Sarah & The Sundays
Break The Mold With New Album ‘The Living End’
By Kenneth Tse
With one of the most distinct sounds in the music industry today, Sarah & The Sundays gift listeners with indie-rock in its finest form. The five-piece band based in Austin, Texas has a groove reminiscent of decades past, categorized by punchy guitar riffs, rich production, and emotionally complex lyricism.
The group drives this formula into their latest album, ‘The Living End’ – it’s a testament to their ever-changing sound, with songs like “Take Your Time” and “Vices” showcasing an intricate exploration of life’s highs and lows. This is also the band’s first studio album, which is just one of many achievements earned through the new project.
‘The Living End’ puts an enhanced focus on Sarah & The Sundays musical process and collaboration. From Soren Hansen and Paulie Devincenzo’s production work to brilliant creative visual direction from Eliza Taylor, the band has proven again that they are the ones to watch. We spoke to them about moving to Texas, surreal industry moments, and more!
What’s up y’all! Thanks so much for speaking with us today and congrats on the release of ‘The Living End’ – How are we feeling now that it’s out?
We’re really riding the stoke! This album has been a long time coming for us and we’re so happy to share with everyone what we’ve been doing.
You’re coming off the success of a stellar 2019 breakout album. What do y’all feel is the biggest difference between ‘So You’re Mad About Cups’ and ‘The Living End’?
Making ‘So You’re Mad About The Cups’ was a significantly different creative process. When that album started to come together we were all still in college and those tracks were self-recorded and produced. Mostly recorded in dorm rooms and basements.
When ‘The Living End’ started to come together we had all dropped out and really were focusing more on the sound of the band when we played together live. We all moved in together, practiced a whole lot, and played live shows which definitely impacted the sound and energy going into ‘The Living End.’ This was also our first studio album, so after getting the songs all flushed out at home we went into the studio with Soren Hansen and Paulie Devincenzo who really brought our sound to life.
I absolutely love the vibe of this cover artwork. What was the inspiration behind the whole poolside aesthetic?
We drew a lot of inspiration from Slim Aarons’ work. We really love how he’s able to capture a lot of action and movement and somehow manage to keep the overall picture very calm and peaceful.
With that said, I have to draw quick attention to something that was seen via Instagram – Quinn, jumping in the pool with socks AND shoes? Explain, please.
Our photographer thought it would be funny to add something subtle but out of place that only some people would catch on to. Looks like it worked!
“Vices” is a song that I understand means a lot to y’all. Can you guys explain the significance of the track?
“Vices” is a track about growth and change, which I see as the reason it means so much to us. There will never be a point in our lives where we aren’t experiencing growth or change, so it will always be relevant to us. That sort of longevity tied into the meaning of a song is special, and we hope it resonates with listeners in the same way it resonates with us.
And what a music video as well! What was it like collaborating with Eliza Taylor?
It was a dream come true! Eliza is so amazing and wonderful to work with. She brought an electric energy to the set and definitely took our music video to a whole new level.
Overall, how did this album come together? Was there anything unique about your musical process this time around?
This album was in many ways a debut for us. Writing these songs was way more of a collaborative effort than it has been in the past. Once we had an idea of how each song was taking shape, we got to jam on them out as a full band for weeks and really figure out what made each song special to us. We’ve never really had the opportunity to do that before, so being able to go into the studio having played these songs together made the recording process that much more dynamic.
When do you feel is the perfect time to listen to ‘The Living End’?
Any time! ‘The Living End’ has a wide range of emotions and sounds which makes it appropriate for many settings. Although, given that this record was written mainly at night, we find a nighttime listen to be extra special.
‘The Living End’ Cover Art / Click to Listen!
You guys relocated to Austin, Texas – what was it about the city that made you move there?
After leaving school, we were all in Connecticut with little opportunity to become more of an established band, which was our goal. Brendan grew up in Austin and felt that the scene would help give the band more opportunities in the world of music. It is the “Live Music Capital of the World” after all.
And how has that transition been like for y’all so far?
It’s been just over two years now and we’re still loving where we are. It definitely took some getting used to, especially having COVID hit a few months after our move, but it also in a way helped the transition by forcing us to stay inside and get used to our living situation early on.
Do you think that the local music scene has begun to affect your sound at all?
Definitely. We go out to see shows at any opportunity we get, constantly learning from the way other bands perform and express themselves. Hearing the way other bands blend live has definitely influenced us in our own playing.
Has there been a moment on this journey that still feels surreal to you?
For sure, a few weeks ago Drew Barrymore posted a video of our song “Take Your Time” on her TikTok and Instagram story. To this day, none of us can fathom how that happened.
If Sarah & The Sundays had a motto, what would it be?
“Take it easy!”
Who do you owe your biggest thanks to?
Honestly, we owe everything to our fans. This whole thing started with us making music in our basement and posting it online for fun. We’ve come such a long way since then, and none of that would be possible without all of the support we’ve gotten over the past couple of years.
Lastly, what else can fans expect for the rest of 2021?
We don’t have any major plans for the rest of the year. Hopefully some shows, but were mainly focused on getting as prepared as we can be for a whirlwind 2022.