So Young Magazine: Sunflower Bean

Five years ago, Sunflower Bean emerged from the New York underground looking like the damned love children of Debbie Harry, Bob Dylan and Frank Zappa with an unnerving knack for heavy yet melodic psych rock that was unashamedly dedicated to the spectrum of rock and roll. Since then, the band have ridden a wave of varying soundscapes, notably on their debut, Human Ceremony, not sticking in one place long enough to get bored, and their voyage of self-discovery is what has ultimately become the liberating, listening experience that is their impending second album, ‘TwentyTwo In Blue’.

Leading single Crisis Fest is the starkest representation of the band’s current headspace, with the band declaring that ‘reality’s one big sick show’. It’s the most direct and confident the band have ever sounded and they shared a bit more with us about it.

Q: Crisis Fest has a more political edge to it, but more than anything, it’s based on solidarity. I like that you’ve kind of skirted around the notion of “fighting the man” and instead focused on unity and the power young people can wield. Has living in NY given you insight in to how young people are joining forces?

Julia: New York City and cities in general are great for people getting together and fighting together but I think actually things like social media are really, really important right now as far as seeing the power that we can wield. What kids or your friend’s post is a great way to spread important information and get an initial clue as to what’s happening. People are so plugged in now.

Nick: This song was particularly inspired by getting out of NYC and touring the U.S. In the lead up to the 2016 election we met so many people with so many different points of view, it was really informative. Mostly we met other young people who shared the same uncertainties and anxieties about the future as us.

Q: In the video you asked people how it felt to be young in 2017. What was the best response you got and how would you answer that question yourselves?

Julia: That whole video makes me so emotional. I love seeing those kids (who I guess are basically the same age as us) just having a moment to reflect on how they feel right now. I liked the answers that came with a little bit of a smile, like “inspiring” or “I feel like we have all the power.” But there are a lot of kids that just said “it’s really, really chaotic out here” and I agree! I think the times that are the most chaotic and strange also have the capability to be the most important and exciting. It really feels like we are on the cusp of something.

Q: In relation, how do you feel about being a band in 2018? Do you think there’s a lot to take on board these days, such as technology and social media?

Julia: You definitely have to be multidimensional. You’re expected to share everything, every moment, with the world as an audience. I think this aspect of modern life is fairly exhausting. But it does open up the chances to reach and communicate with SO many people, and so many different kinds of people. It gives us a certain kind of power we didn’t necessarily have before, especially not at our fingertips. It also ultimately comes down to the fact that we would do anything for our art. I would lie in the road for it. Making a post doesn’t seem so hard, in comparison.

Q: You recently toured with Wolf Alice and I remember reading a tweet from them ages ago where they likened Julia’s voice to butter. What food would you compare Ellie’s voice to?

Julia: Ellie’s voice is like a tall, cool glass of water on a hot day. It quenches a primal thirst you forgot you had, yet you will always need.

Words by Harley Cassidy

Illustration by Sam Taylor