Sunstroke's Sean Farlow Talks 2021 Releases, Upcoming Don Zientara-produced Single & 2022 Full-length (The Witzard Interview)
Sunstroke is a Hardcore Punk band hailing from New Jersey/Philadelphia and surrounding areas drawing a heavy influence from Revolution Summer-era bands, such as Dag Nasty, Embrace, Rain, and Rites of Spring, as well as a larger range of influences from 80's Brit-Pop, Shoegaze, and Minnesota Pop-punk greats Hüsker Dü and The Replacements. While keeping a strong handle on the ethos and social justice elements of Hardcore/Punk, Sunstroke looks to offer a sound and content for audiences to resonate with. Sunstroke have thus far released music on CoinTossRecords & New Mortality 'zine, including multiple increasingly sought-after variants and limited edition vinyl colorways for each corresponding release.
Sunstroke's primary line-up consists of Sean Farlow & Ian Strang, as well as an ever-evolving rotating line-up including part-time members Brandon, Mikey, Christian, John K., Justin, Dave, Joey, Tom, Nino, Vito, and Ian Gillin. Sunstroke's members have collectively played with the likes of The Dividing Line, Spirit Flaw, and THOUGHT CONTROL. Throughout 2021, Sunstroke released two singles, "I Wanna Be Ignored" and "Cryin' Wolves," with New Mortality 'zine and plan to release a third (and fourth?) this June. We recently got a chance to speak with Sunstroke frontman Sean Farlow about "I Wanna Be Ignored," "Cryin' Wolves," their future plans, current illusive membership, and much, much more. Check out our conversation below, conducted via email, which has been lightly edited for general clarity.
I. Can you share who is part of the current line-up of Sunstroke or, if nothing else, what other bands they are/have been a part of in the past?
Sean Farlow: Sean (vocals,) Ian S. & Christian (guitars,) Mikey (bass,) and Brandon (drums.) The band has always consisted of me (Sean) and Ian S. since the beginning. Mikey has been with us since [2017] right after we recorded SEVEN, which is pretty much our demo. We've all played in bands for most of our lives, but currently, in addition to Sunstroke, Ian plays in The Dividing Line and Christian plays in Spirit Flaw.
II. What was it like working with Brian McTernan (Angel Du$t, BE WELL, Turnstile) at Salad Days Studios & Don Zientara (7Seconds, Bad Brains, Fugazi) at Inner Ear Studio on these recent/forthcoming Sunstroke singles?
Farlow: We worked with Brian [McTernan] on Bloom At Night and immediately clicked; he instantly became a friend, as well as collaborator. He will be tracking and producing our LP, as well. We only tracked the final single, "Buzzer Beater" & "Everyday Bouquet" with Don [Zientara], but that was incredible. Brian met us down at the studio for a bit and it was the first time in about 16 months that any of us had seen him, so it was great to catch up and share what we were working on.
We tracked to tape, which was the first time that we as a band did that, and I feel like you can hear it on the record. Don was a lot of fun to work with. He's very Old School Hardcore. He didn't do much of playing producer; he kind of just documents and has the bands make the calls. After we finished tracking, Brian mixed it and we're all really happy with how it came out. Those two songs will come out in June of this year.
III. Who did you commission to make the single artwork, alternate artwork, promotional images, streaming animations, etc. for both "Cryin' Wolves" & "I Wanna Be Ignored?"
Farlow: "Cryin' Wolves'" art was done by Joey's World, with whom we frequently collaborate with and this was inspired by the art of Melinda Beck (Quicksand,) Scott Sinclair (Hot Water Music,) and Jordan Isip (threadbare) and I feel like Joey [Goergen] nailed combining all the influences, as well as an obvious nod to some Melinda Beck art on the front and back [covers].
For "I Wanna Be Ignored," we contacted three different artists and gave them all the same description and free range for style. We had Bastian Najdek do the T-shirt and streaming animation [art] and he's in the band Raw Plastic. You can find them at @getxxlost. Mike Newman (@mikeknewman), who did the art for Bloom At Night, and Joey's World [@joeysxworld], whom, also, did the test press art, which was a rip of the De La Soul Is Dead artwork.
