Los Angeles duo Satellite Citi blend cosmic storytelling, raw emotion, and thunderous riffs into a sound that feels both cinematic and deeply human. Their latest EP Spacewalker extends beyond music; complete with a comic book tie-in that mirrors the band’s sci-fi worldbuilding and emotional depth. Rooted in their Armenian heritage and the city’s storied rock lineage, vocalist/drummer Anna Gevorkian and guitarist Shaunt Sulahian channel generational resilience into songs that explore trauma, hope, and escapism. The pair have joined TGEFM for an interview once more. In this conversation, the pair discuss balancing catharsis with energy, building immersive live shows with their anonymous “Spacewalkers,” and carrying Los Angeles’ rebellious spirit into the future.
Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview! Your EP Spacewalker includes a comic book tie-in. How do the music and narrative world you build feed each other?
The lyrics of the title track “Spacewalker” originally gave us the idea to write the comic and start world-building this fantasy/sci-fi setting. It sort of trickled down from there with each one influencing the other. Hoping we get to do more comics down the line!
Los Angeles has a huge rock-and-roll legacy. How do you honor that legacy while carving out something fresh and modern with Satellite Citi?
We try to write music that we’re excited about without thinking too much about our influences. Obviously we’re huge fans of bands that came out of LA, especially from the 90’s and early 2000’s. (Rage, SOAD, Linkin Park) – but I think we would lose ourselves a bit if we thought too much about the songwriting process and if it sounds like what our idols used to make. I think being authentic is keeping the spirit of LA alive in our music.
Your music has appeared in film and TV. What’s it like hearing your song in someone else’s story?
It’s pretty great. We have a song in an Amazon Prime documentary called 100 Years from Home that’s very close to our hearts since it speaks to our culture. It’s always exciting when your music gets synced!
You’re tackling serious topics but still want to deliver rock energy and escape. How do you balance catharsis and entertainment without losing either?
I think we cater toward what the song needs during the songwriting process, which usually ends up being about mental health because of our life experience and the various traumas we’ve overcome. The overall goal is always creating a sense of escapism that might be relatable to others that are struggling. Sprinkling some heavy riffs in there doesn’t hurt either.
Your Armenian heritage inevitably carries echoes of resilience and loss. How does that history, and what’s unfolding in the world today shape the emotion and purpose behind Satellite Citi’s music?
The generational trauma of the Armenian genocide is inevitably always present in our music. I think we subconsciously channel that pain, but we also celebrate the strength of our people by singing about our struggles and how we’ve consistently overcome them. Unfortunately, I don’t think the problems/conflicts of the world are gonna end anytime soon. The best thing we can do is to continue writing songs about it which will hopefully empower those who are affected by the conflicts.
Anna, how do you keep balancing fronting the band and being behind the kit — do you ever miss just playing instead of singing and drumming?
I honestly enjoy getting to do both. It’s a constant challenge that keeps me on my toes and helps me hone both skills simultaneously. I balance this by hopping off the kit and being a traditional front-woman sometimes, but I still prefer the thrill of singing and drumming and seeing confused/excited faces in the crowd.
You have “Spacewalkers” (anonymous supporting musicians on stage). What inspired that theatrical layer of anonymity, and do the Spacewalkers ever threaten to steal the show?
We actually often tell each other that we love the idea of the Spacewalkers stealing the show. The goal of our live show is to constantly keep the audience engaged. We always wanted to have some kind of aspect to the band that wasn’t in line with how a traditional rock band plays today. Also we just love the added mystery of the Spacewalkers and people always guessing who the members are when we come off stage.
Shaunt, your riff-driven guitar work anchors the sound. How do you decide between a “big monstrous riff” and a more subtle tension build?
I think the 16 year old in me always defaults to the big monstrous riff until the self-awareness kicks in and I realize I can’t have that for every song. Having dynamics is important and understanding when to throw in a big riff makes that riff all the more exciting. It all just comes down to what sort of song we’re writing at the moment.
If your live show could be summarized in one visceral image (e.g., “a fist in the air, a shadow on the wall”), what would that be?
A constellation shaped by sound.
Roll of the Dice is a short interview format with a variable amount of questions. A pair of dice is rolled and the total, between 2 and 12, is the amount of questions we can ask. All questions are given to the interviewee(s) at once, and no follow-ups are allowed. The interview may be lightly edited for content and clarity.
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/