#sunlaand

[gothgrrrlaz-blog]

Goth Grrrl July 2017 Issue

[teengrill]

sunlaand winter goth mini tour pt 2 // feb 2017

[meltedmagazine]

AN INTERVIEW WITH SUNLAAND

    Sunlaand delivers a huge down payment on teenage rebellion in their most recent self-titled album. Songs such as “Trip Sit and Bad Mood” describe what any teenager expressing their rebellion and confusion might feel.  It is the currency of teenage punk, a smack in the face of angst mixed with a jaw hammering shout for more and better.

   The mixture of Michael’s skate punk vibe and Sara’s unique vocal tones make this EP a gift in itself. Sara stands in the shadows of Gwen Stefani's debut No Doubt as a unique and gifted vocalist. Debbie Harry meets Joan Jett. She shows that punk rock is not a boys club and gives Sunlaand a unique shot at glory. I got a chance to talk to the band (consisting of Sara Windom (guitar + vocals), Michael Chmura (bass) and James Hoag (drums)) about their journey out of the desert and into the limelight and just how fucking cool they are.

______________________________________________________________

How and when did you guys start?

Sara: Back around 2014, Michael and I kept trying to start bands together but we didn’t know any drummers. Then, in October of 2015 we met this guy from our school who played. We tried him and a few other people out, but nothing really worked, so Michael and I just decided to be a two piece, and he’d play drums for a bit. (Fun fact: on bandcamp, the original Boney demo is Michael.) Then I saw that SWMRS was playing a show here in a few months and I was somehow convinced to ask the venue if we could play. We got it, but Michael didn’t have a kit, our only drummer friend wasn’t available for the show, and we never played before. That’s when I remembered this friend of a friend who really liked Boney and played drums, so I sent this super long message to him, begging he’d help us out just this once. He agreed, and Sunlaand was born. A year later, and he’s still with us

In what ways does the Arizona music scene influence your sound? 

Sara: Well, right now particularly, there’s so many good local bands out there, and a lot of the people we play with influence us. Like after seeing Phantom Party play a killer surf-set, it makes me want to change our sound completely to be like that. 

Michael: The AZ music scene is really cool because it’s influenced by the California music scene, so it’s kind of like the bands we already listen to, but with a little twist, so it’s more rocky and less beachy so I like that a lot. Also there’s a lot of metal here, and fuck that.

James: It’s a really collaborative scene. Bands like Twin Ponies and Dent are pretty cool, and they take music from the east coast and put their own spin on it. What’s your creative/songwriting process? 

Michael: I get really high, and lock myself in my room and force myself to write music. Usually the lyrics come to me in bits every day and once I finally write melodies to songs, I put it all together.  

How would you guys compare where you were a year ago compared to now musically?

Sara: A year ago we were scrambling to write enough songs for a set for the SWMRS show. We trashed a lot of those songs after. It’s incredible what a year can do. We’ve been published in Phoenix New Times, JAVA Magazine, our songs are on spotify, iTunes and KWSS, one of my favorite radio stations, we’re planning to release more music, and we’re set to tour California in February. I’m so excited to see what this year does for us.

Michael: A year ago, we were stressing because we were trying to open for SWMRS and were trying to find a drummer, but now, we’re prepared for shows. Also, our music is a lot more mature and now we’re starting to find our sound, because a year ago we were all over the place.

Any artists that influence you the most?

Sara: I absolutely love Hot Flash Heat Wave, but Joyce Manor, Surf Curse and Cherry Glazerr are definitely some of my biggest influences too.

Michael: Wavves 100%, and together PANGEA, what they’re doing now, we’ve kind of been doing.

James: Mike Wallace of Preoccupations, John Clardy of Tera Melos, Greg Saunier of Deerhoof, and Joey Castillo of Queens of the Stone Age influence my drumming.

Best show you’ve ever been to?

Sara:Being front row at the Frights, SWMRS and FIDLAR show on Halloween night definitely takes the cake. I got Joey’s drumstick and got to talk with Cole afterwards. The three hour drive to Tucson was totally worth it.

Michael:Semi Social at the Trunk Space was really cool.

James:It’s between Preoccupations with Methel Ethel, Band of Skulls with Mothers or Queens of the Stone Age.