IV. What is the significance of the colored bands along the spines of the digital singles for Sunstroke's Bloom At Night EP, "I Wanna Be Ignored," and "Cryin' Wolves?"
Farlow: The blank spines are on all of our records. It's an aesthetic choice that we've stuck with. It, initially, was just a choice to make the records stand out on a shelf and, then, we got more creative with them.
V. What can you currently tell us about the third upcoming Sunstroke single, "Buzzer Beater/Everyday Bouquet", expected to be released this summer?
Farlow: I can tell you it's two songs (technically.) This is the stuff that we recorded at Inner Ear Studios with Don Zientara. It's the first release with our friend, Brandon, on drums. The songs have a connecting theme and it will be released on 6/19/22 on Hi-Fi lathe, like the other two singles, on [New Mortality 'zine] (NMZ.) Joey's World is doing the art and layout and we plan on doing a small number of books that has a collection of the art and collaboration with Joey.
VI. Who would you cite as some of Sunstroke's primary sources of inspiration and influence on the first two installments in this eventual trilogy of digital singles?
Farlow: Well, "I Wanna Be Ignored" was purposely a pull from The Stone Roses' "I Wanna Be Adored," as well as the lemon(s) included in the art. We have influences from a lot of different places. The Cult, Hüsker Dü, Dag Nasty, The Faith, Adorable, Seaweed, Sugar, Hot Water Music, The Cure, etc.
VII. Does Sunstroke have any immediate plans to release a proper album or EP or do you see yourselves actively sharing sets of singles?
Farlow: We've, actually, been writing an LP and we're tracking this year with Brian McTernan. We're, also, doing a split 7-inch with Bent Blue from San Diego.
VIII. What typically goes into the writing, recording, production, creation, etc. processes for a typical Sunstroke song from start to finish?
Farlow: I (Sean) have notes upon notes of lyrics. Ian (guitar) & I share back-and-forth quite a bit. Ian usually presents a riff and we kinda jam it out until it sounds how we want it to. I usually handle communication with artist(s) and/or engineers or producers, but we all have input. Ian & I handle a lot of the direction, but everyone has their place in the process and a voice.
IX. How did Sunstroke first end up joining forces with New Mortality 'zine and what still feeds your ongoing professional relationship together?
Farlow: Nick [Acosta] was one of the first people to offer to cover us and he and Indy [Indiana Powers] (CoinTossRecords) teamed up to put out our first record, which was a combination LP of Second Floor & SEVEN. Nick has been very easy to work with and NMZ has carved out a really cool place in the world of Hardcore. We're happy to have been a part of that!
Sunstroke's "Cryin' Wolves" & "I Wanna Be Ignored" Alternate Single Covers - CREDIT: Joey Goergen (@joeysxwrld)
X. What initially made you decide to keep Sunstroke's ever-evolving members and list of close collaborators such a heavily-guarded secret?
Farlow: Truthfully, it's not a secret. We just made a decision that the band and music we put out was far more important than who was playing in the band or what bands they were in prior. As long as Ian & I still want to do Sunstroke, the band will continue.
XI. Over time, would you say it has become increasingly difficult to maintain your ambiguity as a group? Do you ever see yourselves fully revealing the membership of Sunstroke?
Farlow: It's not intentional, let alone, a thing we intend on making either a secret or revealing. We're just people who are friends that write music together as the entity Sunstroke. We keep it as just the band because it feels appropriate for this project.
XII. We've likely already touched on some of it here, but what do you have planned for Sunstroke in 2022?
Farlow: Hopefully, play some shows. We, normally, try to play 10-12 shows a year, at least, but COVID had really affected that. We have some [shows] planned and some really exciting things. We're recording an LP this year and our side of the split with Bent Blue. I'm really excited to be able to get the "Buzzer Beater" [B/W] "Everyday Bouquet" single out there. We're all really proud of it. Keep an eye out for us. Hopefully, we'll see you soon! Take care of yourself and take care of each other.