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London-based trio Sunkin recently released their new single ‘Short and Sweet’, and band member Joe joined us to talk through the early stages of the band, as well as what you can expect from Sunkin. Check out Sunkin, below…
What are the origins of the band, how long have you been playing together?
Hector and I met at the University of Westminster in London. We hit it off both musically and personally right from the get-go. We spent the next three years playing in a band called ‘Gutshot for Broadway’ together. I believe these three years were integral to our development. We tried, failed, learned, and eventually played sold-out shows at ‘The Borderline’, ‘The Bar Fly’, and more. We were also played on Radio X and became championed by Libertine, Gary Powell. After three years, I decided to leave London and ‘Gutshot for Broadway’. After spending some time in New York, I eventually ran out of money. I got a job as a porter in an auction house, then a health care assistant at an old people’s home. After a couple of years, and armed with some songs, I felt ready to head back to London to start a new band. The first thing Hector and I did was to busk our way around Europe, from London to Dubrovnik. Honing our craft and testing all our material to countless audiences in eleven different countries. We joined forces with Declan, who we’d known and loved for many years as a friend, and SUNKIN was born. We worked hard on our live set and in early 2020 we manage to play three shows, including ‘Omeara London’, before Covid-19 brought the world to an abrupt halt.
How did you feel performing your first gig? And how was it?!
Our first gig was at ‘The Hope and Anchor’. I was a couple of years out of the game so I was pretty darn nervous to present what we’d been working on. We arrived for soundcheck nice and early to get a feel for the venue. Sound checks normally proceed in the opposite order of bands to the show. Ie the headline band soundchecks first. It turned out that there were problems with the sound and the headliners were somewhat diva-ish. So we didn’t get a soundcheck. This didn’t help with the nerves, especially when people started to turn up to see us. Anyway, when the time came we got up and gave it our all, it went down well, and felt fucking amazing to be back playing.
What should people expect when they check the band out? How would you describe yourself?
We’re a relatively new band, and due to Covid-19, we had a false start, only being able to play three shows. However, we have a seven-year history of friendship and playing in bands together. Friendships form the core of our band. I’d like to think I write our songs as honestly and as openly as I can. I would describe my lyrics as melancholic stories with flickers of hope. But it’s the hope in them that I want the listener to take away. Most of my songs are about past relationships, my experience with mental health conditions, sometimes social or political issues but always with an emotionally provocative stance.
The new music scene is bursting at the seams with fresh talent, in what ways do you feel that a band has to stand out from the others trying to build a name?
It feels to me that the music industry is at a transitional stage. People are changing the way they listen to music. When I was growing up I’d become infatuated with certain artists and listen to them on repeat. Now the goal seems to be to get on playlists for maximum listens or create a TikTok persona that will get you millions of followers. I’d don’t believe that these are bad things but I’d also like us to gain a loyal fan base and a community. I worry that when our songs are on Spotify playlists they’re faceless and we’re irrelevant as the creators. I just predominately want people to connect to our content and join us on our journey.
What are you working on at the minute that people can check out?
We have just released our second single, ‘Short and Sweet’ which tells a heartfelt story of a past relationship. In keeping with the transatlantic theme of our first single ‘The Pond’, ‘Short and Sweet’ retrospectively describes the emotional trials and tribulations of attempting to hold the relationship together. Originally written as a love letter, it was reluctantly made into a song. Having found that it connected to our live audiences, the decision was made to release it as our second single. We’re always working on new material and can not wait to get back in the studio.
What band out there at the minute do you feel that you would be best suited to open for?
Ah so many, Sam Fender, Middle Kids, Gang of Youths, Leap, Jade Bird, there are so many incredible acts at the moment that we dream of supporting.
Who do you feel is the next band to break out?
I’m going to go with our good friends Leap. Such incredible writers and performers. In 2020 they came out with ‘N.L.T.D’, and ‘Where the Silence goes’, two absolute bangers. It’s a matter of time before they blow up. Check out their music and go to one of their shows asap – you won’t be disappointed.
What are your first musical memories? And what was the light bulb moment that made you go “I want to do that”?
While still in primary school I became infatuated with a Pop-Punk-Rock band called ‘Busted’. After seeing them perform on a famous kid’s TV show called ‘Blue Peter’- I knew I needed a guitar. Fast forward a few months, I was at my school’s summer fete. A competition was held in which every child released a balloon with their name and address attached to it. The balloon that travelled the farthest won. And yes (you guessed it), a few weeks later, while in assembly my name was called out and I was handed forty pounds for my good fortune. I was also lumbered with a French pen pal, which I wasn’t so thrilled about. Anyway, I went straight to the nearest guitar shop and bought my first guitar. A few years later, at age thirteen, I was inspired again to pick up the guitar after seeing Slash play a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Hey Joe’ at The Rock Hall of Fame. A couple of years after that I heard Oasis’s ‘Morning Glory’ album, inspiring me to start singing and writing.
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
I’m struggling to even remember as it’s been so long due to Covid-19. I think it was to see The Amazons live at Omeara. It was a great show!
The album that you have in your album collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
John Dowland ‘Flow my Tears’. Dowland was a renaissance composer, lutenist, and singer. Beautiful songs that don’t feel out of place in 2021.
Although 2020 was a year to forget for many reasons, there was some incredible music released; what would be your album of 2020?
Sam Fender’s ‘Hypersonic Missiles’. I actually think this album was released in late 2019 – but even so, it was an important album for me in 2020. It proved to me that soulful guitar music with a ton of heart and immaculate signwriting still exists.
How active are you on social media and where can people connect with you?
We’re active on all the socials, such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. We’ve also just set up a mailing list, so subscribe to it for regular updates on shows and new releases!
