The Soft Moon and Silent Servant Found Dead in Los Angeles

On January 19, 2024, the bodies of musicians John Juan Mendez (Silent Servant), his wife Simone Ling, and Luis Vasquez (The Soft Moon) were discovered in a Los Angeles apartment. The cause is suspected to be fentanyl use. Mendez, born in 1977 in South America and later based in LA, began DJing young and in 1999 connected with Irish techno producer Regis (Karl O'Connor). He became part of the Sandwell District collective and served as its art director. In 2013, after Sandwell District ended, he co-founded the label Jealous God with O'Connor and James Ruskin. His cold, minimal, dark sound led him to perform at Berghain and Tresor in Berlin and Spazio Aereo in Venice. His final EP, 'In memoriam', was released on November 24, 2023, on Tresor Records. Vasquez, born in 1979, was a multi-instrumentalist influenced by post-punk, new wave, and industrial. His self-titled debut album in 2010 brought him global recognition. Known for blending Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, and Fixmer & McCarthy influences, his albums 'Deeper' (2015, conceived in Venice) and 'Exister' (2022, Sacred Bones Records) were emotionally charged. Sacred Bones announced his death on social media, expressing grief and requesting privacy. The article reflects on the shared existential void both artists channeled into their music.