Obviously the throughline here from one outfit to the other is guitarist Gary Arce. The Yawning Man founder has two full-lengths out in collaboration with Pia Isaksen (Pia Isa, Superlynx) under the banner of Softsun, and has made Ten East a somewhat-amorphous-in-lineup offshoot outfit for not-Yawning–Man explorations. The last Ten East LP, Skyline Pressure (review here), came out on Small Stone in 2016. Softsun is the more ongoing band; the second LP, Eternal Sunrise (review here), was offered through Heavy Psych Sounds last year.

So as the two projects unite to take part in Ripple Music‘s ongoing split series with Turned to Stone Ch. 10, there’s an element of continuity. All the more since Isaksen is featuring in Ten East as well alongside Arce and drummer Bill Stinson (Yawning Man). Dan Joeright played on the first Softsun album, so I can’t help but wonder if he’s back in the lineup or what will feature on this split LP was recorded earlier. If I find out, I’ll let you know.

Either way, if you dig resonance, the 10-minute single “First Light” is up now and — bonus — it’s got Isaiah Mitchell from Earthless adding lead work. Call that time well spent.

From the PR wire:

Californian psych units TEN EAST and SOFTSUN team up for split LP release on Ripple Music this spring; first track with Isaiah Mitchell of Earthless streaming!

Drawing from the deep well of the California desert, psychedelic rock units SoftSun and Ten East (featuring Isaiah Mitchell of Earthless) conjure a mesmerizing sonic mirage on their upcoming split LP “Turned To Stone Chapter 10”, to be issued on April 4th through Ripple Music.

Stream new Ten East single “First Light” here: https://lnkfi.re/teneastlight

Shortly after forming in late 2023, SoftSun — the project formed by guitarist Gary Arce of Yawning Man, bassist and vocalist Pia Isaksen and drummer Dan Joeright — had a highly productive time recording in both 2024 and 2025. After finishing their debut album Daylight in the Dark, the band had more material they wanted to record and finished three more songs for Ripple Music. Gary Arce then came up with the idea of releasing the songs as part of a split album with his other project Ten East, which had been quiet for some years. Inspired to write new Ten East songs, he put together a recording session with Yawning Man drummer Bill Stinson and Pia Isaksen on bass, and later had Isaiah Mitchell of Earthless record some additional guitar.

“We are really excited to release this split album with these songs that we have been sitting on for quite some time. They are definitely part of our first album era and they mean a lot to us. It is also really cool to do this with Ten East, and to be part of Ripple Music´s split series.” — Gary Arce & Pia Isaksen

Stellar players, mesmeric sound and the soul of the Californian desert: SoftSun and Ten East deliver a rad split album that locks you into a hypnotic groove and refuses to let go. Turned To Stone Chapter 10 will be released as part of Ripple Music’s fan-revered Turned To Stone split series on April 4th on limited LP and digital.

TEN EAST & SOFTSUN “Turned To Stone Chapter 10”
Out April 4th on Ripple Music (LP/digital)

TRACKLIST:
1. SoftSun – Nowhere Else
2. SoftSun – Open Shelter
3. SoftSun – Emotional Overdrive
4. Ten East – First Light
5. Ten East – Slow Motion War II

Ten East:
Gary Arce – Guitars
Isaiah Mitchell – Additional guitars
Bass – Pia Isaksen
Bill Stinson – Drums

Softsun:
Gary Arce – Guitars
Pia Isaksen – Bass and vocals
Dan Joeright – Drums

https://teneast.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/teneastband/
https://www.facebook.com/teneast/

https://softsunband.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/softsunofficial/
https://www.facebook.com/people/SoftSun/61557870166741/

http://www.ripple-music.com/
https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ripplemusic/
https://www.facebook.com/theripplemusic/

Ten East, “First Light”