In a highly-saturated music market where dozens, if not hundreds of acts sound the same, it is more important than ever to carve out a defining sound and style for one’s band. Not only has SunSquabi immediately separated itself from the rest of the relatively-niche jamtronica market, but the group has also even created its own genre, dubbed “hydro-funk.”
The Denver-bred trio began making waves in the instrumental, jam/electronic crossover scene in 2015 with the release of a pair of EPs, entitled Thunder and Anytime. Since then, SunSquabi has climbed ever-higher on festival lineups across the country, performed a headlining gig at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, CO (which later became a live album), and embarked on the Dayglow Funk Tour along with The Floozies and Late Night Radio.
The band released its latest single “SteamCat” last week, which has now been joined by an official music video. The song was thoroughly road tested before getting the studio treatment, according to guitarist Kevin Donohue.
“We have been playing this track out live for a bit now and have really honed in on making the song as big as possible with the audience,” Donohue said. “The response has been amazing out there and we can’t wait to show you the rest of what we have in store in these upcoming releases.”
“SteamCat” features the tried-and-true SunSquabi formula of Josh Fairman‘s heavy synth and bass work met with wah-pedal washed guitar courtesy of Donohue. The video, however, presents a bold new step for SunSquabi as the band moves into the animated realm and also harkens back to an already illustrious career. The very beginning of the video features a caterpillar in a chrysalis, both of which are two previous releases that comprise two-thirds of a three-song cycle that ends with “Night Moth”, imagery which is also found later in the video. The entire video is laden with references to nature and animals as viewers also see a tadpole growing into a toad as the song’s rhythm begins to germinate. The “SteamCat” music video centers around the journey of the titular SteamCat, which finds its way back to the ruins of ancient Egypt. There, this highly-modernized creature comes face-to-face with its ancestors, only to bring them back to life and release a new swarm of life into the world.
Watch the video for “SteamCat” from Sunsquabi below.
SunSquabi – “SteamCat” (Official Video)
[Video: SunSquabi]
“SteamCat” marks SunSquabi’s first studio output since the release of Instinct in 2019, and is only the beginning of what SunSquabi assures will be a steady flow of new music over the coming months. The band’s March shows, like many in the music industry, have been postponed due to the ongoing spread of the novel coronavirus and the deadly disease that it causes, COVID-19. SunSquabi’s touring schedule will pick back up on April 22nd when the band will play at Backyard at St. Augustine Amphitheater in Florida, followed by shows throughout the South and Southeast, before hitting the Midwest and finally returning west. Visit the band’s website for up-to-date tour information, and see a full list of dates below.