Sunjacket is a four-piece indie rock band from Chicago. In the fall of 2014, Garret Bodette (drums), Bryan Kveton (vocals/guitar/synth), and Carl Hauck (vocals/guitar/synth) took a year off from playing shows to finish writing and recording songs for their debut LP, after which Jeff Rukes (bass/synth) joined the group. The result is Mantra, a 10-track record whose songs range from dark, synth-driven pop to layered, syncopated rock, with moments of ambient sparseness in between. Mantra, due out this fall, was produced in collaboration with Fraser McCulloch (of Brooklyn band Milagres) and mastered by Joe Lambert.
Singer Bryan Kveton answered our questions, tough he couldn’t find one on a few.
What is your all-time favorite song?
It’s impossible to pick a favorite song since I usually choose music based on my mood. If I’m feeling melancholic, Radiohead’s “There, There” is a pretty great way to embrace that mood.
Which song is perfect for a Road Trip?
“Call Me The Breeze” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Clearly, they must have written the lyrics about being on a road trip.
To which song do you like to clean?
I’ll often listen to electronic music when I clean. Something groovy and repetitive that I don’t have to keep tending to while I’m trying to get some cleaning done. There are a few great Caribou DJ sets on SoundCloud that have definitely helped me scrub the floors once or twice.
What’s the perfect song to wake up with?
I wake up with really random songs stuck in my head, but unfortunately they usually aren’t good songs. In general, jazz is a really great way to start any morning. I like records that are stimulating, but not too abrasive to help ease me into the day. A Dynamic New Sound by The Wes Montgomery Trio, or Kind of Blue by Miles Davis have always been staples in my jazz collection.
What’s your favorite artist from your home city?
As far as Chicagoans who have most influenced the way I think about music, Kanye West. His ability to innovate with every record has always been really inspiring to me.
If you could be one artist for a day, who would that be?
Tom Waits. I’d use his voice to call all my friends on the phone and sing them Happy Birthday.
What’s the best song to make love to (to ask someone out)?
“Space Jam” by Quad City DJs. I’ll let others guess if I’ve used it or not.
At which place would you love to play a concert?
I’ve always wanted to play night concerts at Red Rocks, or the pavilion in Chicago’s Millennium Park. Both of those venues are just so massive and surrounded by really beautiful scenery.
You can find Sunjacket here: Website / Twitter / YouTube / Facebook
