A QUICK CHAT WITH SUNEDEN

In the wake of their aclaimed album ‘Smooth Groove’ Suneden has been on an exciting journey captivating audiences across Australia’s vibrant music scene with their signature soul-funk boogies. Now with the release of their latest single ‘Mumma Told Me’ Suneden unleashes a sonic masterpiece that pays homage to the raw, infectious energy of the blues-driven rock ‘n’ roll from the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.

We chat to Eden Lee from SUNEDEN about their latest release and what’s on the horizon.

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Congratulations on the release of ‘Mumma Told Me' This is a powerful return from Suneden - What inspired the song and what was the creative process from writing, through to recording?
Thankyou! This was a really exciting song for us to record! Steering away from our usual funk sound and leaning more towards rock was really fun for us. This song actually started out as a much softer, mellower bluesy track that Sunny and I had recorded a demo of a couple of years ago. We never ended up releasing it because it never quite felt like that was what the song was supposed to be.

We were jamming with the band a few months ago and Sunny started playing this really cool catchy riff on the guitar and I realised it went perfectly with the lyrics. And that was it - the evolution of the song. We all jammed it and everyone added their magic touch and before we knew it, it had morphed into this big powerful anthem.

A few weeks later we were in the studio bringing it to life.

What’s the meaning behind your latest single?

It tells the tale of an unapologetic woman who refuses to be pushed around, raised with the belief that her strength lies in standing her ground. This song embodies that blues-infused rock 'n' roll sound, reminiscent of the raw energy of the late '60s and early '70s.

If Suneden could time travel to any era in music history to perform a concert, when and where would you go?
Well that’s easy, 1969. Woodstock. No doubt about it.

What’s your typical recording process like, and what are your highlights from your time recording this track?
We recorded it at creepy monkey music, amongst the mountains in the Yarra Valley, this is where we recorded our last album Smooth Groove. We typically will go and spend a weekend there and get all the songs we’re doing down in two days. We record, jam, drink some beers and then sleep on the studio floor and wake up and do it all again the next day. It’s always a fun time.
My favourite part about recording this track was when all six of us were singing the harmonies for the big build up at the end of the song. We all stood in a circle around this one mic and recorded a total of 24 harmonies. This song was such a collaborative effort, and harnessing the collective energy of all six of us in that big build up made it so powerful and gave it so much emotion.

If your band’s music could be the soundtrack to any film or tv series, which would it be?
Probably pulp fiction, my all time favourite movie.
I love anything with a good soundtrack, it can really make it for me. I watched this show called ‘The Serpent’ one time, it was creepy as hell but it had the coolest soundtrack and it was set in the 70s so i just couldn't stop watching it.

What inspired the formation of Suneden, and how did each member come to join the band?
Sunny and I met in Nepal in 2016 when I was living over there.
We started playing as a duo, and then as a five piece five nights a week. in 2018 we came to Australia, so i could show him my side of the world. We moved in with Liam, Nick and my best friend into a share house in Kew, and that’s how Suneden and the Seg Street Jam was born. Sunny and I had this huge bedroom that ended up doubling as the jam room and we’d all hang out in there and make music all the time. Brad and Jack both lived just down the road too, we had a good little thing going on.

We’ve been playing together as a band for six years now.

What was your music journey like before then, have you always sung?

I grew up around music. My dad’s a blues musician - he taught me how to play guitar, and i started singing with him at his gigs when i was five years old. We lived in a share house when i was a kid and his band would

rehearse in our room at night, so I think his influence ignited my passion for music, and his love for it rubbed off on me very early on. I always wanted to be a singer, i remember being in art class at school and my teacher asking us to draw a picture of what we wanted to be when we grew up - i drew a microphone.
It’s Lucky I didn’t take up being an artist, because drawing definitely isn’t my strong suit.

Suneden’s music is known for its infectious grooves, how do you balance staying true to the classic funk sound while infusing it with your unique style and modern influences?

I think that's the best thing about music, you're not confined to a particular genre or style - it's open expression and i think your own style comes naturally with that. I’m a sucker for funk but it's always fun to add in new styles, instruments and surprises. Gotta keep people on their toes.

Funk music often elicits a strong physical response, Can you describe the feeling you hope listeners experience when they hear your music? Seeing people dance to our music is the best reaction we could hope for, when a song makes you want to boogie you know it’s a good one, and nothing makes us happier than playing to people moving to our music.

Can you share a secret ingredient or ritual your band uses to lock into a tight groove during rehearsals or performances?
I think we’re all pretty silly, so rehearsals are always fun and we often end up jamming 20 minute grooves and laughing a lot. I think we’re just having fun and playing what we love, and that really shows in our performances.

What’s your favourite show you’ve played so far?

There’s been lots that i’ve loved, but the first one that comes to mind is when we played up in New South Wales for Tanamon Valley Music Festival. We played at sunset and there was a sea of people dancing under fairy lights to our music as the sun went down. It gave me such woodstock vibes.
That was a pretty special gig.

What’s your favourite album?

That’s a very hard question, i have too many that i love - but i can tell you what my favourite record i ever bought was. It’s called ‘Soweto Disco’ - Sofrito. It’s South African disco music, not many people have heard of it. I found it in a $2 tub at a record store when i was younger. It was real warped but it caught my eye and they had a record player you could test them on, so I did and it still played, and I loved it instantly. It’s been on high rotation at my house ever since.

If you could bring back any musician from the dead who would it be?

Hendrix, of course. I mean who wouldn't wanna see Jimi shred?

What was the last gig you went to?

Tedeschi Trucks. They played as a 12 piece band, and they rocked my world. It was incredible - i love a good horn section. We saw them play at The Palais - that's got to be one of my favourite music venues, what a dream it would be to perform there.

What’s on the horizon for Suneden, what else do you have planned for the rest of 2024?
There’s a few more new releases on the way, as well as another album in the works. Maybe even another vinyl, you’ll have to wait and see. We’ve got some tour plans too, so watch this space. Things are happenin’

And lastly, what upcoming shows do you have?

Saturday 22nd June - 4 Pines Brewing (Torquay)
Sunday 23rd June - Bodriggy (Abbotsford)
Friday 5th July - Shotkickers (Thornbury)