It wouldn’t be out of line to assume that you have heard or at least heard of  a band called Dum Dum Girls, but what about SISU? Chances are this name may be a little less familiar to you, but band founder Sandra Vu is trying to change all that.

The multi-instrumentalist caught her big break as the drummer for Dum Dum Girls, but her passion has always been with her side project brainchild, SISU. In this band, Vu is the leader. Stepping out from behind the kit, she acts as the singer of the six-piece, and though her priorities have historically sided with the rock ‘n’ rollin’ Girls (a woman’s gotta eat), this year she’s stepped up to let the world know about the other music she’s creating. 

Though SISU first began in 2009 (before Vu’s opportunity with Dum Dum Girls came about), it quickly took the back-burner to the exponential popularity and endless doors her other band opened. However, whenever the musician had a moment free, she spent it on building this band little by little. Late last year the work paid off, and her passion project opened for her money-making project. As a result, Vu decided to self-release an EP for the mere fact of having some sort of merch to sell at the show. 

From there, the band booked a short California jaunt and word spread like wildfire throughout the state and beyond. SISU’s dark, synth heavy shoegaze turned heads and proved there’s more to Vu than the straightforward rock she produces with Dum Dum Girls. And its paid off tenfold. This year alone, the dark but dreamy outfit has supported the likes of Cat Power, Marnie Stern, DIIV and Metronomy during national tours; released the Light Eyes EP in April, and is gearing up to drop its debut full-length, Blood Tears, on September 17 via Mono Prism. 

Aside from this, the goth shoegazers are about to hit the road with Dirty Beaches for a month-long national tour. Vu chose the name SISU because it’s Finnish for “extreme perseverance,” and her efforts with this band have done its name overwhelming justice. Once this year comes to an end, I think it’s safe to say that SISU will be a band that music lovers will not only have heard of, but will have heard. 

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