Veda Rays - "Dissonance"

Veda Rays may have relocated from Brooklyn to Philadelphia, but their change in locale hasn’t impacted their ability to write dark and chilling goth-punk tunes. In March, the New York ex-pats shared their first new music since 2018, a broodingly melodic track called “Rose Like Leather.” Their latest single, “Dissonance,” sees Veda Rays continuing to do what they do best, which is creating eerily atmospheric music that draws influence from 80s darkwave and synth-pop, but this time, they’re giving their sound a bit of a brighter spin. We’re excited to premiere it today on Look At My Records!

“Dissonance” is a well-polished song with a pounding beat and a throbbing bassline that matches frontman James Stark’s commanding vocals. The song’s beaming synths are nicely balanced by razor-sharp guitars, giving it a feel that’s equal parts Bauhaus and The Cure. Stark’s guitar work is definitely given a lot of room to roam, as he busts out a couple of little solos early on and then proceeds to pound his axe pretty hard as he sings “dissonance starts to seep in” as the song approaches its climax. The track’s more uplifting and livelier instrumentation is no mistake, as Stark shared a bit about its positive underlying message: "This song speaks to the psychological stress of our times as a byproduct of cognitive dissonance en masse and the collective shadows it creates. Yet, the hopeful message implied is that if we can shine a light, shadows disappear."

Stream it below!

“Dissonance” is available to stream on Spotify. You can also purchase the track via the band’s website. Keep up with the band by following them on Instagram and liking them on Facebook.