Joyer / James Castle / Pro Video

Joyer formed in New Jersey in 2017, and after releasing two self-recorded demo collections, they released their first studio album, Sun Into Flies, in 2020, followed by Perfect Gray in 2021. Now based in Brooklyn and Philadelphia, the duo of multi-instrumentalist brothers Nick and Shane Sullivan are constantly evolving their sound. Their latest album, Night Songs, examines the allure of night and its ability to shapeshift from a mirror for our innermost demons to a shield from the demands of daily drudgery. It marks a departure from their hushed slowcore beginnings and displays a more expansive sound—from blowtorched shoegaze guitars and poppier vocals to melancholy synths and pastoral lap steel. Fittingly, their detour into twistier, heavier territory coincides with the depraved nature of nighttime activities, and their foray into a more hi-fi, pop-forward direction aligns with the stark clarity that pitch-black skies provide. Their devilish distortion also functions as a cathartic foil to their quiet, real-life demeanors, and was informed by their live shows, which increasingly featured gnarlier versions of past Joyer songs. Following the success of Night Songs the band has embarked on various country-wide tours, sharing bills with other up-and-coming acts as well as prominent indie rock artists such as Wishy, Feeble Little Horse, Horse Jumper of Love, Lowertown, and Babehoven.