We spoke with Sunstinger about “Something Strange” and more!

Hi! “Something Strange” feels like a deeply personal track. Can you talk us through the emotional journey behind it?

A: I originally set out to write something a bit more upbeat—but when I started writing the lyrics, I just let the words fall onto the page, almost randomly, until they began to make some sort of sense. It was a bit like that scene in The Sixth Sense—where the kid draws without thinking and all this dark stuff starts pouring out. I wanted to see what would surface. Something Strange was the result.
I’m still trying to figure out what it fully means for me. But yeah, it’s definitely introverted and dark. Something subconscious, creeping in.

There’s a striking line: “Lost within the something strange.” How did that lyric come about and what does it mean to you personally?

A: I actually had the title before the lyric. I wanted something with a strange name, and Something Strange just stuck as the working title—eventually, I realised it was already strange enough.
That lyric is about being consumed by something you don’t fully understand. A feeling, a moment, a space you can’t navigate or name.

The track is sonically massive, with layers of reverb and tension. How did you approach the production process to match the lyrical intensity?

A: We recorded this track—along with a batch of others—with a new producer for the first time: Bruce Rintoul. Working with him has felt like a fresh slate.
We always write the music first, and I add the lyrics last. That’s why you can’t really play any Sunstinger songs acoustic or stripped back—everything starts from the noise. Without that wall of sound, it just wouldn’t be Sunstinger.

How do you balance aggression and vulnerability in your music without tipping too far in either direction?

A: Great question. Dave usually writes the music, and then I come in with the lyrics and vocal melodies. My melodies don’t always match the aggression in the guitars, but that clash creates a tension that works—like a middle ground between chaos and fragility.
We first explored that balance on Worthless, and it’s something we’ve been building on ever since.

Shoegaze has seen a major resurgence. How do you see Sunstinger fitting into or standing apart from that movement?

A: Yeah, I guess it has. Even here in Scotland, while it’s not as big as in the States or parts of Europe, I do think we’re part of that revival in our own way. We’re adding our voice to the noise, especially in the Scottish scene.

You’ve been compared to bands like Slowdive and Nothing. Are those conscious influences or has your sound evolved more organically?

A: Not consciously, no—but we do like those bands, along with many others. Slowdive are classic shoegaze, but I don’t think we sound like them—at least not at this stage.
Nothing are more in the post-shoegaze realm—heavier, more modern—and I think there’s a closer connection there. They’re one of the few shoegaze bands today that really hit that raw intensity. We share that heaviness.

Following your EP Worthless, what does Something Strange represent in terms of artistic progression?

A: All our tracks seem to orbit similar themes. I’ve come to realise that this is just the way I write. It’s like how some filmmakers always come back to horror—there’s a gravity to it.
I don’t really see the point in forcing joy into songs when that’s not where my creative mind naturally goes. I’m more comfortable in the nihilistic space. I don’t know how long I can get away with writing the same kind of stuff, but for now, I’m quite content to selfishly keep going—until there’s nothing left to say.

You’re playing at Doune the Rabbit Hole and Gazefest this summer. How do your live performances bring your dense soundscapes to life on stage?

A: Our live set is probably even more intense than the recordings. When we’re in the studio, we’re always chasing that same live energy.
Having three guitarists definitely helps build that wall of sound. It’s loud. It’s immersive. Expect intensity—no half measures.

Mental collapse, detachment, identity—these are heavy themes. Is writing about them cathartic, or more of a confrontation for you?

A: A bit of both. It feels like a confrontation while I’m still writing or recording—like I’m wrestling something internal. But once the track’s released, it doesn’t really feel like it belongs to me anymore.
The catharsis comes during the live shows. And eventually, when we’ve played the song enough, the emotion fades. That’s when I know it’s done. Whatever feeling I had… it’s gone.

With Something Strange out now, what’s next for Sunstinger? Another release, a tour, or something completely unexpected?

A: It’s been a pretty quiet year for us until now. We’ve mostly been working in the background, writing new material.
The plan is to release a new EP at the end of the year—we’re still in the middle of recording it. At the moment, we’ve got around seven demos and two tracks already recorded and mastered. So yeah, more to come.