EP review - Dear Sunday – ‘Draw 4’
REVIEW BY: Georgia Gutterson
Summertime, love, and funky guitar riffs. What more could you ask for? Emerging WA indie rockers Dear Sunday offer the perfect blend of vibes with their debut EP ‘Draw 4’, right in time for the upcoming Aussie summer.
Kicking it off with their groovy single ‘Teleport’, we are met with upbeat clean guitars, a bop-worthy beat and a melody that’s sure to be stuck in your head for days. Reminiscent of the likes of Lime Cordiale and Ocean Alley, this song jumps straight into a beachy, summer-like atmosphere, carried by frontman Ben Swanson’s remarkably warm, husky vocals. Setting the tone for the EP, this opening track tells a story of a couple longing to escape the world they’re currently in together and find someplace better: “So just grab my hand, let’s go to another land.” That’s kind of what the song itself does; a few seconds in and it feels like you’ve stepped into a party on the beach, drinks flowing and friends surrounding.
In an effortless yet contrasting transition, the next track ‘Love Eyes’ presents a slightly less upbeat feel, but certainly no less impressive. Delivering a gentler, more heartfelt tone, it becomes obvious just how great these guys are at songwriting, with the diversity of instrumentals and lyrics throughout the EP strongly evident already. And despite it being not as buoyant a track as ‘Teleport’, it is still incredibly memorable and catchy, to the point where you can’t wait to go back and listen to it again. And again.
Following this, we’re thrown right back into those uplifting beachy vibes – and who wouldn’t be stoked about that? With possibly the catchiest guitar riff on the EP, we are introduced to the third track ‘Eye to Eye’. It’s physically difficult not to break out into a boogie when this song is playing. The amazing level of musical talent in Dear Sunday is undeniable, especially during the track’s stunning guitar solo following the second chorus. This one is a must-have on any party playlist this summer. The EP then concludes with the delicate, beautifully raw acoustic track ‘She Spoke’, shining a deserving spotlight on the earnest, raspy vocals. A poignant and nostalgic depiction of catching up with a past love, the song provides an awe-inspiring finish to the band’s debut EP – and it’s astonishing to remember that this is just their first.
Honouring the release of ‘Draw 4’ by hitting the road around their home state of WA this November & December, there is no doubt that Dear Sunday are about to change the game in the Aussie indie-rock scene. This is just the beginning for these guys, and I can’t wait to hear what else they’ve got up their sleeves.
Exciting newcomers Dear Sunday have today shared a sneak peek of their sparkling, psychedelic new track Teleport, a sweet, glistening, confessional track that describes two young lovers in their own personal world. The group, whose 2021 collaboration with Luude, Wanna Stay, is currently enjoying rotation on triple j, have also announced their debut EP, Draw 4, out November 12. Draw 4 is a versatile, thoughtful and hooky collection of alterative rock, pop and psych – a mature and fascinating debut from these sun-soaked WA locals. Dear Sunday will be hitting the road in November and December to celebrate the release, with shows moving through Perth, Margaret River and Albany.
Evocative of fellow Aussie rockers Ocean Alley and Spacey Jane, Teleport is a stunner – clean, clear guitar dances with washy drums, while the lead vocal floats assuredly above it all. It’s the perfect kind of track to soundtrack an Australian summer – days that go on forever, spending hours at the beach, or at a festival. Speaking on the creation of the track, lead vocalist Ben Swanson says, “Teleport is a funny one. I remember slaving away at work, probably digging holes, and humming the vocal hook: “I wanna teleport with you”. I quickly chucked it into my voice memos on my phone. Pretty much that day, we all caught up and wrote the song! The song is about wanting to run away. Just leave behind all the bs that’s going on and go somewhere far far away.”
Draw 4 is an intriguing debut from a band that’s impossible to pin down; psychedelic influences mix happily with rock, pop, even folk – and let’s not forget this band was added to rotation on the j’s with a feature on an electronic dance track. It’s the kind of music an artist makes when they are writing simply for the love of it – unrestrained by genres and open to anything. Draw 4 has it all – the mysterious, alluring guitar licks of Love Eyes, and the vulnerable, acoustic heartbreaker She Spoke, and everything in between. Thrilled about the long-awated release of the EP, Ben says, “The boys and I are all super excited but also super nervous about the release of Draw 4..it’s been a long time coming, that’s for sure. But really happy to be sending these songs into the world as a little package deal. Can’t wipe the smile off our faces now.”
Western Australia is a hotbed for incredible Australian music, so it makes sense for Dear Sunday to do a tour/victory lap of their home state in celebration of the EP. Speaking on their local scene, Ben reflects, “We honestly pinch ourselves every day with how good the music is coming out of Perth, and the best part is how supportive everyone in the music scene is…Our shows, everyone’s shows are always filled with other local bands who come down to support each other. Like one big happy and talented family.”
Dear Sunday is Ben Swanson (vocals/rhythm guitar), Eligh L’Ecluse (drums), Mason Nguyen (lead guitar), Calvin Fennell (bass).
DRAW 4 WA TOUR
FRI 12 NOV | YMCA HQ, PERTH | ALL AGES
SAT 20 NOV | ROSEMOUNT HOTEL, PERTH | 18+
FRI 26 NOV | SETTLERS TAVERN, MARGARET RIVER | 18+
SAT 4 DEC | 6 DEGREES, ALBANY |18+
