Sunglaciers | Interview | New Album, ‘Regular Nature’
Sunglaciers’ music seamlessly combines refined melodies with enigmatic experimentation, merging promising romanticism with unrestrained rebellion.
Their tracks, reflecting the peculiar realities of contemporary life, are imbued with optimism through psychedelic elements and lively rhythms, forming a distinctive kaleidoscopic proto-pop sound. Following the success of their critically acclaimed albums ‘Foreign Bodies’ and ‘Subterranea,’ the Calgary band recently released ‘Regular Nature’ via Mothland.
Founded in 2017 by multi-instrumentalists Evan Resnik and Mathieu Blanchard, Sunglaciers debuted with the EPs ‘Moving in Darkness’ (2017) and ‘Twin/Evil Twin’ (2018), followed by their first full-length album, ‘Foreign Bodies’ (2019). Their second album, ‘Subterranea’ (2022), is filled with intense guitar work and interesting synth sounds.
With the addition of bassist Kyle Crough and guitarist/keyboardist Nyssa Brown, Sunglaciers have developed their forthcoming album, enhancing their music with a dynamic and immersive sound.
“Lots of reflections on artifice, anxiety, love, loss of love, technology, and whatever”
How much time and effort went into the creation of your latest album?
Evan Resnik: Around half the songs from this record were originally workshopped in 2020 when the world was closed. We had skeletons for about 25 new songs, some of which comprised our last record, ‘Subterranea.’ We left the rest to marinate for a while and came back to work on them after touring the last record. During the ‘Regular Nature’ sessions, we came up with a few more song ideas which also made it onto the record, so it’s a bit of a mix of older and newer ideas. We always put everything we have into our songs. Sometimes ideas come together rapidly, other times it’s best to let things sit and revisit them later. It was fun to breathe new life into some songs that first started appearing quite a while ago.
How would you compare it to your previous albums?
Evan: I think it’s a pretty natural evolution of our sound and explorations. We wanted this to be a “big” record that breathes a little, but we didn’t want to lose the tightness we achieved when we started writing shorter songs.
Mathieu Blanchard: It’s kind of like a Volume 1 – Volume 2 scenario with ‘Subterranea,’ just a little brighter and more guitar-heavy. There are some similarities and a definite link between these two records, much like how our first two EPs were stylistically similar in their math-rock structure and instrumental composition.
We can hear different elements ranging from post-punk to new wave. How do you usually approach the sonic palette?
Mathieu: We talk about it a little before we get going on a particular song, thinking about what we want. Other times, the style sort of reveals itself while we’re working on ideas we simply think are good or fun. So there’s some foresight at times, and sometimes we just get together and see what comes out instinctively.
Can you elaborate on how you originally began as a band and whether you were in any other bands previously?
Evan: I was tinkering around with some bedroom recordings and started working on an EP with Chris Dadge (Lab Coast, Alvvays) when Mathieu came on board. So basically since the beginning! I was essentially gonna quit music before he showed up and kicked my ass into shape. Kyle (Crough) joined in 2018 right after the second EP came out. Nyssa (Brown) has been with us since about 2020. We’ve all been in a bunch of bands, Mathieu especially has been in about a thousand (Crystal Eyes, Window Lamp, and Nyssa’s project Polly Dactic to name a couple). Nyssa: Polly Dactic, Parisian Orgy, Hagface. Kyle: DRI HIEV, Gawker. Evan: Lab Coast, Rifle County Players.
Could you share some insights into the thematic elements present in this new album?
Evan: It’s a pretty “social” record, if you will. Lots of reflections on artifice, anxiety, love, loss of love, technology, and whatever. All those little things that get to you in some way, that you blow up in your head just so you can keep moving.
The album features a guest appearance by Daniel Monkman of Zoon. How did this collaboration come about, and what unique contribution did Daniel bring to the album?
Mathieu: I played a show with him when I was in Window Lamp a few years back. Then we started seeing him a lot on the road when we (Sunglaciers) were touring. Kyle has also known him for years. We have a few songs on this record that lean shoegaze, so we naturally thought of him to contribute a bit.
Evan: He added some really cool layers of e-bowed guitar on ‘Cursed,’ which really lock in the mood and bring some beauty to the latter half of that song. Just a little thing that makes a huge difference, and one we wouldn’t have ever thought up on our own.
Your tour spanned across Canada and the United States. How do you anticipate the live experience of ‘Regular Nature’ will differ from the recorded version?
Mathieu: LOUDER haha.
Evan: Matt really goes for it on the drums when he’s in front of a crowd, and I tend to scream and yell a bit more. Kyle also orchestrates some pretty dynamic lighting during the set, which really pulls you into the moment, and does some cool percussive things too. We’re down a member for this tour (Nyssa is writing her thesis back home!), so we’re each committed to bringing a bit more to the live experience.
Tell us about the gear you have in the band.
We have a few sample pads on stage: Alesis SamplePad 4, Roland SP-404MKII, and SPD-SX. Evan uses a BOSS RC-3 to trigger some stuff as well. Mathieu loves his Ludwig Supraphonic snare, Evan is a Telecaster enthusiast and leans on his Eventide PitchFactor a lot, and Kyle likes his Alpha Omicron fuzz by Darkglass and Dunlop Studio Bass Compressor.
The album was co-produced by Chad Van Gaalen. Can you share any memorable moments or insights from working with him in the studio?
He’s got a pretty cool piss trough outside the studio. But overall, he’s just kind of a magical sort of dude who likes to get silly and have fun inside the creative process. He opened us up a lot!
How does the album serve as a response to the complexities of modern life?
Evan: I’d say that’s up to the listener!
Let’s end this interview with some of your favorite albums. Have you found something new lately you would like to recommend to our readers?
Mathieu: Digging that new Rosali record ‘Bite Down’ a lot. We love our pals Chorus Pedal in LA, so keep a lookout for them. Also, Punchlove in NYC are killing it.
Thank you for taking your time. The last word is yours.
Mathieu: Rock on!
Evan: Thanks for hitting us up.
Klemen Breznikar
Headline photo: Lyle Bell
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