SPILL FEATURE: THEY SAY THAT YOU’LL REGRET THE THINGS YOU DON’T DO – A CONVERSATION WITH SUN JUNKIES

THEY SAY THAT YOU’LL REGRET THE THINGS YOU DON’T DO

A CONVERSATION WITH SUN JUNKIES

Whether it’s the warm weather or Canada’s propensity for creating some of the best rock talents the rock scene has seen in recent years, it comes as no surprise that pop-punk bands like Sun Junkies have entered the conversation over the past seven years as one of Canada’s fresh and interesting acts. Since the band formed in 2018, Sun Junkie has created a sound and image that has been both emotionally impactful and instrumentally diverse. The four-piece from Branford, Ontario have been slowly carving their way through the Canadian East Coast, with Parachuting showcasing the time the band has to finetune their craft as songwriters.

If you had asked Sun Junkies about their aspirations back in 2018, their responses would likely reflect a vastly different vision from the impressive band they have evolved into today. Despite being an under-the-radar gem in the rock scene, a listen to their EPs and albums reveals layers of depth that go beyond their laissez-faire demeanor and captivating soundscapes. Their music, vibrant and dynamic, invites one to explore the intricate emotions and stories woven into their melodies, hinting at a richness that transcends the surface. Sun Junkies are not just at a different point in their lives since Parachuting was released over two years ago, but their new upcoming release later this year, Jet Engines, Swallow The Sky, shows a band that is ready to continuously expand their rock, ska roots, and pop-influenced regions.

“Since Parachuting was released in 2023, it’s definitely changed things. There’re more kids singing our songs when we play and stuff, It was the first time we were actually satisfied with a project after its release,” says drummer Nick Stacy. Lead vocalist Noah Carmichael continues, “I think Parachuting gave us a lot for our confidence as a band, having material that we are really proud of sort of stand in front of and say, ‘ Hey, this is what we feel we sound like.’ Because we had the forethought from doing other previous DIY releases, we learned what we could from those and put that collective knowledge into Parachuting. This was meant to show what we are capable of, and this is what we want you to hear.”

Parachuting emerged as a captivating escape, intricately weaving their artistic brilliance into a rich tapestry of orchestral beauty. The harmonious interplay of pianos, delicate violins, and bold horns clashed intriguingly with the surging waves of distorted guitars. This fusion created not just a more refined sound but also painted a vivid picture of the band’s bold embrace of expansive soundscapes, skillfully juxtaposed with their aggressive musical roots. Each note seemed to invite listeners to explore the depths of this dynamic sonic landscape, where elegance met intensity in a mesmerizing dance, something their new upcoming release continues to embrace.

“We have done some arranging in the past, we have had some horns and violins on our previous recordings. I think with Parachuting we fleshed those sounds out a bit more. We are thinking through things a little bit and even doing more of the arranging, instead of saying ‘Well, we want trumpets here, so let’s just insert this here.’ you know? We spent 12-hour days just arranging extra instruments and trying to think through things more methodically,” says Carmichael.

“There were a few times that we would bring people in and say, ‘Play what you think, what else do you feel could go here?’ We had no experience working with horn players or other instruments,” says Stacy. “Also, having very little reference in guitar-centric music and that kind of stuff. We were definitely pulling from more ska-inspired templates. Things changed with Parachuting. Now, we have the confidence to know what we want more. We know what works and doesn’t work than when we were working on the previous releases. We are thinking more critically. What are these parts lending to the songs and are they effectively conveying what we want to say and want to convey.”

Within this deep myriad of sounds within their instrumental backbone, Parachuting delved into the passage of time, overindulgence of the past, and the existential dread that comes with the passing of time and holding onto youth at a time when the world was recovering still from death, uncertainty, and sadness. When the world was stagnant and many musical careers were put on hold, Sun Junkies used that time to really dig in and hone their craft. What was at the core of Parachuting lay the open-ended question of time and memories that Sun Junkies would work to uncover, something that continues to be explored as they move into the next release of their careers.

“I think just growing up, it was a very transitional time in our lives. I was 19, 20 writing a lot of these songs,” says Carmichael. “I was just kind of stepping out of being a child, entering the real world, and having to deal with all these different adult responsibilities. You lose touch with people that you just don’t have the time to talk to or don’t have anything in common with anymore. It was just a lot of that and also it was a very dark time when we were writing this album. There was such a detachment from reality, social interactions, friendships, and human connections. I was feeling super disconnected from all those things. Time is also something that is inherently frustrating for almost everybody. There was a lot to work with there. On a positive note, we learned how to make music better,” he jokes. Coming into this new album, I think it’s our best work yet. This is the first time we are going into the studio, working with an actual engineer, and someone is mixing it for us. Singles will definitely come out this year, hopefully, the album will come out this year. We are really excited about it. We got a call from Billboard and they told us that they are saving us the number one spot, they are just waiting for us to release it, they told us not to worry, just let us know when it’s happening,” he jokes.

“Normally Billboard doesn’t give you that much of a heads-up about the number one spot for the new album, but they were nice about it and told us early,” he laughs. But on the last album, we were just coming out of the lost years, it was a nice reminder at the time that we still enjoyed doing it,” continues Stacy. “Doing that and getting back onto the cusp of playing shows was the perfect kick and inspiration we needed to catapult ourselves into being the best we could be for ourselves as a band. We want to put our best foot forward always with our music and with each other. There was so much change, growth, and development that happened at that time, and around the globe, I feel. Being in that transition from our 19 and 20s, and having done the band for a few years now, there is a lot of important introspection to be had then and now. I don’t think we quite collected all of it, I don’t think anyone really has. But after four years of stewing on this passage of time, you start to realize it’s a part of you and you can’t change that. So, we just learned not to care so much about it. There is nothing we do to stop it, so just lean into it. With this new upcoming album, it’s been really fun and exciting. It’s been a different, life-changing experience, and we are excited to get things wrapped up. It’s more pop-centric in terms of songwriting and structure, trying not to waste space, and knowing where things go and where things don’t need to be. It’s very easy when you are working by yourself in a basement to make those kinds of mistakes because you feel a song doesn’t have enough so you add more to it. It’s all the same antics, just a broader extension of ourselves, haha.

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