After what has already been an immersive run of releases these last few years, fast-rising outfit Sungaze are back to their vibrant best once again with their shimmering new single 'Lost My Head'.
Capturing more of that warm and lofty aesthetic they have been cultivating over the years, 'Lost My Head' makes for an incredibly rich and inviting listen. With its spellbinding textures, soaring atmosphere, and mesmerising vocals at the helm, they are continuing to cement themselves as one of the more exciting names doing the rounds right now.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with bandleaders Ian Hilvert and Ivory Snow to find out more about their background and what has been inspiring them most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Ian: The first instrument I ever interacted with was a Yamaha mini keyboard that had a sound sampler in it at my grandparents house, and my cousins and I would make fart sounds into the sampler and play the sounds at different speeds. We would dance to the demo songs on it, and I probably could still hum the tunes.
Ivory: Either electric guitar or harmonica. I had two early song obsessions as a kid: one was Piano Man by Billy Joel, and the other was The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot. I could never remember the name of Piano Man, so I would often try and describe the song to my parents, so they could put it on for me. The harmonica at the beginning for some reason reminded me of fire bellows (those accordion-looking things used to fan flames in a fireplace) so I would say “it’s the song that sounds like bellows!” and eventually we figured out the song I was talking about. For TWotEF, the guitar leads in between verses always blew my little mind and transported me somewhere else. So much feeling.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Ian: According to my parents a very early song that I would go into a trance for was Mysterious Ways by U2. I also loved Grooveline by Heatwave, September by Earth Wind and Fire, and also Peg by Steely Dan.
Ivory: There have been many a musical phase for me. Before age 6, I was really into everything my family listened to, which was a lot of classic rock and 70s folk/rock in my dad’s case, a lot of Sarah McLachlan and Dido in my mom’s case, Enya in my aunt/babysitter’s case, and in my Godmother’s case: Greek music played via cassette in her old station wagon, rosary beads gently swaying from the rearview mirror. When I started listening to the radio, some of my earliest discoveries were Avril Lavigne, Liz Phair, and Michelle Branch.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Ian: My dad gave me a 311 CD after me informing him that they were my favorite band after hearing one or two songs on the alternative rock radio station. He just so happened to have one in a box somewhere, still unopened. They are still one of my favorite bands to this day.
Ivory: Let Go, by Avril Lavigne
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Ian: There are hundreds of songs that I wish I would have written - in the sense that they are truly perfect and I enjoy every single little detail of them. But I am not envious of anyone else's songs really, because that song wouldn't be 'that song' if I had written it.
Ivory: Dust in the Wind, by Kansas
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Ian: No habits or rituals really, I just try to make inspiring sounds on my guitar and my pedals that transports me somewhere.
Ivory: Not really. I don’t know that I’ve ever sat down with the intention of writing a song and actually done it. Usually inspiration comes on its own terms and when it does, I try to make space for it. Sometimes I’ll take a walk if I’m having a hard time tuning in.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Ian: All time faves are Washed Out, Tame Impala, Slowdive, Mastodon, and Opeth. Current stuff I listen to is all over the place, it depends on what I am doing. While driving I have been listening to either Ask that God by Empire of the Sun or Terrasite by Cattle Decapitation. I like Luke Combs, I like Studio Ghibli soundtracks, I like Linkin Park, it just has to fit what I am doing.
Ivory: I’ve been in a bit of a dry spell with music and have mostly been listening to audiobooks. Earlier this summer I was listening to a lot of Waxahatchee’s new record, Tiger’s Blood.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Ian: I would love to open for Washed Out, Nothing, Tame Impala, Slowdive, Beach House, Beach Fossils and Ethel Cain. I feel like we would make sense with those bands.
Ivory: Everyone Ian listed is who I was going to say, so, what he said.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Ian: The most rewarding parts of music are getting paid adequately, playing inspiring stages, and having my band mates enjoy my songs.
Ivory: Getting to listen back to a completed song with the knowledge that you created it and it wouldn’t exist if you hadn’t.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Ian: The most frustrating part is having to be a marketing whiz, a business exec, an accountant, and a gear tech all while doing other jobs for money, when all you want to do is write and play your songs.
Ivory: Trying to get other people to care about your music enough to where it becomes sustainable to spend more time on it.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Ian: I have gotten so much invaluable advice, it's hard to pinpoint one quote or something. What I remember to this day though is be confident, be in the moment, and believe in what you're doing.
Ivory: To take both criticism and praise with a grain of salt. Both can cloud your judgment.
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Sungaze's new single 'Lost My Head' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.