SUNTWIST might just be our new favourite band. The reason is quite simple: their latest EP is one of the most mature indie-rock records we have heard lately, a body of work that well balances lyrical nostalgia and relatability with musical substance. ‘Matchbox’ is exactly that, a collection of five like-minded pieces that veer from euphoric and epic to controlled and introspective. Melodic arpeggiated guitars contrast beautifully with heavier moments, creating an eclectic pool of intents and formulas that will likely entice a large audience.
Comprised of Logan Mullert on vocals, Grant Baker on guitar, Braden Kotzin on drums, Isaac Morrison on bass, and Nathan Dilla on lead guitar, the Phoenix-made outfit is in their best artistic shape to date, and we felt compelled to learn more about them. Interview below…
Hi SUNTWIST, thanks for chatting with us! You’ve come a long way since the group’s debut in 2024, with your new EP ‘Matchbox’ being the physical evidence of it. How much have you changed since ‘HEADFIRST/DOWNWARDS’? If you could go back in time, what would you tell your younger selves?
We have definitely run a long way since that initial release, and it’s been a bumpy but exciting road.
‘HEADFIRST/DOWNWARDS’ was a reflection of two friends coming together and learning how to make music. It was intimate and meaningful, and yet completely different from what our sound currently is. There is a reason we have left our early releases up on platforms: we want fans to see the growth and walk the road with us. We aren’t some polished band, just a couple of friends trying to push for a dream. If we could go back in time, I would’ve told us to release every single one of those early songs that we threw together.
As I understand it, ‘Matchbox’ shares a bit of a coming-of-age theme, with the band facing the end of their college era and dealing with the obstacles of early adulthood. In that sense, one could see the EP as an emotional release of sorts, which makes it meaningful and relatable for many listeners. What does the record mean to you? Are you proud of how it turned out in the end?
It certainly felt like a release for us. This EP lifted a weight off our shoulders. We wanted to establish a home base, a sound we felt comfortable growing from and branching out from. We could not be more proud of how it turned out.
The record brings a lot of our insecurities and worries into the open, giving us a chance to finally let them go. There is so much uncertainty around us, and it feels like everyone is worried that life won’t work itself out. This EP became our way of brushing that weight off our shoulders and moving forward anyway.
How does songwriting work in the SUNTWIST universe? Do you all write alone, or is it more of a collective endeavour? I also know that you are pretty far from each other at the moment, location-wise…
This EP was really special because it was the first time we actually wrote everything together. We would take a skeleton of an idea and turn it into something completely new together. We used to write in a more segmented manner, but this EP really turned a page. When we are all in the same room, there is a factor in the mix that we cannot obtain any other way. In the end, we not only got to write everything collectively, but we also got to record the songs live in a studio.
I love the hybrid nature of ‘Matchbox’, at least from a sonic perspective. It’s both melodic and gritty, the perfect balance between guitar-coded intensity and melancholic vocals. What are some of your biggest influences in that regard?
In that vein, we really look up to bands like The Strokes or The Technicolors. The way they can fill a sonic space whilst keeping the intimate vocals up front is mesmerising to us, and we wanted to factor them into how we had the project mixed. We loved the thick and crunchy rhythms, intimate vocals, and bold lead lines.
Widening the discourse, how did the band come about? Did you all meet in college? Did Phoenix influence your style and vision in any way?
We all came together piece by piece throughout college. A friend knew a friend who played bass well. Then the bassist had a friend whose boyfriend was stellar at guitar, and so on. It felt very much like the makings of an Ocean’s heist movie, except none of us are incredibly intelligent, and all we do is write music.
Meeting in Phoenix did not directly affect the music we made, but the scene seemed to have a need for more indie rock. Since we were already heading in that direction, that need definitely inspired us to shoot for it.
Let’s focus back on ‘Matchbox’. Do you have a favourite track in it? Or a song that’s particularly meaningful to you all?
I can only speak for myself, but I’d say we collectively recognise ‘Stay High (Chasing Ghosts)’ as one of the stronger songs on the release. It has a carefree energy that we all love to see enter a room. It acknowledges the hypocrisy we all dealt with growing up, chasing a fleeting high, and confronts the itch in the back of the brain that wants to push our problems down.
Lastly, what’s next for SUNTWIST? The EP is out now; any live shows on the horizon?
Now that the EP is out, all we can do is keep moving. We have already decided how we want to separate ourselves with the next releases. We are continuing to pull from some of our favourite artists, whilst making music we are proud to call our own. Listeners can find us at DUSK Music Festival in November and M3F Festival in March!