent feature film The Woods written and directed by Matthew Lessner.[13]
The tracks "Horse Steppin" and "Deep Cover" were featured in the 2012 video game Hotline Miami.
