Luis Vasquez, the creative force behind the Soft Moon, has left us. His music, a blend of personal and cultural influences, touched many through a series of acclaimed albums. Vasquez was just 44 when he passed, leaving a silence where once there was sound.
His journey began in the vibrant streets of Los Angeles. Punk bands were his early stage, but it wasn’t long before the Soft Moon’s inception. It was the late 2000s, and Vasquez was about to embark on a sonorous odyssey, fueled by the haunting echoes of bands like Suicide and Joy Division.
A debut single, “Breathe the Fire,” marked his entry into the world of recorded music. Captured Tracks released it in 2010, and it was just the beginning. Vasquez’s self-titled album dropped later that year, setting the stage for a remarkable run. His music evolved, as did his surroundings—Italy’s mountains for 2015’s *Deeper* and Berlin for 2018’s *Criminal* with Sacred Bones. His final opus, *Exister*, greeted us in 2022.
Then came the heart-wrenching announcement. Through the Soft Moon’s social media, a statement called out for shared memories. Fans and friends alike were left grappling with the weight of this loss. “Our hearts are broken,” the message read, echoing the collective sorrow of a community in mourning.
