Stargazer and the Lilies, Big Bangz

Biography

The Stargazer Lilies are a shoegaze band formed by husband-and-wife duo Kim Field (vocals and bass) and John Cep (also known as John Ceparano, multi-instrumentalist and guitar), originally from New York before relocating to North East Pennsylvania. They evolved from their previous project, Soundpool, an electronic-influenced group that had shifted too dance-oriented for their tastes, prompting a move toward moodier, louder, guitar-driven shoegaze with psychedelic rock elements in 2013. Their debut album, We Are the Dreamers (Graveface Records), established their signature reverb-washed, dreamy soundscapes blending influences like My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Pink Floyd, and Cocteau Twins, described by critics as a 'psych-fuzz epic' with cinematic crescendos.[1][2][5][6]

The band's career progressed with releases like Door to the Sun (2016), Lost (2017), Occabot (2019, produced by Tobacco), and Cosmic Tidal Wave (2022, their first on self-founded label Floravinyl Records), reflecting evolutions in style—initially hazy and dark, later incorporating sun-drenched, beachy grooves influenced by moves between Pennsylvania woods and Florida subtropics amid personal challenges like John's mother's health issues. Live lineups expanded, notably recruiting drummer Cari Gee (formerly Carissa Giard) and multi-instrumentalist Jake Stuart from Peyote Coyote after meeting at Bumblefest 2016. Their music aims to transport listeners to utopian dimensions, drawing from diverse genres including Paisley Underground, psych rock, bossa nova, French pop, trip hop, 60s soul, and Motown.[3][5][6]

Now Florida-based in the Tampa area, The Stargazer Lilies continue pioneering shoegaze's new wave, praised by figures like Brad Laner of Medicine for embodying the genre's ideals with indelible melodies and effects-heavy guitars. Their sound has been lauded for its widescreen immersion, evolving from stripped-down melancholy to eclectic, groove-oriented psychedelia while maintaining a core of dreamy, transcendent haze.[2][3][5]

Fun Facts

• The band met drummer Cari Gee and multi-instrumentalist Jake Stuart at Bumblefest 2016, recruiting them after being impressed by their band Peyote Coyote's opening set.[5]
• Their 2022 album Cosmic Tidal Wave was inspired by renting a mid-century modern, all-glass house in Lakeland, Florida, which shifted their sound to a more sun-drenched, beachy vibe amid back-and-forth moves between PA and FL during John's mother's health scares.[3][5]
• John Cep previously handled drums on albums but admitted he 'sucked on the drums,' leading to collaborations with skilled drummers like Carissa Giard for Cosmic Tidal Wave.[5]
• They launched their own label, Floravinyl Records, for Cosmic Tidal Wave after lacking external label commitments, aiming to release music from The Stargazer Lilies and Soundpool.[3]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• My Bloody Valentine - major stylistic influence for guitar effects and wall-of-sound shoegaze (general influence on debut and early albums) [2013 onward]
• Slowdive - inspiration for reverb-washed, slo-mo dream pop elements (We Are the Dreamers) [2013]
• Brad Laner (Medicine) - endorsed their sound as ideal shoegaze (general praise for We Are the Dreamers) [2013]

Key Collaborators

• Carissa Giard / Cari Gee - drummer and co-writer; contributed all drums and co-wrote songs (Cosmic Tidal Wave) [2022]
• Jake Stuart - multi-instrumentalist; recruited from Peyote Coyote (live performances and band member) [2016 onward]
• Tobacco - producer (Occabot) [2019]
• Sam Art - drummer on early works (We Are the Dreamers) [2013]

External Links

• Spotify