Rising Arp: Sun Cell Shatters The Fear Of A New Year With His Synthwave Fantasy

Sun Cell released his debut single on New Year’s Eve (Credit: Russell Goh)

The transition of a new year isn’t always easy to process. Some embrace it as a deluge of positivity while others remain lost in the trepidation of its uncertainty. For Sun Cell, the freshly minted brainchild of Daryl Hor, he’s collated his swirl of emotions in his pensive debut single, aptly titled “New Year”. This follows an abrupt breakage of his life trajectory, when the pandemic forced his return to Singapore while he was pursuing a Recording Arts degree at Full Sail University in the US. Back home, he now treads on familiar yet uncharted territory, seeking fresh beginnings in the fledgling fruition of his sound.

On “New Year”, Sun Cell constructs an ’80s-shaded reverie with a style that continues to linger. He presents a glossy synthwave fantasy rooted in vintage instrumentals, cruising into your consciousness with dewy lead riffs, running bass trails, and snares and toms drenched in drizzles of gated reverb. Like bedroom musings conveyed in a somnambulant manner, he revisits the dogged mantra – “New lease, new life, new year” – over and over in the song’s serene chorus, like a self-reminder that loops as calmly as the soundscape he’s assembled. The composition imitates the temporal nature of a dream; fleeting and transient just like the flurry of years past. With “New Year”, he makes the gaping jaws of 2022 much less fearsome.

“The idea of turning over a new leaf after a New Year is something that has been imprinted in our collective consciousness, or at the very least mine, and at no other point in my life have I felt that concept resonate with me stronger than it has now,” the producer shares.

“New Year” isn’t Sun Cell’s first contribution to the local music scene (Credit: Russell Goh)

Since returning home, Sun Cell has shown the makings of a splendid future in his works. His previous demo, “Landline”, was one of the local tracks shortlisted by Vans Musicians Wanted in 2021. He clinched a nomination accolade for Best Original Soundtrack at the National Youth Film Awards. And he’s also dabbled in audio engineering work for musicians like RENE and ROYAL ESTATE.

But right now, amidst the waking dawn of a formidable year, Sun Cell is just starting to rise above the horizon. He has made his peace with what’s ahead in 2022.

Listen to “New Year” by Sun Cell on Spotify and Bandcamp. Follow his Instagram page to stay updated with his activities.