Panchiko is beginning to settle into rockstar life. It’s different from how the UK band imagined it when they were teens, crafting ethereal, at times cosmic bits of heart-forward rock music to little outside interest, playing shows to nearly empty rooms. They set aside their hopes of becoming full-time musicians and pursued other careers. Their high school artistry became a distant memory. But that all changed in 2016 when an internet user discovered Panchiko’s discarded 2000 demo CD, D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L, in a Nottingham charity shop and posted it to 4chan to intrigue and fanfare. It took four years for Panchiko’s legions of dedicated fans to find the people behind the music, but when they did, Panchiko’s long let-go-of dreams became an imperative to pursue. Millions of curious listeners were swaying to their adolescent creations; it was time for them to meet their moment. 

Formed, almost accidentally, in a shared east LA lockout, the members of Clarion came together to write music together in late 2023. Anthony, Saya and Joseph had all had spent time in the local DIY scene of East Los Angeles and in 2024 decided to record the songs they had been writing in a quick three-day sprint. They implemented efforts like layering multiple amps in stereo, panned left to right with different tones, to create an illusion of two guitarists. They tried every idea that came to mind, allowing the songs to become fully realized instead of rushed. The result is an immersive and youthful mix of shoegaze, post-punk, and Japanese rock. These recordings became their debut EP, simply titled Clarion.  

The song “Hello Juliet” from that EP quickly gained traction on TikTok when a fan-made video started to go viral. Of the song, singer and bassist Saya Oliva says “The song is about wanting to make it right with someone.” Guitarist Anthony Sanchez adds, “I ended up writing the riff and song after one of my best friends passed, and we weren't on the best of terms when it happened so the lyrics really reflect that feeling of regret, of wanting to start over.”