Fresh off the release of their new single On My Mind, we sat down with alt-rock band Sunday Honey to chat about sonic influences, Australia’s music landscape and the “sweet nectar” of Victorian beer.
Last week, Sunday Honey shared their new single On My Mind. A summery tune that takes incisive aim at manipulators, the track marked the Victorian band’s third-ever release. Created by singer Elliott Willis alongside fellow bandmates Fox DeRoche, Max Hilli and Callum Johnson, On My Mind feels like an establishment of Sunday Honey’s commitment to soul and alt-rock, seemingly more suited to the catalogue of a band ten years their senior.
Coasting off the success of On My Mind, the quintet will launch the single with a live performance at Melbourne’s Stay Gold later this month. Elsewhere, they’re gearing up for a set on the mainstage of Coastal Jam music festival, which kicks off this weekend and will see the band perform alongside lineup entrants Ziggy Alberts, Hockey Dad and The Terrys, among many others.
With a stacked itinerary hotly approaching and plenty of new material on the horizon, we caught up with Sunday Honey for a chat about all things music, frothys and the “immaculate” state of the Australian music scene. Scroll down for Happy Mag’s full interview with Sunday Honey, and listen to their new single On My Mind below.
HAPPY: What are you up to today?
SUNDAY HONEY: Nothing much, wbu x
HAPPY: Tell us about your suburb, what do you love/not love about where you live?
SUNDAY HONEY: We all live on the peninsula. Collectively we agree that the surf, the beach, the community and the volunteer work are the best (not to mention the sweet nectar of breweries down here). However, that magpie swooping season really gives me the gyves.
HAPPY: Describe your average work day.
SUNDAY HONEY: Get up, coffee, Redbull, coffee, WORKIN HARD, lunch break, Redbull, WORKIN HARD, home time, musical practice, sleep time.
HAPPY: What about your ultimate day?
SUNDAY HONEY: Early knockoff, couple frothys, sold out show, party party party.
HAPPY: Tell us about your creative community.
SUNDAY HONEY: The peninsulas music scene is thriving after the comeback from covid, we are just trying to ride that creative wave with everyone else.
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HAPPY: What did you listen to growing up that fuelled your passion for music?
SUNDAY HONEY: Fox DeRoche: the parents always had the classics on (Bowie, Beatles, Rolling Stones) which really got me started. Cal Johnson: Blink 182 was one of my biggest influences. Max Hilli – Kiss has and will always be my favourite band. Elliott Willis: K-pop has always been an influence of mine although I don’t understand the language.
HAPPY: What did you read or watch last that opened your eyes and mind to a new perspective?
SUNDAY HONEY: Just hearing the news from some foreign countries and realising how good we have it here in Australia and how grateful we feel to be in this nation.
HAPPY: Can you tell us a bit about the recording process for your latest single, how is the collaborative process between you?
SUNDAY HONEY: We record all of our music within the band, the same goes for the new single. A week down at Balnarring has us recording at Fox’s home studio. Writing the song is usually a joint effort with everyone chiming in on lyrics, melodies and structure.
HAPPY: How has your music evolved over time, and what do you see as the key themes and ideas that run through your work?
SUNDAY HONEY: Mental health has always been a big topic we write about as we believe it’s one of the most important aspects of everyday life, a lot of it is also just what sounds good to us. We like to think that it doesn’t always have to be about the lyrical content and meaning but how the song sounds and feels.
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HAPPY: Do you have a dream studio you would like to work with, or are you more interested in creating the ultimate home studio and if so what does that look like?
SUNDAY HONEY: I mean Abbey Road studios or The Grove would be a massive win for us but we also love the close-knit feel of the home studio. In the future we would love to put together “Honey studios” but that’s something that the future holds.
HAPPY: What role do you see music playing in shaping and reflecting the culture of Australia, and how do you hope your music contributes to that conversation?
SUNDAY HONEY: We believe the quality of music coming out of Australia is immaculate. Not to be biased but we agree that some of the best indie bands come out of Aus. We just hope to make it to the list of best indie artists to come out of Australia.
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HAPPY: In the current music industry landscape, where streaming and social media play a huge role in how music is distributed and consumed, how do you navigate the business side of things while staying true to your artistic vision?
SUNDAY HONEY: We try to indulge in as many streaming and social platforms as possible. With the insane rise of Tik Tok we really try to make the most of these platforms by posting as much as possible but also keeping in mind not to just push mindless content at people. So it’s really a mix between quality content, scheduled content and not over-posting.
HAPPY: Can you talk about a particularly memorable performance or moment in your music career that stands out to you?
SUNDAY HONEY: After about 6 months of being a band, we played a gig at Hotel Esplanade, with a sold-out crowd of 500-plus people. This would have to be a massive highlight of ours but there are always more things around the corner. For example, we have been offered to play Coastal Jam festival with acts such as Bag Raiders, Hockey Dad and Ziggy Alberts. It’s an amazing feeling to be selected with such top-tier artists.
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HAPPY: Looking ahead, what are your plans for the future, both in terms of new music and your overall career trajectory?
SUNDAY HONEY: By the end of this year we are hoping to release our debut EP (which is in the progress of being recorded as we speak) but for future trajectory, we all agree that one day we hope to be standing on stage, hearing tens of thousands of people singing along to our songs and enjoying our music just as much as we do.
HAPPY: What makes you happy?
SUNDAY HONEY: Seeing our fan base grow is what really makes us happy. As much as we love making music for ourselves, nothing makes us happier than seeing other people enjoying our music too. Plus frolicking through an autumn bush on a summer’s day with a winter breeze flowing through our hair whilst taking in the spring sunshine is pretty neat.