An artist/song/album that makes you feel a heavy dose of nostalgia?

Sara: I feel like everybody went through that middle school phase of never getting enough of the Strokes, for me, Room on Fire is particularly nostalgic.

Michael: Probably Room on Fire by the Strokes, I don’t listen to the Strokes enough anymore, but sometimes I’ll go back and listen to Reptilia or something and it’s really good.

James:Either Preoccupations by Preoccupations, or II by Unknown Mortal Orchestra.

LISTEN TO SUNLAAND HERE

interview by ATHENA BURTON

[programmehq]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Programme Skate & Sound (@programme)

@sunlaand from AZ. #getwiththeprogramme #sunlaand #skateordie (at Programme HQ)

[everyshowjoe]

Full write up and more pics, like this one, from last night's awesome set of young punk bands @sunlaand @expiration_d8 @killyourtvband and @zero_degrees_north up now over at EveryShowJoe.com! Go check it out now! #sunlaand #expirationdate #expirationd8 #killyourtv #zerodegreesnorth #rebellounge #phoenix #arizona #punk #punkrock #skatepunk #indiepunk (at The Rebel Lounge)

[pr0teen]

Tagged by @bernard-butlers-cheek-things to do this. Thanks Kas, for tagging me in this stuff all the time, since my personal only has like 4 followers lol. Name: Sara Marie 
Nickname(s): Sara, Sar, sarebear, 
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius 
Orientation: Straight
Ethnicity: White (Norwegian, and English are also very prominent )
Favorite book series: I don't really do series style books, but I really dig a lot of psychological stuff. Lolita was a favorite that I still need to finish. 
Favorite flower(s): Baby's breath and of course, the classic rose. Perhaps a white or pink rose though... 
Favorite scent(s): fresh flowers, the next morning after a heavy night storm, cookies baking in the oven (even though i only eat the dough..) 
Favorite color(s): pink! pink! pink! (fun little fact about this one: i haaaated pink as a kid) 
Coffee, tea, or cocoa: Well, a while ago it would have been coffee, but now it's definitely Cocoa. Not even by choice, just by elimination. I'm a water person really, but i did have a mean cup of Hot Chocoalte today (for real who calls it cocoa?)
Number of blankets: Just a layer of sheets, a comforter and a throw blanket. Fan turned up, of course. 
Dream Trip: Honestly? No idea. I want to travel everywhere but also I miss home every time I'm away. Maybe Germany? England? Sweden? Kind of always wanted to check those out. 
Blog created: This one, probably 2015, but I started a blog dedicated to the Strokes in 2013. 
Number of followers: hahahahaha like 4 maybe i dare my own band @sunlaand to do this but that's all i've got. if you follow me and read this whole thing i love you and dare you to do it too.

[gothgrrrlzine]

SUNLAAND - LIVE AT REBEL LOUNGE

Phoenix, AZ

by cody rawlings

[thetrunkspace]

This Saturday, April 8th at Trunk Space Basketball Shorts / Strange Lot / @sunlaand / @andy_warpigs doors at 7pm. $5. (at The Trunk Space)

[overweightandalsodumb-blog]

stranger in india, because waitin on you is too hard

[teengrill]

sunlaand winter goth mini tour pt 1 // feb 2017

[programmehq]

@sunlaand rocking here all the way from Arizona. #getwiththeprogramme #sunlaand (at Programme HQ)

[everyshowjoe]

Told you I'd make it out to see @sunlaand tonight! #sunlaand #rebellounge #phoenix #arizona #punk #punkrock (at The Rebel Lounge)

[teengrill]

sunlaand at the Crescent Ballroom. Pictures by Athena Burton.

[programmehq]

¡Tonite! We got @sunlaand from AZ plus locals @unitf & Fullerton's @operationzero1986 and @onehighfive with an acoustic set. All Ages $5 starting at 7. @socalindiemusicians #getwiththeprogramme (at Programme HQ)

[programmehq]

¡Tonite! @unitf with @sunlaand @operationzero1986 & @onehighfive Doors 7pm #getwiththeprogramme (at Programme HQ)

[everyshowjoe]

Sorry I'm late and missed the awesome @sunlaand! But I am in time for the Darts! #thedarts #valleybar #phoenix #arizona #punk #rock (at Valley Bar)