Editor’s Note Sun Within is a rock band based in Philadelphia, PA. Formed in 2024, the group features Geeta Dalal Simons (guitar, vocals), Leah Basarab (bass, vocals), and Katy Otto (drums).
Below is a press release’s description of their formation and name:
“Otto came to Philly from D.C., where she founded the label Exotic Fever Records in 2000. Having played in many bands including Trophy Wife, Del Cielo, Callowhill and Bald Rapunzel, she recently drummed in Rainbow Crimes with Leah. Leah (Vidrozhena, Ex by V) is a bassist, cellist and vocalist and Geeta played guitar, sang and composed in bands ranging from Rockula to RunHideFight (and several between that don’t begin with the letter R).
The name Sun Within originates from a translation of the sacred Gayatri Mantra, which seeks that goddess’ divine power of protection from darkness while acknowledging that the light within each of us has the potential to elevate not only one’s own energy but that of their surrounding community as well.”
As well as their sound:
“Sonically, the trio pulls from influences ranging from 7 Year B*tch to Mclusky to Drive Like Jehu. Snarly, heavy, dirty, and grown, the band’s music features elements of post-hardcore, math rock, and raw power pop. Like, if Pretty On the Inside hooked up with Suicide Invoice, this would be their irreverent teenage daughter.”
In September, the band released a new single entitled “Synthesis + Realization” via Exotic Fever Records. The song pulls from the band’s collective experiences. Each member has, according to the press release, “endured trauma from violence and turned to therapy, including EMDR and other forms of mental health care for healing. The track channels those journeys, capturing both the weight of revisiting painful memories and the resilience required to move through them.”
“Each of us has experienced trauma as a result of violence and sought respite from it through EMDR and other therapeutic forms of mental healthcare,” says the band via press release. “And while these tools can lessen the impact of horrific experiences, they also add to the unfair burden of victims, who must relive their pain while perpetrators move on unscathed.”
You can order the song via the band’s Bandcamp page and listen below:
Sun Within is donating all Bandcamp proceeds from “Synthesis + Realization” to Backline, a nonprofit that connects musicians with mental health resources.
“The power of music ceases to exist without musicians,” the band shares. “Access to affordable mental health care is both important and uneven,” says the band via press release. “We decided to donate the Bandcamp proceeds of ‘Synthesis + Realization’ to Backline. And while one song may feel like a drop in the bucket, if each of us gave—even what feels like an embarrassingly small amount—imagine how many lives could be changed, or even saved. Any action is better than no action.”
The group will celebrate the release (and other songs they’re currently working on) on November 8 with a hometown show at Nikki Lopez Philly, opening for Lapêche.
Below, Sun Within shares their artist essay in the form of a band discussion of some key aspects of band life.
*Stories from the road
Katy: When it comes to stories from the road for this band, we’ve gone down the road to Center City ( Philadelphia, for the Unitarian Church show opening for Frail, Policy of Three and Sleepytime Trio) and down the road some more to West Philadelphia ( to play with Street Eaters, Hide and Dagger Wound ). And that’s down the road from Delco where we have a practice space. For those of you who don’t know, Delco stands for Delaware County and its the county south of Philly…
Geeta: And I just have to interrupt to throw this into the ring: wooder ice.
Katy: Wooder ice! G’head hon, g’head.
Geeta: We went up the road once, to D.C…
Katy: But that too was down the road, south.
Geeta: Ah, shit. Well don’t let me drive the van!
Leah: I feel like we have aspirations to do other road stuff, touring…
Katy: Consider us road puppies. We’re road puppies, not road dogs. Road dogs in previous lives but in this band road puppies.
Leah: We’re brand new and have only played literally 2 shows so far.
* The inspiration for songs, lyrics, album and/or song titles, etc.
Geeta: Well, sugar-fueled chit chat during band practice makes for a whole lotta lyrical content and interesting song titles…
Leah: Yeah, we have a whole whiteboard full of those.
Geeta: Many of which are inspired by Katy’s spontaneous hilarity.
Katy: Our songs are inspired by nature, witchcraft, each other, and spectacular storms…
Geeta: …and the combined life experiences of us as grown women: the good, the bad, and the ugly. The good would be “Luminous Events”, which is about our otherworldly, witchy musical connection. The ugly is the source of our first single, “Synthesis + Realization”, as all of us have been through EMDR in attempts to heal trauma that resulted from violence. The title itself came from a textbook of mine, “The Haunted Self: Structural Dissociation and the Treatment of Chronic Traumatization”. Generally speaking, it’s about the disparity in life impact between the perpetrator and the victim.
* The songwriting and/or recording process, etc. If not music, what creative process did you use?
Leah: That’s evolving, we are growing and learning from each other. It did begin with Geeta bringing in songs that she wrote, but now that we have been playing for some time, we are exploring different ways of writing together and using different avenues.
* Artists that have influenced and inspired you (including but not limited to The Replacements). Bonus points if The Replacements.
Katy: Jeanette Winterson is my favorite author- I just finished a book of her haunted short stories – and Catharsis.
Leah: Matt Armstrong and Kristin Hayter.
Geeta: Louise Bourgeois, Poison Ivy from the Cramps, Clarissa Pinkola Estés
Katy: The question asks about the Replacements, too.
Geeta: Well, I think it’s safe to say that Tommy Stinson is a crush-worthy individual, and his band Cowboys in the Campfire is awesome. I saw them play a really fun show, held in the unique setting of a Volkswagen Van Club. I have one Replacements record, Pleased to Meet Me. The song “Alex Chilton” is on it, and I’m a big fan of him as well as Big Star.
Sun Within
Contributor
Sun Within is a rock band based in Philadelphia, PA. Formed in 2024, the group features Geeta Dalal Simons (guitar, vocals), Leah Basarab (bass, vocals), and Katy Otto (drums).
