With their crushing yet hypnotic blend of fuzz-laden riffs and introspective darkness, Italian power trio Dune Aurora have been steadily building a unique artistic identity since their formation. Following their 2022 debut EP “Lonely Town” and a trilogy of evocative singles, the Turin-based band now unveils a new chapter with “Sunless Queen,” the first glimpse of their upcoming debut full-length album, due out this Fall via Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records. The new track – slow-paced, Heavy, and laced with haunting atmospheres — channels a monolithic sonic presence and a deep mythological narrative. Mastered by none other than James Plotkin (ISIS, Pelican, Earth), “Sunless Queen” captures the essence of Dune Aurora’s immersive sound while raising anticipation for the record to come. We had the pleasure of speaking with the band about the new single, their creative process, and what lies ahead.
“Sunless Queen” is the first official preview from your debut album. What inspired this track, and how did it come together in the studio?
As working on our album, we decided to experiment on darker sounds and atmospheres, and a lower tuning, so we started from some slower drum patterns and guitar/bass riffs, adding then the vocals and the lyrics. The recordings went smoothly and we’re very happy with the final result.
The lyrical concept seems to revolve around transformation, myth, and embracing darkness. Who is the “Sunless Queen,” and what does she represent in your narrative?
The Sunless Queen represents a woman ruling over her perfect kingdom and living in the perfect world she has created. Suddenly she has to relate to some unexpected entity that darkens the sun which is the source of life and provides the light she needs in order to see all things. A path of transformation begins. The queen will learn to accept the entity for it is part of herself. This will lead her to a new life and she will be reborn.
The video for the single offers a powerful visual interpretation. Can you walk us through its imagery and how it complements the song’s emotional tone?
Some of the images in the video express the themes of the song. The foetus is a symbol of rebirth and of the ongoing process of acquiring awareness. The hand symbolises the experience of reality through all senses, the moving figures represent the inner journey.
You describe the song as having a “monolithic presence” within the album. In what ways does it reflect or contrast with the rest of the upcoming full-length?
Sunless queen is one of the slowest songs of the album. We used the term monolithic to convey the fact that this song has a strong and powerful presence, thanks to its riffs and rhythm, which is why we decided to release it as our first single. The song contrasts the other songs of the album thanks to its cadence.
Without revealing too much, what can listeners expect in terms of structure and atmosphere across the full record? Is there a conceptual thread or a recurring emotional theme tying the songs together?
While composing, we gave a lot of importance to the dynamics. The result is a variety of rhythmic patterns, tempos and tunings. What makes it a whole is the sound, on which we worked a lot before and during the studio sessions, the union of the instruments, the vocals and the harmonisations, the themes and a general atmosphere that permeates the whole album. There is a conceptual thread that we will be happy to share once the album is released!
Fuzz-Heavy riffs, slow cadences, hypnotic tension — your sound evokes both raw power and introspection. How do you approach songwriting to maintain this balance?
Usually we first focus on building a solid structure with strong riffs and rhythms that define the baseline for the song. Then we work on the vocals and the guitar/bass effects trying to add some emotional depth.
From “Lonely Town” to “Solar Reward,” “Sail,” and “Fire,” your early releases showcased strong visuals and conceptual cohesion. How important is this kind of artistic continuity for Dune Aurora?
It is really important to us, since we think this forms part of our identity as a band. Concerning the visuals in our videos our collaboration with Matteo Melotto, a performer, video director and visual artist, has been key in trying to keep this cohesion. We started working with Matteo for the Solar Reward video and it was very fulfilling to see how the things we envisioned, the themes of the songs, started to take form. We are very happy with the job he has done to provide a visual
framework for our music. It is very nice to be able to represent our songs also visually, we love the mix between art forms.
Your music blends elements of Doom, Psych, and Heavy Rock while remaining deeply atmospheric. What are your main musical influences, and how do they shape your identity?
We are very attached to the underground music scene starting from 70s rock to 90s stoner and fuzz rock. Our identity is strongly shaped by the immense sense of freedom that this music gives us. Apart from that, we individually have some other influences across metal, grunge and punk rock.
Working with James Plotkin for the mastering is a significant step. How did this collaboration take place, and how did it impact the final sound of the record?
We are very happy to have had the opportunity to work with James Plotkin. We have put a lot of effort and care in every detail of our songs and definitely wanted the best possible sound in our master. We were directed to James by Davide Donvito at Magma Studio, who did an excellent job at the recording stage.
As a power trio, each element must carry weight – vocals, guitar, bass, and drums all seem tightly woven. How do you develop this synergy during your creative process?
We have put a lot of effort over the years into working and playing together, trying to come up with music that reflects our individual styles. This happened gradually over the countless hours we have spent playing together and sharing ideas.
You’re based in Turin – a city with a strong underground spirit. How does the local scene influence or interact with your work, if at all?
We are very attached to our local scene. Cities like Turin, Genoa and Alessandria shaped us as musicians as we had the opportunity to attend many concerts and interact with the bands.
Being a fully female trio in a scene often dominated by male acts, have you faced specific challenges or found particular strengths in this identity?
The main challenge to us has been to be able to keep a balance between making music, which requires a lot of time and effort, and the other aspects of day-to-day life. This is possibly something that many bands of the underground scene have in common.
Your use of symbolism, both musically and visually, is quite striking. Do you draw from specific mythologies, literary works, or personal experiences when building these layers?
Our inspiration comes largely from personal experiences or from images and ideas we randomly encounter. It is initially like a cloud of elements, often with not obvious connection among each other, which start taking shape as we work on it.
Can you share any behind-the-scenes anecdotes or special moments from the recording sessions of the new album?
Every moment we spent in the studio has been special for us on a human level. As a band we use to spend a lot of time together and it’s been fun to include Dave in our enthusiastic madness. We showed up with a box of coffee to the studio so we always had a lot of energy. Dave has been very nice and patient, especially when we told him that we needed to record some tambourine parts when he thought we were done with the recordings.
Is there a particular track on the upcoming album that you feel especially connected to — something that surprised you during the writing or recording process?
We are deeply connected to all our songs which is why choosing a single has not been easy. Since 2020, it’s been a journey as a band and we really feel that this album embodies this process, as it contains a couple of older songs and some very recent ones (one of which was finished just a month before entering the studio).
With the release scheduled for this Fall, what are your plans for promoting the album — are there any upcoming live dates, special editions, or surprises fans should watch out for?
We have a second single coming up very soon and we are working on booking some shows next year to present the album, both in Italy and in Europe. We will keep our social media pages updated with all the details.
Thank you for taking the time to share your insights with us. We’re thrilled to witness the evolution of Dune Aurora and look forward to the debut album release. All the best for this next chapter!
Thank you very much for the interview!