Sunhills Brings Space Rock To SLC With “Planetarium”

Sunhills is quickly making a name for themselves as a group of talented musicians with a passion for creating world-building soundscapes.

Their latest album, “Planetarium,” represents a profound leap in both ambition and execution for the band, blending space rock, intricate storytelling and deeply personal experiences to create an unforgettable record.

Who Are Sunhills?

Sunhills has one of the most charming and unexpected origin stories. Unlike most bands that meet through shared music circles, Sunhills’ members first connected on an unlikely platform: the subreddit r/puppies.

 “We all just commented, and then it was like love at first…interaction online. So we just kept talking, found out we had a shared love for music, and all lived in the same area, which was kind of crazy. And then [we] just started hanging out together,” Drew said.

What started as a casual interaction between strangers bonding over their love of puppies soon turned into a discussion about their shared passion for music. Drew continued, “We all loved playing music, and I was writing songs, Cam was doing a bunch of production stuff with some other clients and bands in Salt Lake, and it just seemed like a natural fit.”

Comprised of Drew (lead singer, rhythm guitarist, co-producer), Cameron (lead guitarist, co-producer), Leo (bass), Sam (drums) and Nico (synth/keys, background vocals), Sunhills stands out for their dedication to creating music that transcends the ordinary. Their sound is often described as a mix of dream pop, indie rock and space rock, taking influences from Radiohead’s Kid A era.

What truly sets Sunhills apart is their ability to weave intricate, emotion-laden narratives through both their lyrics and instrumentals. Every note, chord and synth layer has been carefully chosen to evoke a certain story. Their music speaks not just to the head, but to the heart, drawing listeners in and making them feel as though they are part of a larger, otherworldly experience.

Their previous work had already gained them a loyal following, but it’s “Planetarium”—an ambitious concept album— that has firmly placed them on the radar of local indie music fans.

A Journey into the Unknown

When Sunhills embarked on creating “Planetarium,” they knew they were setting out to create something different— something that would push their artistic boundaries. The album, which the band describes as a “space rock record,” was born out of both a desire to experiment with new sounds and a need to channel personal experiences into their music.

Thematically, “Planetarium” deals with feelings of isolation, existentialism and the vastness of both the universe and the human experience. The title itself is a nod to the celestial themes that run through the album. According to Drew and Cameron, these themes arose naturally as they began writing and producing the album. Much of the album was written and recorded during a period of personal upheaval for the band members, particularly Drew, who describes “Planetarium” as a breakup record at its core.  

“[I was] going through a break-up and feeling so small and feeling so stagnant while being surrounded by this ethereal majesty. It helps and it also makes it worse. It’s a lot about isolation,” Drew said.

Cameron, who serves as the band’s co-producer and sound designer, was instrumental in bringing that vision to life. Cam said he often finds himself drawn to the sonic elements of music rather than lyrics. “For me, the worldbuilding and the sound design does so much. It’s why I wanted to chase and go after music; also production and audio engineering.”

Storytelling Through Sound

One of the most fascinating aspects of “Planetarium” is the way Sunhills uses instrumentals to tell their story. While the lyrics are deeply personal and often introspective, the band’s instrumental work adds a separate layer of meaning to the album. In some cases, the instrumentals and lyrics seem to tell two different stories at once, with the instrumentals acting as a backdrop to the emotional journey conveyed through words.

“There’s a lot of storytelling you can do without lyrics,” Cam explains. “It’s almost spiritual how you can just get transported into a new world with just the sounds themselves.” This approach to the album allowed the band to experiment with the idea of creating a deeply atmospheric and textured record. Cam continued, “The lyrics are the character, and the music is the location that the character resides in.”

The band placed a heavy emphasis on balancing intimate vocal performances with astral soundscapes, resulting in a dreamy, cinematic auditory experience. “We loved the idea of a really intimate up-close vocal performance. It’s just one person telling you this story. And then being surrounded by all these ethereal sounds,” Drew explained. 

Crafting Cosmic Stories

For Sunhills, the process of creating “Planetarium” was not just about producing individual songs but crafting a cohesive narrative through the entire album. “We love the craft of recorded music,” Drew shared. “We love the stories that you can tell as a completed work and the fact that when you put certain songs together, it changes the context of each and makes them stronger together.”

This attention to the way songs interact with one another played a pivotal role in shaping “Planetarium.” “Well shit, this just sounds like we’re making a space rock record,” Cam said, reflecting on the organic development of the album’s thematic and sonic direction. The result is a seamless blend of intimate storytelling and expansive, celestial soundscapes that transports listeners to an entirely different universe.

And with tracks like “Star Tipping” and “Less and Less,” where lush synths and reverb-drenched guitars swirl around intimate vocal performances, the listener is given the space to experience their own emotions alongside those of the band.

Cocopalooza X Sunhills

The release of “Planetarium” has been an exciting time for Sunhills, and they’re gearing up for their next live performance. On October 23, the band will be performing at SLC’s iconic Urban Lounge for Cocopalooza 2024!

But this isn’t just any concert—the upcoming show is also a fundraising event for the Harris-Walz 2024 presidential campaign and Equality Utah, an organization dedicated to advancing LGBTQ+ rights in the state. Sunhills is passionate about using their platform to support causes that are important to them, and they view this show as a way to give back to the community that has supported them from the beginning.

“It’s a get-out-to-vote event,” Drew shared. “They’re hosting a bunch of crazy stuff. There’s gonna be drag shows, DJ sets, and they’re going to do a raffle. And that’s a really cool thing to get to support and to do it by just dressing up in a costume and playing silly songs. Doesn’t get better than that! We have a rule with our band, with shows, where it’s like, if it’s not a hell yes, it’s a no. And this was just an immediate hell yes. It’s gonna be awesome.”

For Sunhills, this concert is an opportunity to help people, particularly through voter registration. Drew noted, “I just updated my voter registration, and that process can be super convoluted. So, helping everybody do that, especially for something as important as the Harris-Walz campaign, is really, really cool. To help in any way feels really special. I’m really glad they asked us.”

For 21+ fans of the band, this show promises to be a must-see event. Not only will they get the chance to experience “Planetarium” live, they’ll also be able to connect with the band in an intimate setting and contribute to an important cause.

Not 21? Don’t fret! You’ll have another chance to experience Sunhills live at Kilby Court on November 8!  Sunhills is known for their immersive live performances, and with “Planetarium,” they’ll be taking that to a whole new level. These shows are sure to be filled with some of the best music that SLC offers.

Tickets!

Find October 23 Cocopalooza tickets here.

Kilby Court November 8 tickets can be found here.

Be sure to check out Sunhills Instagram @sunhillsband to stay in the loop on their space odyssey!