The heavy shoegaze surge shows no sign of abating. Right now, a vast swarm of underground groups is borrowing elements from Deftones and Hum, and a number of them have grown sizable. Yet Held began long before this wave gained widespread attention. Oakland-based musician Daniel Phounsavan launched Held as a solo project in 2015, followed by a 2016 demo and a 2019 self-titled EP. Now, after seven years, the project returns with a new release.
Phounsavan, the project’s sole constant member, spent time recently playing guitar in the Bay Area outfit Buddy Junior and had not written new songs for years. He has since recruited his former Buddy Junior bandmate Jaybe, who produced and recorded Held’s forthcoming Star Falling EP at his home studio. The lead single, “Standby,” unleashes a massive, crashing collision of guitars and synths, and you can hear it below.
TRACKLIST:
01 “Heavy Arms”
02 “Standby”
03 “Safeway 3”
04 “Montclair Smile Design”
05 “Star Falling”
06 “Hold”
The Star Falling EP is out 10/9 on Cherub Dream.
