Sun Q have solidified themselves as one of the most exciting independent garage-rock acts on the Russian music scene. A duo who draw inspiration from a pool of myths and dark tales, their brand new single ‘Children Singing’ absolutely floored me when I first heard it! Ominous, potent, and deeply immersive!
Wanting to get to know the talented duo a bit better, I was over the moon when they agreed to an interview! Chatting with us about the inspiration behind ‘Children Singing’, what they love about being musicians, and who they’d collaborate with if given the chance, please welcome our friends Helen and Ivan of Sun Q!
Welcome aboard Sun Q! I’m so excited to introduce you to our ever-expanding audience! Let’s kick things off with an easy one…Who is Sun Q and what brought the two of you together?
Helen: Thank you for having us! Sun Q is about embracing abstraction and weaving myths into the music, offering a unique form of escapism. We’re driven by the concept of crafting sincere music that truly engages us, and that’s what brought us together, I think – a shared passion for creating captivating and personally meaningful art.
Ivan: Sun Q is music that is not determined by trends, commercial demand and goals or the quest for popularity, but only by the taste and aesthetic sense of two people.
About a week ago, you released your brand new single ‘Children Singing’, and it really caught my attention! Eerie, ominous, intense…Just brilliant! I know that it was inspired by the legendary poet Joseph Brodsky. What more can you tell our readers about your new tune?
Helen: We appreciate your kind words! ‘Children Singing’ marks the third and final single leading up to our album release. We believe that our music will speak for itself, and we encourage everyone just to give it a listen.
Ivan: I like how the song presents significant contrasts in both sound and dynamics, but it still maintains the same mood. The way the sounds are tried out doesn’t really matter to the listener. It all comes together for one reason – to make the overall impression of the track. I think we should focus on the main feeling and not get caught up in the small details.
Who would you put down as some of the band’s biggest musical influences and who would you ultimately credit for helping shape and mould your overall sound?
Helen: In terms of sound, we would like to thank our mixing engineer – Sean Genockey. He helped us achieve a very spacious, stylish and a bit of vintage sound. And also our mastering engineer Brian Lucey.
What do you both love most about being musicians? And on the flip side of that, what would you say have been some of the biggest challenges that you’ve faced so far?
Ivan: Listening to an album you’ve put five years into and hearing it just the way you wanted is incredibly satisfying. On the flip side, the challenges always revolve around the constant struggle for funding.
Helen: What I love most about being a musician is the creativity it entails – the ability to immerse in art, to invent, experiment, and communicate through music. It also allows me to tap into aspects of my personality that might remain concealed in everyday life.
On the flip side, being an independent artist demands wearing multiple hats. It involves marketing, organizational, and technical challenges. This blend of responsibilities can at times be overwhelming.
What would being successful in the industry look like for Sun Q? And is it something that’s on your minds when you’re creating new music?
Ivan: As I mentioned, only Helen’s and my preferences shape our music. However, it’s meaningful for us to understand that others enjoy it, not just ourselves.
Perhaps, a true achievement would be having the freedom to create future works without constraints, both financially and otherwise.
What song do you each love that you wish you’d written?
Helen: Arcade Fire – ‘My Body is a Cage’. Given the sheer number of covers, I’m obviously not the only one.
Ivan: Elton John’s ‘Madman Across the Water’.
You’re allowed to collaborate with one musician or band. Who do you choose?
Ivan: I choose Björk.
Helen: I choose Nick Cave.
Sun Q, I can’t thank you enough for chatting with us! It’s been a treat! What comes next?
Helen: Next comes the Myth. And let there be one more way of communicating with the unconscious – through our future album.
