Austin, Texas has been punching above its weight in terms of the arts for a long time. The home of SXSW has become a magnet for beatniks and wannabe musicians all over North America and beyond. It’s where singer Laura Colwell and guitarist Stephen Salisbury, both out of towners, first crossed paths, soon forming Sun June before bulking out the band with Michael Bain (guitar), Sarah Schultz (drums), and Justin Harris (bass).
Their debut album “Years” appeared a couple of years ago courtesy of Keeled Scales records, the quintet soon acquiring the pigeonhole called ‘Regret Pop’ although I expect they see that as a curse as much as a blessing.
The follow-up ‘Somewhere’ out in February sees the band’s gentle downbeat yet roomy Americana tinged pop slowly but surely evolving, the key dynamic shift being Colwell and Salisbury becoming an item, the regret pop of yore taking on a new dimension. Naturally, some of the previous pining has been replaced by the complex emotions surrounding a new love interest, seemingly out of reach on ‘Years’ yet now within grasp, perfectly encapsulated on the sultry ‘Finding Out’ and the beautifully understated elation of ‘The Real Thing’, Colwell’s fragile breathy vocals taking centre stage in both cases.
This new glow is not universal by any means, ‘Everything I Had’ takes a wistful look back to our pre-pandemic world, Colwell’s desire to turn back the clock almost palpable, presumably in no small part due to hers and her bandmates desire to share this fine new material in a live setting with as many as possible. Fingers crossed.
Words - Mike Price
Sun June official