A Collective Release: An Interview With The Bay Area’s Black Gold Sun

By Staff | June 9, 2026

The misery of Election Night 2024 actually brought something worthwhile: the founding of Black Gold Sun. Founded as an act of communal resilience, the the the Bay Area punk trio channels raw fury and collective catharsis into their music. Their debut EP, arriving on Juneteenth, surges with volatile contrasts - tension collapsing into explosive, unfiltered release. Anchored by a fierce, instinctive chemistry among three Black women, the band transforms every live set into a shared emotional uprising rather than a polished performance. This is music meant to jolt listeners awake, pull strangers together, and turn heavy times into liberating, joyous noise.

Welcome! So … new EP dropping on Juneteenth! Without giving too much away (unless you want to), what can we expect, and what are you most excited for us to hear?

Anita: People can expect something raw, loud, emotional, and alive. The EP moves between tension and release — moments that feel heavy and then suddenly explode. We wanted to make music that shakes people awake and pulls people together in real time.

How did the specific atmosphere of election night 2024 catalyze the three of you to move from needing a personal release to forming a cohesive musical unit?

Anita: Watching the election results come in that night, I made the decision to pause all my other music projects and start a Black girl punk band. It felt like an act of service to the communities I belong to, because I knew people were going to be devastated, heartbroken, angry, and looking for somewhere to release all of that energy together.

I immediately knew I wanted Veronica Savage on bass. I’d been a fan of hers for years, and even though we mostly knew of each other through the scene, I reached out because I knew she had the energy and presence I wanted for the band. Thankfully, she said yes!

From there, we tried out a few different drummers before a friend told me about QLynn. I reached out and set up a rehearsal, sending her two songs beforehand. She showed up already knowing them and completely killed it.  Veronica and I looked at each other in shock. QLynn completely blew us away, and we knew immediately she had to be our drummer. We handed her four more songs, which she learned that same day. Veronica later told me we could’ve gone straight into the studio and made a record right then — QLynn was that good!

Once the three of us started playing together, everything locked in immediately. The chemistry was undeniable. The band became a collective release — creating a space where people could come together, let things out, feel connected, and move through heavy times together through music and live energy.

Anita, having toured with legendary acts like Iggy Pop (and having toured Europe and Asia), how does the raw energy of Black Gold Sun differ from your previous touring experiences?

Anita: Black Gold Sun’s raw energy is something I’ve never experienced before. In past bands, there was more of a build — pacing the set and taking people through different emotional spaces. 

With Black Gold Sun, we go for it on the one — the first note, the first beat, and it’s on. There’s no holding back. It’s let’s rock these people right now and go on this ride together — up through the stars, past the sun, then back down to Earth smoothly so people leave feeling happy, free, alive, and good about themselves.

Veronica, what was it like being a part of legendary San Francisco bands like The Hail Marys and Dolorata?

Veronica: The Hail Marys was one of the first bands I was part of, and that was a great experience. We weren’t just playing music - we were part of a moment in SF. The city had this incredible energy around women in rock, queer artists, and feminist activism, and we were right in the middle of it. I don’t think I fully realized what we were contributing to, but looking back, it was bigger than the music itself.

Dolorata came from and after The Hail Marys. We pushed it in a different direction, and we were two distinct bands, but we were connected by the same spirit. Those experiences carved out who I am. My roots grew in those bands. 

There’s just something about the energy of an all-female band. There’s a fearlessness and a sense of community that I’m drawn to. Both bands, as well as later projects, shaped who I am as a musician and as a person, and I carry that with me into Black Gold Sun.

QLynn, you’ve been described as a rhythm activist. Can you explain more, and how does this manifest in your performance on stage and in the studio?

QLynn: King Britt describes a rhythm activist as someone who uses rhythm, music, and sound to build connection, awareness, and transformation, and that really resonates with me. I believe rhythm can build community, preserve culture, inspire change, and create collective healing and energy. Whether it’s protest drumming, community gatherings, ancestral rhythms, or live performance, I see rhythm as something that brings people together and pushes back against fragmentation. That manifests in my performance on stage and in the studio by being present, feeling the temperature of the music, and knowing when it’s time to cook or simmer down.  

