City of the Sun may call Brooklyn home, but the band’s wordless, genre-blurring sound has always traveled well beyond borders. Drawing from indie rock, Latin folk, blues, and global traditions, the instrumental outfit creates music that feels both intimate and expansive, evoking full landscapes without ever needing lyrics. Formed by guitarist John Pita and drummer Zach Para, later joined by bassist Matt Fasano and guitarist Marco Bolfelli, the group has steadily cultivated a devoted international following since their 2016 debut To The Sun and All the Cities in Between, followed by a self-titled release in 2020 and Segunda Alma in 2022. Along the way, tours with Peter Bjorn and John and Thievery Corporation helped amplify a sound that resonates deeply across cultures, often met with reverent, sold-out crowds from London to Athens.
Their new album, Under the Moon (due out April 24th via Nettwerk – PRE-ORDER), finds City of the Sun stepping into a new chapter. Produced by Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes, Father John Misty, Built to Spill), the record moves fluidly through shifting moods and geographies, from the rolling surf tones of “Angeles” to the spaghetti-western hush of “Bajo la Luna,” the desert-rock drive of “Ciudad del Sol,” and the Mediterranean sway of “Hotel Alma.” Tracks like “Un Disparo al Corazon” and “Twenty Twenty One” reflect on grief and separation in the wake of the pandemic, while “Ella” and “Dream” introduce a surprising disco-funk shimmer, signaling moments of joy breaking through the darkness.
Elsewhere, “London” channels heartbreak into surf-rock and new-wave textures, and “Cinderella Man” draws inspiration from boxer James J. Braddock as a metaphor for the musician’s endurance. The collaborative “Vuela,” featuring Spanish singer-songwriter Gizmo Varillas, nods to Argentine folk icon Atahualpa Yupanqui, blending Latin and African rhythms with a timeless feel. Closing track “Metamorphosis” fades out like the final shot of a classic Western—forward-looking, unresolved, and full of promise. With Under the Moon, City of the Sun continues to prove that instrumental music can speak a universal language, one shaped by shared roots, global curiosity, and a restless sense of motion.
Today, Glide is offering an exclusive premiere of the standout track “Angeles,” a song that hits the switch for maximum chill vibes. Layering in breezy and easygoing surf guitar with a cozy bass line and a steady, in-the-pocket drum beat, the tune unfolds with the relaxed fashion of a leisurely, reflective drive to the beach on a sunny summer day. For fans of instrumental groups like Khruangbin, Hermanos Gutiérrez, and LA LOM, this tune is sure to connect while also falling into a vein that feels more rooted in American funk and rock. Whether you are vibing out with some tasty libations or getting your groove on at a festival, “Angeles” is another choice offering from a band that is clearly on the rise.
Frontman John Pita says, “This one is for the midnight wanderer who lies awake in thought. Memories and images of the past, present, and future swirl and whirl like a cyclone until they collide as one. The creative soul reaches out, blurring the line between reality and a dream. I rolled out of bed, picked up my instrument, and started playing this melody half-asleep and half-awake. Oftentimes, our thoughts and words fail to convey our inner story, but art and music are a portal into our souls. We called this song “Angeles” because, like the creative spirit, angels seem to descend from above, offering moments of peace and clarity.”
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