Cistern

Cistern is a rock band from Squamish, BC, rooted in the unceded land of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation and formed by the restless souls of Noah Varley, Noah Wilson, McKinley Languedoc, and Chris Boys, the band channels the raw, scrappy energy of friends forging awe and anguish into song. As Ursula Le Guin once wrote in her Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction, “It’s a strange realism for a strange reality”—a fitting description of the world Cistern builds with their music. Drawing from the collaborative sparks of their previous projects (Loam, Good Normal, Painted Fruit, and N0V3L), Cistern has carved a distinct sound that merges intricate instrumentation with DIY experimentation. Their debut album, Head Full of Questions (January 2024), is a tightly crafted collection of nine tracks that traverse jaunty rhythms and tightly coiled post-punk. This was followed by New Standard (May 2024), a five-song EP released through Meat Machine Records. The EP showcases their knack for crafting raw, tape-warm anthems recorded on an 8-track tape machine. The songs dive into existential and everyday themes with jittery tension, from the tangled relationships of “Crisis” to the hymn-like individuality of “Metal Detector” and the high-wire balance of “Pendulum.” Cistern’s sound draws inspiration from indie rock icons like Modest Mouse, Alex G, and Duster, balancing atmospheric grooves with tight, harmonious, and dissonant instrumentation. Their music is as intuitive as it is experimental—a testament to the band’s DIY ethos and creative synergy. Produced by Mikhail Oreshkov (N0V3L), mixed by Michael Halls, and mastered by David Parry (Loving), their recordings capture both the chaos and clarity of their vision. 2024 marked Cistern’s live debut, with standout performances at East Town Get Down and Sled Island Festival, earning them a reputation for delivering charged and captivating sets. Looking ahead, the band is poised to take their sound to new heights with their first-ever European tour in 2025. Describing their style as “kinda techy, but also vibey,” Cistern thrives on pushing boundaries while staying grounded in their craft's raw, scrappy realism. With saturated dance riffs and tape-warm anthems already shaping their next chapter, the band continues to capture the messy beauty of modern life—one imperfectly perfect note at a time.