Shoegaze up-and-comers, Joyer, have shared a mesmerizing new single, “Drive All Night,” out today via Hit the North Records and Julia’s War. The Brooklyn-and-Boston-based duo is made up of multi-instrumentalist brothers Nick and Shane Sullivan, and they specialize in an instantly satisfying amalgam of swirling guitars and memorable melodies.
Joyer are gearing up for a big 2024 and “Drive All Night” offers a tantalizing hint of what’s to come in the new year. Recorded by Bradford Krieger (Horse Jumper of Love, Squirrel Flower) at Big Nice Studios, the song’s roomy production perfectly captures Joyer’s blend of otherworldly mood and crunchy guitars, as well as the notably more hook-driven direction of the brothers’ songwriting.
Shane discussed the new song, saying: “’Drive All Night’ was the first song I’d ever written where I consciously tried to write catchier and more melodic vocals which felt a little weird since it’s pretty different from our previous stuff. We decided to really fuzz it out to make up for that which ended up being a cool effect and contrast. I have to do a lot of long drives to play shows since Nick and I live in different states so I spend a lot of time in the car by myself. This song is kind of a product of that and inspired by those long periods of driving alone. I feel like I get some of my best ideas when I’m driving by myself.”
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. The band’s recent music marks a departure from their hushed slowcore beginnings and displays a more expansive sound—from blowtorched guitars and overtly hooky vocal cadences, to melancholy synths and pastoral lap steel. The songwriting duties are split evenly between Nick and Shane, but there’s a palpable cohesion in their music, a unified vision that’s always guided the project and continues even with the siblings living in different cities. “We grew up in this small suburban town and there weren’t too many people interested in music so it was convenient to just play with each other and we’ve always had pretty much the same music tastes,” Shane explains. “I just feel like when I’m in a band with Shane I don’t have to compromise,” Nick adds. “Being brothers allows us to be really honest and have a lot of productive criticism because we’re so comfortable with one another, we don’t have to hold back and it helps us achieve what we’re going for.”
Stay tuned for more from Joyerin 2024!
Upcoming Shows:
12/28 Queens, NY @ TV Eye w/ Bruiser in Bicycle
02/09 Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village w/ Interlay, Prize Horse
02/10 Akron, OH @ Kling Thing w/ Interlay, Funeral Commercial
02/11 Pittsburgh, PA @ West Egg w/ Interlay, Find My Friends
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