A Fresh EP from SUNTRAP Gives off Classic Pop Vibes
An immersive new EP release from SUNTRAP brings out a pretty awesome blend of what I would consider to be classic, vintage, '80s-style new wave and pop, with post-punk, electro, and more.
One of the things that really drives this record is the synth work. The synthesizers and keys are really robust and deliver all kinds of instrumental hooks and melodies, which is something I really enjoy because I feel like instrumental hooks are something that have been missing from all kinds of different genres of music these days.
These songs come out lush, fun, and colorful. Hints of edginess and an alternative underbelly sort of lurk just beneath the surface, and there's loads of this spacious, almost cinematic pop aesthetic that's consistent throughout the record as well.
The EP is dubbed Cul de Sac, and it kicks off with the track called "Main Ingredient."
Now, when I talk about certain elements of '80s pop, this is exactly what I'm talking about. There's claps and old-school synthesizers, which, at times, bend and sway.
The beat and even the progression changes really beckon that era of pop music.
I love that they nail this aesthetic so well, whether they're going for it or not. The thing is, they also lend a hand to current electro and indie pop, elements of dream pop, and more.
So, it's like they're pulling together this massive slew of influences so that they can create something that's got a really delicious atmosphere.
The vocals come through with a certain kind of warmth, a hint of early-2000s emo blended with a sort of 1960s crooner effect. I love how they take even different genres and blend them in seamlessly.
They're not reinventing the wheel. They're just taking all of these sounds and sculpting them into something that's their own. All of these songs are like love letters to the bands that they grew up listening to and adore.
I know this basically because I grew up with the same stuff. I feel like this is the sound they were aiming for, and they've absolutely nailed it from start to finish.
As I mentioned earlier, that cinematic or filmic backbone is always there. Some expansive feels let the songs sort of flow naturally, and the whole thing still bursts with character and loads of catchiness.
Songs like this one are totally radio-friendly, but from a different time. I love this.
Digging deeper into the record, we have the title track, "Cul de Sac," which features these kinds of affected organs, filling any kind of space, giving you further progression and melody. That sits underneath a bopping synthesizer and four-on-the-floor steady beat that creates a deep-pocketed groove.
That hi-hat comes in, creating the full four-on-the-floor effect during the choruses. The cool thing about songs like this one is that it's not over the top in terms of its energy. It's got a smoothness. It's almost calm, but that chorus is so bopping, so catchy, and they throw in some surprising changes before going into the next verse.
There's a lot of attention paid to the details when it comes to the arrangement and how the whole thing would unfold.
You can certainly hear some experimentation in there as well, especially with the percussion. There's all kinds of added percussive hits creating different tones and building on the groove even further.
As the song plays through, it also builds, and these almost orchestral keys start filling the song with a different texture. I like this as well because you don't really expect it. These guys really know how to build a track into something really big.
All this without ever really losing sight of the pop sensibility and danceability all these things were built off of.
It's the third track that really blew me away. Don't get me wrong; I love these first two songs because, again, they're classic, they bring the right aesthetic, and you can't not move your body to them.
These songs will make you want to hit the dance floor almost immediately. I feel like that's part of their purpose. These guys were really into the groove, and that groove is insanely infectious.
The EP is outstanding at layering tones and, again, sort of sculpting a soundscape for you to really dive into and have a good time.
Now, again, the third and final track on the record really took me by surprise, simply because it's got a whole different vibe.
It's not disconnected. It's still confluent and consistent with what they're doing, but this last track, "Take Me Away," is more of a full-on synthwave piece.
You get that different kind of '80s cinematic, synth-driven sound.
They are amazing at creating this particular vibe as well. The vocals still deliver hooks, but in a different way. It's all addictive and wraps itself around you.
This EP is the total escape.
I highly suggest listening to the entire thing all in one shot. It's not very long, only 14 minutes or so. You have the time. Pop it on in the car because it's a great place to jam with these tracks.
I feel like that closing track really leaves things off perfectly.
This was endlessly fun, and if you're not in the car, then listen to it with headphones on because it's the best way to take a lot of it in.
If you are at home, move the couch back so you can dance around the living room. You can sort of lay back on the couch and soak that last track in differently.
SUNTRAP was awesome enough to let us interview them about the record, so while you listen to it, dive into our interview with them below.
Do not miss this.
Hey guys! Thanks for taking a little time with us! Cul-De-Sac rules! Let's get into it!
Each of the songs on this release has a great vibe! I am certainly hearing some almost vintage 80s pop undertones here! Who are our really big musical influences?
Iggy in the 70’s, Iggy in the 80’s, Iggy… Pet shop boys, Roy Orbison, Leonard Cohen, Flavien Berger and Ronettes and Ramones and Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five as well as Silver Apples, Prince, who else? Bronski Beat and last but not least Kraftwerk and the early Beatles!
Was this record recorded at home DAW setup?
The EP was recorded in Studio LA BUM in Gracia Barcelona, Martí’s studios where we have all our gear, with Pro tools and Ableton Live alongside analogue desks, and valve preamps.
What kind of synths or gear did you guys use for this?
Analogue synths: Novation bass station, the drum machine Yamaha rx5, drum machine minipop, Roland JX 3P, Roland xp 80, Moog opus 3, several other drum machines, and electric guitars and digital guitars. All the live setup we use to craft our sound (homemade Leslie speakers and plate reverb made by Jamie) has been also used to record the EP. We have also used analog delays from the late 70’s and the classic Copycat echo module.
How did this project begin?
A hangover from another musical project… I (Jamie) needed some tunes mixed and Marti got a bit more involved than the average producer…
You perform live! Do you find that to be as fun as recording?
It is indeed a very different experience and they are both enjoyable in their own ways, but it’s not all fun and games. It can be incredibly difficult to get to the point where you want to be, both in the studio and on the stage, but we guess it’s all a process.
What is coming up next for you now that this is out there?
We’ve got a Spain tour coming up in November supporting Mind Enterprises and we are playing in London the upcoming 19th of October at the Social (Soho). We are also preparing new material coming out next year.
Do you have a particular process when you are writing music together?
Yes, we normally use AI generated music so we don’t have to work, joking! Jamie writes the Lyrics and then we transpose the songs from Guitar and songwriting traditional methods into the DAW using arpeggiators and drum machines. Sometimes a song can come from a different approach, for example playing with instrumental ideas and loops, and then committing to a structure that later becomes a song.
Do you guys self-produce your own stuff as well?
Yes.
Do you sit in on mixing or mastering?
Mixing is done by us. Mastering has been done externally with some back and forth via email.
Gotta ask, what's your take on all this AI music going on?
We think in the first instance that AI music is detrimental to the work of many musicians and people involved in the music industry. That being said, we do not enjoy or believe AI can be very useful in our experience as it primarily eliminates part of the process of making music and that’s what we enjoy the most. Going through the process of crafting ideas, sounds, structures and then songs, is very valuable for us and we prefer going through it ourselves or accompanied by human beings that can add value to the final piece. We’ll be lying to say that we will never use it if it’s an extremely boring task without any creativity attached, even though we can’t agree to say that boring tasks sometimes lead to creative results.
How does this response sound to you? Let me know if you’d like me to make it more casual, more concise, more personal, or more like your original voice.
What would you say people can expect from this record?
We trust each individual has a subjective way of enjoying music in its own way and by its own means. We tried to encapsulate rhythm, storytelling and emotion, and whatever this transports our audience to we will be happy with.
Anything you want to add before we go?
Debut Ep Cul-de-sac out now via Good Clean Fun recordings.
Comments