What is the secret to the band's live show engagement that allows you to convert an unfamiliar room into an engaged crowd as quickly as you do?

Anita: I think people can tell when something is real. From the second we hit the stage, we’re fully committed physically and emotionally, and people respond to that honesty.

A big part of it is that our shows aren’t built around perfection — they’re built around energy, connection, and release. We want people to feel like they’re part of something with us, not just watching from a distance. That changes the atmosphere in the room really fast.

The three of us also play with a lot of trust and intensity together, and I think audiences feel that chemistry immediately. We have so much fun on stage! Even if people have never heard of Black Gold Sun before, they can tell we mean every second of what we’re doing. Once one or two people in the crowd start moving, the energy turns into a tidal wave that takes over the whole room.

Veronica: Maybe it starts with me and Anita. With the connection we have on stage...we play off each other in a way people can relate to. There’s a chemistry that you can’t fake. And none of it would work without our drummer QLynn keeping us on track- she’s the anchor keeping us together if things get a little off kilter.

But beyond that, I don’t take myself too seriously. The banter gets goofy, then again, I’m not trying to be cool.  I genuinely just want to have fun, and I want everyone in the room to party with us. We’re not trying to play with perfect execution - we aren’t the Black Gold Sun symphony orchestra. I hope people feel like we’re all just hanging out in their living room, making music and having a good time together. When the audience feels that, they relax and open up, and then they’re with you, even if they’d never heard of us before we hit the stage.

Why was Juneteenth chosen as the specific date for the debut EP release, and how does that date reflect the band’s overall mission?

Anita: We chose Juneteenth for the release because the spirit of the band already aligned with what that day represents — freedom, resilience, community, and collective energy. It felt like the most meaningful and intentional date to introduce Black Gold Sun to the world.

Releasing the EP on Juneteenth is also about honoring our ancestors — the people who survived, resisted, created culture, and made it possible for us to even stand on stage as three Black women playing loud punk music today. There’s a direct line between that history and the freedom we feel when we play together live.

Black Gold Sun is about bringing people together through music, movement, and live energy. Juneteenth felt like the perfect release date because it reflects the spirit of the band — creating spaces where people can feel free, connected, energized, and fully themselves.

Regarding the lead single "Feel The Up," is there a specific emotional or social space that you’re aiming to create for listeners in the current social and political climate?

Anita: “Feel The Up” is about lifting yourself up when the world feels heavy. We wanted to create something that helps people release any sense of heaviness for a joyous few minutes and reconnect with themselves and each other.

The song starts slower and more reflective, then builds into full speed because that mirrors the emotional movement we wanted people to feel — going from carrying something heavy to breaking through it together. Live, we want it to feel communal and freeing, like everyone in the room is pushing forward together instead of feeling isolated. A big part of Black Gold Sun is creating spaces where people can feel alive, connected, and unafraid to let go emotionally. “Feel The Up” really captures that spirit.

As a Black girl punk band in San Francisco, how does the city’s deep history of both activism and counter-culture influence the heavy, high energy sound you are delivering today?

Veronica: SF gave us historic neighborhoods, a civil rights legacy, the queer rights movement, feminist punk … and it’s always made space for folks who refuse to be quiet. What does it mean to be Black women doing this? Punk and rock have always had Black roots that often get overlooked. We’re part of a lineage! 

Anyone you’d like to thank for their support?

Anita: I’d like to thank Maria from Doll Fest for creating a festival centered around femme-fronted bands and artists. The success of events like that proves people are hungry for something outside the usual image of who gets centered on a stage.

I also want to thank the late Ron Asheton of The Stooges. On the last night of our tour together, he told me, “Don’t give up on your music. You’ve got something there. Keep going no matter what.” That stayed with me.

Veronica: Ande, always. And anyone who hauls themselves out to see us play, shares a stage, buys some merch, or spreads the word. Time is precious, and if you choose to spend any of it with us - that means everything. 

QLynn: I'd like to thank the fans who come out to the shows.