The Vacant Shapes are a three piece California based band that combine dynamics with melodic songwriting. Their sound ranges from early 2000’s alt, 60’s garage, and late 80’s post-punk, influenced by bands like Interpol, Velvet Underground, Pixies, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Cutting their teeth in the DIY scene, The Vacant Shapes have produced all their own releases, started an all age underground venue for local and touring acts, and have grown a loyal, global following.

The Vacant Shapes signature sound is approachable and immersive, combining the duality of introspective and universal subject matter in their lyrics, saturated in vibey guitar hooks and understated thick grooves.

In 2017, the band released “I love You, I Hate You” which featured four demos. In 2019, the band released their debut EP, titled “Furniture Rearranged” which was recorded to analog tape with no computers. Two singles (“What I’m Not / Cutting Up My Knees”) followed in early 2020. In 2022, the band released their first post-pandemic single (“Lover’s Daze”) followed by their sophomore EP (“How Much Time Does It Take to Heal?”). Their newest single (“Ghosts of Sunflowers”) is out now and receiving much praise.

THE BAND MAY JUST BE ONE OF THE NEXT BIG ROCK BANDS TO COME OUT OF THE STATES”

The new single is absolutely massive with charming guitar tones adorning it right from the outset, vocally it's up there with Joy Division and The Smiths, dark and angsty but at the same time commanding as ever.

The chorus of the song is where it bursts to life and when it does you're treated to post-punk revival fans wet-dream, you've got crunching guitars and bass intertwining backed with drums that can fill up the biggest of venues.

— Fred Bambridge (It’s All Indie)

“The Vacant Shapes caught our attention with their new single Ghosts of Sunflowers. Stylistically they blend the spirit of post-punk, the melodic sensibility of 80s alternative acts like REM, and the updated influence of acts like Interpol or the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and how they adapted these vibes. 

Both the composition and the arrangement bring variation and progressive surprise.  Whereas the opening nostalgic guitar pulls you in, its left out of the subsequent verse, exchanged instead for a pumping bass.  The detail is just one intelligent feature the band employs to maximize the utilization of their instrumentation, bringing careful intention to every contribution. In that manner they can accentuate the drama without leaning into additional production. That minimalist spirit recalls the ethos of bands like Joy Division and their off bred New Order, or more modern alterations like The XX. 

The Vacant Shapes prescribe to the aesthetic with more energetic punk angst.  We can dig it. It’s also just a straight up killer composotion.  Don’t get it twisted.”

—The Wild Is Calling

“GHOSTS OF SUNFLOWERS jangles in all the right places and shows another glorious string to their bow.” 

— Janglepop

You can’t help but want to keep listening to it

(Ghosts of Sunflowers)

— Karley Myall (Strike a Note)

The Vacant Shapes are a band who don’t hesitate to stand out in their stylings

Boasting a narrative of heartbreak, ‘Ghosts of Sunflowers’ seems to be penned from a place of regret and sincerity, remorseful of decisions made and the consequences of that leading to a relationship falling apart. Poignant in their songwriting, lines like ‘ghosts of sunflowers clustered at your feet, memories of my apologies’ make this meaning all the more tender, as every line seems to reflect upon a differing low and a self-critical outlook seeps through every aching mistake pondered. If the sound of ‘Ghosts of Sunflowers’ wasn’t enough for you to be hooked, its borderline poetically beautiful but tragic lyricism certainly should be.

–– Tatiana Whybrow (Existential Magazine)

"Ghosts of Sunflowers" is a beautifully crafted new tune that features an anthemic blend of styles. Elements of post-punk, new wave, indie, and alt-rock smash together here in an orchestrated chaos leaving the listener with a dynamic and refreshing track that's tough to take off repeat.

Hypnotic vocal flows lead the way here as you're handed melodic instrumentals, unique transitions, and spot-on production work. What a release! The first single released since they dropped an EP earlier this year, "Ghosts of Sunflowers" is an impressive display of songwriting skills and leaves us excited to find out what the band has planned next.

—Havoc Underground

hits all the turn of the millennium nyc rock and roll sweet spots.

(Everything You Know)

—Glide Magazine

Cutting Up My Knees is an anthem for everyone that has also given just a little bit too much of themselves to another. The world will grind you down if you let it, and this single brings those feelings into the light with an emotional rock sound that scrapes away at the exterior layer of our emotions.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

This trio is all manner of melodic attitude.

–– Janglepop

There is no doubt that The Vacant Shapes are creating a universe of their own.

— KIMU

The Vacant Shapes seem to have a very mature and refined artistic vision that manages to make them stand out from the crowd. I felt Radiohead and Placebo vibes. I was honestly very impressed with the music of this band, their sound spoke directly to my heart and soul.

—Edgar Allen Poets

Roars out of the speakers and one of the best songs I’ve heard this year.

(Great Barrier Grief)

–– Eric Alper