Dark Sun Protocol Dayseeker

DAYSEEKER embody what a rock band can be in the 21st century. Untethered from rules and agnostic of genre confines, the Southern California quartet—Rory Rodriguez [vocals], Gino Sgambelluri [guitar], Ramone Valerio [bass], and Mike Karle [drums]—exist outside of any and all boundaries. As such, they seamlessly absorb culture at lightspeed, layering hypnotic hard rock and metallic catharsis above soundscapes punctuated by glistening post-pop, experimental indie, and alternative R&B. Tallying hundreds of millions of streams, selling out shows, and earning acclaim from the likes of Alternative Press and more, the band crystallize this outlier vision on their 2022 fifth full-length offering, Dark Sun [Spinefarm Records].

“Overall, it feels more grownup,” observes Rory. “It’s less like we’re scene kids trying to be a rock band, and we’re actually a group of guys making rock music on our terms. We realized we were happier creating this way.”

Grinding on a series of independent releases, DAYSEEKER reached critical mass with 2019’s Sleeptalk. The title track “Sleeptalk” impressively gathered 25 million Spotify streams and over 4 million YouTube views on the music video. Meanwhile, “Burial Plot” surpassed 12 million Spotify streams, contributing to over 125 million streams total for the LP. Inciting rave reviews, Alternative Press applauded, “DAYSEEKER are doing more than following along with the trend of blending genres. They’ve paved the way to something new and exciting that music has been craving for some time now.” Beyond touring with The Devil Wears Prada and We Came As Romans, they sold out headline dates and even performed Sleeptalk in its entirety on the road. Along the way, the band recorded what would become Dark Sun with regular collaborator and producer Daniel Braunstein. During this time, Rory experienced trials and tribulations with the passing of his father, yet felt the utmost joy in the birth of his daughter. This cycle of life permeated the process.

“My dad was a musician, and we bonded a lot,” he says. “I lived with him up until three years before he died. When I took a natural interest in music as a kid, he was really excited. He had Parkinson’s on top of cancer, so his quality of life wasn’t great. I’m happy he’s at peace, because he was really struggling towards the end. My daughter was a big surprise, and it was nice he got to meet her. I think he’d be excited to know we made an album about my experience with him. Hopefully, it helps other people dealing with the same situation.”

Fittingly, the group introduced the record with “Neon Grave,” which directly addressed his father’s passing. Beyond posting up 3.5 million Spotify streams right out of the gate, Rock Sound raved it “possesses the most heartbreaking and herculean pieces of their sound in one incredible piece of songwriting. Tear-stained and totally enthralling, no stone is left unturned in this grief-stricken and heart-wrenching epic.” On its heels, the single “Without Me” hinges on warm neon keys and delicate vocals before a rush of distortion energizes the hook as the frontman asks, “How do you feel the same without me?”

“That’s more classic DAYSEEKER,” he reveals. “I wrote it about a girl with whom I’ve had a very long-term off-and-on thing. I got tired of it. When there’s a lapse in communication, you obviously don’t know how the other person feels. So, you keep asking questions. I’ve written a lot of songs about her, and I hope this ends that chapter.”

The sample of a female voice echoes through a gauzy soundscape on “Crying While You’re Dancing” before another hypnotic hook takes hold. “I liked the idea of a girl’s glittery eye makeup running down her face,” he states. “She’s pretending to have the time of her life, but she’s really suffering. It was about people I’ve seen who are acting like everything’s okay, even though they’re spiraling.”

Elsewhere, “DREAMSTATE” unfolds with a glossy melody powered by keys and guitar. Intimate verses give way to another emotionally charged and infectious refrain.

“In the months after my dad’s death, I had multiple dreams about him,” he recalls. “They could be like weird memories tweaked in my head. In other dreams, we were communicating. I actually felt his presence. It was like I was talking to him, and I’d wake up teary-eyed. It was as if there was a bridge between the reality we live in and a person in the afterlife. It was painful to want to sleep so I could communicate with him. It messed with my sense of reality.” 

On the other end of the spectrum, the upbeat “Homesick” harked back to “the people, places, and things that made me feel like it was okay to be happy after my dad passed,” he admits. Finally, the conclusion “Afterglow” culminates on a distortion-wrapped plea, “Don’t forget me when I’m gone.”

“It’s for my daughter,” he says. “The whole album addresses what’s been going on for the last two years. It closes the album on a slightly happier note though. She’s just incredible. I have to provide for her by going away and playing music. I haven’t missed many major things, but I’ll return from the road and noticed she grew up a little bit. It still felt like a sweet way to end this emotional journey.”

In the end, Dark Sun finds DAYSEEKER evolving once more.

“I’m very grateful these days,” Rory leaves off. “I’ve been in this band for ten years, and we’re really writing music the way we want to. It’s a way for me to vent my personal emotions. I’ve also got a rare way to honor my father. It’s a cool part of my life. I hope it keeps going from here on.”