Mating Ritual

You’ve probably heard a song the Mating Ritual brothers have written, even if you don’t know it. After amassing more than 150 million streams between their various bands and solo projects, prolific siblings Ryan Ritual and Suede James are back together after a 4 year break with Shangri-blah, their sixth and decidedly most “rock” record to date. Trading in synths and drum machines for acoustics and pedal steel, Shangri-blah is an epic album that touches on all the band’s established sounds while adding a few more to the canon.

Spending much of the recording process in California's Central Coast, the brothers chose the scenic locale and it’s many colorful lifestyles as inspiration for the albums sounds and themes. Mixed by Omar Yakar (The War On Drugs, Perfume Genius) and lyrics exploring the current state of wellness, the album is as lush and warm and cynical as the locale it was recorded. Welcome to Shangri-blah, baby.

Shangri-blah comes out June 13th via Smooth Jaws

“gloomy june” may sound like a contradiction to anyone imagining a sun-soaked California summer; but in San Francisco, a thick, cold fog covers the city for a month known as “June Gloom.” From this contradiction, gloomy june draws their name, and inspiration for their sound. Where there are bittersweet guitar lines and anthemic synths, paired with danceable and oftentimes moshable drums, you will find lyrics about grief and anxiety. Where there are heavy drum breakdowns and descending chords, there are lyrics about hope and love overcoming the weight of the world.

San Francisco’s gloomy June spent 2022 touring half of North America, performing their unique blend of synth pop and punk to audiences at festivals like Pouzza Fest, SXSW, and The Fest in Gainesville, as well as in legendary hometown DIY spots like 924 Gilman and Bottom of the Hill. While simultaneously showcasing their debut EP “Popsick” they were writing and road-testing new songs such as their Fresh Finds-featured single Pisces, and “Back from the Dead” from their upcoming self-titled LP.

After a year of writing and recording, singer Alexi Belchere, guitarist, synth composer, and backing vocalist Devin Nelson, bassist and synth producer Jack Sundquist, and drummer Ash Hyatt are preparing to release their full-length gloomy june LP in early 2025. Catch them performing at your local LGBTQ+ Pride festival or punk space soon, and be prepared to dance while being vulnerable with your friends.