Infant Son Inspires Father's Minimalistic Indie Pop

New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Indie pop act Suntrodden announces EP, Suntrodden I, due out February 5, 2016, with first single, "Sunrise to Sunset." Suntrodden's debut presents a love letter to stripped-down songwriting, giving listeners five tracks dedicated to capturing the raw passion of live tracking, and letting the beauty of the songs stand for themselves.

Intentionally minimalistic, these tracks were directly influenced by a sun-soaked epiphany at Bonnaroo, and by the birth of his son. "From a recording perspective, I was doing everything in house at volume levels acceptable to a newborn," says singer Erik Stephansson. This new condition created a wonderfully effective work environment, forcing him to consciously strip everything down to the barest necessities of songwriting. As such, the vocals are front-and-center, accompanied by the fanciful banter of backing guitars, shakers and tambourines. This formula allows Stephansson's whimsical voice to shine, showcasing the power of simplicity and attentive songwriting.

"Sunrise to Sunset" holds true to the EP's theme: everything was tracked straight through, and if Stephansson couldn't play the instrument, it wasn't used for the EP. A sunny, 'verbed out lead guitar dances over an acoustic as Stephansson sings, "I'm gonna give you all I got/Give you all I am." There's a groove to this track, despite the absence of drums. Reminiscent of Daft Punk's "Get Lucky," the final stretch was intentionally layered with an arpeggiating guitar line to channel a similar, danceable energy. This song succeeds in the same way the entire album does, by presenting songs that are upbeat and vibrant, but at the same time affectionately bare.

Suntrodden I Track Listing
Sunrise to Sunset
Float Away
It's Never Over
Come Alive
Stay Gone