On Friday, September 18th, London-based band Sunken kicked off the weekend by releasing their debut EP: Hometime. The five track album, released on Handsome Dad Recordings, is laced with jazzy saxophone riffs and smooth vocals. It is avaliable to stream on all the major platforms.
View this post on InstagramOur EP Hometime is out today! Big love to everyone involved and sharing Xxxxx
The band are relatively new to the scene, having released their first music back in 2018 with double single Over the Days// Swoon. Swoon was a mellow track, with lead singer Poppy Billingham’s vocals gliding over a steady beat. It attracted the attention of Clash Magazine, who named it Track of the Day. They band then went on to support South London musician Puma Blue on his England tour.
Their EP is an impressive introduction to their sound. Stand-out track, Zombie, is a joy to listen to. Its introductory guitar line and soft male vocals are strongly reminiscent of Radiohead. Sorry for Everything, previously released as a single earlier this year, features dreamy synth noises and effortless falsettos. This track, as well as opener Somewhere Not Real, are sonically similar to the music of ethereal dream pop band Babeheaven, who Sunken actually supported a couple of times last year.
On Somewhere Not Real, the introductory instrumental is reminiscent of the vibraphone heavy Twin Peaks theme tune. The music video, too, has an air of David Lynch to it. That juxtaposition between the dark and beautiful is present in the red lensed shots of Poppy Billingham singing, holding the viewers gaze with her wide brown eyes.
She is only 20 years old, but her vocals have been praised for their emotional maturity and depth. In 2018, Wonderland Magazine said her voice would ‘transport you to a different planet’ and a review of Sunken’s Puma Blue support said reported that the room was ‘transfixed’ by Poppy’s vocals which were ‘soulful far beyond her years’.
Sunken is a family affair. It was started by Poppy and her brother Finn who were later joined by three others. The Billingham siblings used music as a way to quell their constant fighting, and today credit writing together as the reason for their now close relationship. You can truly feel the love in Sunken’s carefully crafted debut EP. It’s a solid representation of their musical abilities, a true joy to listen to.
