The Sundrop Garden’s Return to San Francisco
Written by Michelle Sy | March 6, 2026
((( O ))), the unpronounceable, abstract symbol of The Sundrop Garden represents Filipina artist June Marieezy. With elements of lo-fi, R&B, and soul, her ambient and otherworldly music doesn’t slot into any specific genre, identified instead by her signature brand and values.
Photos by Michelle Sy
There’s no black-and-white definition or interpretation of the symbol. It’s ambiguously described as a “force in a seed that grows MOONDROPS into SUNDROPS in all directions of the garden” on the website. Some see it as a portal or a wifi symbol. In a previous interview, June simply said, “It’s everything. It’s everything that exists: atoms, sun radius, the light radius.” She believes deeply in honoring the relationships we have with ourselves, with others, and with the world we live in, themes that turn out to be inseparable from the art she creates.
If it wasn’t clear enough, The Sundrop Garden is not your conventional artist. With little regard for things like fame and recognition, she prefers instead to bring attention to connection, spirituality, community, and, of course, sustainability. Embracing sustainable living and practices, she has lived off-grid in a solar-powered home since 2012, and works extensively to incorporate nature into her music as well.
At previous events, she organized plant swaps and provided discounts to those who brought native plants or seeds. In partnership with Fractal Forest, a TEK (Traditional Ecological Knowledge) research collective, The Sundrop Garden’s newest initiative aims to achieve regenerative culture and meaningful change through her music, live shows, and community gatherings. June sees her creative outlet as simply another way of expressing herself and tries to channel this into a better understanding of the forces that help her.
To date, she has released five full-length albums, each a part of the “Sundrop Series.” Almost every year on June’s birthday, the sun drops (a new album). In 2025, she chose to release only two songs, “sakral” and “power,” though fans anticipate more coming in August of this year. This decision was made to better define her relationship with music, motherhood, and her regenerative and field work with the indigenous people in the Philippines (where she is currently based). Being in complete control of her own timeline, musical direction, and life allows a trust that everything can be “guided and woven together in perfect timing.”
Each album tells a story, exploring different themes. This year, she was particularly inspired and influenced by binaural beats. She regularly posts visualizers on her YouTube channel, and the music video for “sanctuary” off of (((4))) even follows the adventure of an alien experiencing confusion on Earth. Filmed by herself, these visualizers often capture what inspires, awes, or moves her in the moment. Some of them take only a few minutes; others may take months.
Photos by Michelle Sy
Furthermore, the consistency and shorter lifespan of her albums point to an intentional decision to create and make art that isn’t confined by endless perfectionism. To be her most limitless self, June prefers to create without judgment and isolation. Many times, her work comes from orchestrated “jam sessions”, songs materializing from serendipitous moments with others. This all fits into an expressed desire to be more vulnerable and collaborative, which is where touring comes in as well.
The Sundrop Garden was slated to perform at The Independent in San Francisco following three exciting openers: Layv ft. Kinney, Tomu DJ, and Sheena Dham. An intricate vine of intertwined leaves, white flowers, and ferns hugged the microphone and mixer stand. Corn plants and alliums hovered over the edges of the stage, complemented by scattered petals and a large, feathery shrub in the corner. As the clock struck 10, someone carefully brought out a cup of tea; the lights dimmed; and the room filled with immersive sounds of crickets and bugs, creating an atmosphere akin to sitting outside on a sticky summer night. The crowd could barely hold its breath as June came onstage, wordless and stoic. But instead of going straight for the microphone, she danced, letting the rhythm guide her through effortlessly fluid moves. Dressed in earthy, beige colors and comfortable textures, June’s presence felt comfortable, human. It was as if everyone was just vibing along with a close friend in a home rather than attending an arranged, rehearsed performance.
Though she returned quickly to the center of the stage and spotlight, The Sundrop Garden included two dancers throughout her performance, often joining them for certain parts of her songs. They proved to be a fan favorite, eliciting a classic Bay Area reaction to groovy beats and moves.
June also enthusiastically encouraged audience participation, particularly with her song “ISLA O’SHAWN.” She gave the crowd a quick coaching, where they imitated moving their arms from side to side. She then instructed everyone to find a partner, with an option for those who might have attended the show alone. “Whoever doesn’t have a partner can just be a seaweed, so let’s practice.” Surveying the crowd, she observed in alarm, “Okay, there are way too many seaweeds. You’re all seaweeds!”
Photos by Michelle Sy
The Sundrop Garden had a fascinating way of balancing light humor with the more serious undertones of her music. She is not an artist to be taken lightly, and she had a message to share, but that doesn’t mean she can’t still have fun. As a part of her mission to create a safe space for people to express themselves, she asked anyone with a partner to stand straight and look at them for the duration of the entire next song. The song was about seeing the inner child in everyone we meet and proved to be an amusing juxtaposition: people staring intently into the eyes of their partner, trying not to laugh, while others waved their arms around manically.
Despite feeling so homey, the show was clearly planned with careful details and intricacies. It had everything ranging from upbeat dance choreography to solo flute sessions to interactive participation. Most memorably, June crowd-surfed, drawing cheers, shouts, and chants from the very fans that all squished body to body into the middle. Keeping up the energy, she transitioned into a DJ set of the ambient album (((5))) — introducing heavier bass and hazy lights that flashed to the beat drops. Anyone walking in without context would’ve thought they’d accidentally stepped into a club. And unsurprisingly, the fans were there for it. Even as people slowly trickled out, the room was still packed with those who preferred to dance the night away.
Echoing her staunch values in sustainability and environmental stewardship, The Sundrop Garden informed the audience that she was planting trees to offset carbon emissions from touring. She expressed that “nature is a relationship, not a resource” and encouraged fans to visit the merch table, where they could receive seeds for free. She hopes that anyone who has listened to her music this year, or may hear her upcoming album, will harbor a sense of hope through regenerative butterfly effects in their own life. These thoughts were echoed before she bade a quick farewell, promising to see everyone again.
A couple looked at each other while standing in line for their seeds, grins on their faces. “Same time next year?”
