A seductive immersion of indie rock noir, Sunjacket’s dark “In My Head” marries the ethereal with the real in a turbulent, yet controlled seismic upheaval. It’s a welcome return from the Chicago trio after five long years away.
for fans of Sir Sly, dvsn, James Blake, BRAVES
Stream: “In My Head” – Sunjacket
As subtle as it is indescribably intense, Sunjacket’s first single in five years’ time is a dynamic musical implosion ready to be heard and felt on repeat. A seductive immersion of indie rock noir, “In My Head” marries the ethereal with the real in a turbulent, yet controlled seismic upheaval: Sunjacket take us on an impassioned plunge into the dark recesses of the mind, only to find we’ve already been there before.
I follow you out
When I’m alone in my mind
I’m turning around
I make a note to myself
Now we’re almost done
Breathing it out
I realize what I’m in here for
But my body’s over there
When you’re in my head
I’m getting nervous
I feel like I set us up for another failure
When my mind goes in and out of focus
I feel like myself, but I don’t like myself
Atwood Magazine is proud to be premiering “In My Head,” the lead single off Sunjacket’s forthcoming sophomore album More Lifelike, out June 4, 2021. The Chicago-based trio of Bryan Kveton, Carl Hauck, and Garret Bodette, Sunjacket first introduced themselves with their 2016 debut Mantra; in premiering the record, Stereogum‘s Margaret Farrell described it as “a meditative reflection of sought-after success, showcasing succinct verses and ’80s synths as motifs” and “an expansive exploration of human compulsions.”
More Lifelike builds upon their first album’s themes and sounds, diving headfirst into the deep end of both spectrums as the band embrace a striking “synth-driven art rock” sound with ease and learned finesse. Akin to artists like Sir Sly, dvsn, James Blake, and BRÅVES, the Sunjacket of 2021 is unapologetic, raw, and dark – emotionally layered and sonically nuanced. Listening to the first minute of “In My Head” alone showcases the vivid contrast between pulsing low synth notes and Bryan Kveton’s achingly evocative falsetto. Every second is full of a tension that could explode at a moment’s notice – and it is with this alluring urgency and unrelenting energy that Sunjacket make their return.
Silhouette doubt
Chasing the softening lines
I stumble around
I see a hole in myself
A tunnel opening wide
Feeding the flies
I realize what I’m in here for
But my body’s over there
“The hazy bass line and sort of voyeuristic lyric ‘I follow you out’ arrived almost spontaneously,” Bryan Kveton tells Atwood Magazine. “As the first demo began to take shape, I kept picturing this noir-like scene where I’m standing inside my apartment in the dark, watching from the window as my shadowy subconscious walks down the front steps and disappears into the evening. Where’s it going? It felt like observing my own out-of-body experience.”
“This song was a challenge to move beyond the demo phase, and I think the crassly chopped cymbals and stretched out drums reflect that frustration. In the studio, we knew we wanted to scale the demo up to a full band arrangement but weren’t sure how to get there. So we leaned into that spontaneity and began layering short melodic passages and chord stabs. Whenever we liked something, we put it in, collaging little thoughts together until it sounded exciting to us.”
When you’re in my head
I’m getting nervous
I feel like I set us up for another failure
When my mind goes in and out of focus
I feel like myself, but I don’t like myself
I follow you out
When I’m alone in my mind
I’m turning around
“In My Head” is very much a concentrated electro/indie rock song ready to blow, but it’s not without its share of surprises. In addition to the throttling electric guitar solos and absolutely stunning vocal work, listeners can find moments of bliss in the form of an acoustic Spanish guitar, which makes its warm presence known shortly after the three-minute mark. It’s this kind of subtle attention to detail and clever instrumental addition that elevates an already exciting song to thrilling new heights.
Whatever Sunjacket have in store for us, we’re ready for it. More Lifelike is out June 4, but in the meantime stream the band’s lead single exclusively on Atwood Magazine!
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Stream: “In My Head” – Sunjacket
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