Sundara Karma Circle Back to their Roots on “Friends of Mine”
It brings me great pleasure to announce that Sundara Karma has returned to the airwaves.
Those familiar with the British rockers know the band’s most consistent trait is the reinvention of their sound and penchant for creative risks (to high payoff, I might add). But just as their namesake so poetically suggests, they’re coming back around with a familiar sound, with added intro and retrospection in the six years since their debut.
Their new single, “Friends of Mine” harkens back to the record that solidified their status as an indie rock powerhouse. Their freshman record, Is Youth Only Ever Fun In Retrospect? (2017), seamlessly wove together the rock-infused-power-pop elements of The Kooks and bittersweetness of The Smiths, centering lyrically on blossoming romances, heartbreak, and other coming-of-age trials and tribulations. The record gained a following that continued only to grow upward and outward, peaking in the Top 25 on the UK alternative charts and earning a spot on Gigwise’s Best 51 Albums of 2017 list.
“Friends of Mine” bursts forth with sparkling guitar riffs courtesy of Ally Baty, backed by Haydn Evans’ energetic drumming and topped off by lead singer/songwriter Oscar Pollock’s dazzling vocals. Lyrically, the song is a love letter to friendships that have stood the test of time, which makes it feel like the sequel single to their first record. It captures the same euphoric and youthful energy of their debut, but a maturation creatively and lyrically, creating an element of nostalgia that pays homage to, but not copies, the record.
Each element of the song feels creatively in sync, cohesive and fresh, and the release has only increased my anticipation for their forthcoming album, which will be their first full-length release since Ulfilas’ Alphabet (2019).
Pollock said of the release:
“We had a lot of fun making this album, and ‘Friends of Mine’ is just a taste of what’s to come.” It’s an ode to friendship and sounds reminiscent of what we were doing on our first album. We can’t wait for our fans to experience the full album and see us play these new songs live!”
LISTEN to ‘Friends of Mine’ HERE:
LISTEN to Is Youth Only Ever Fun In Retrospect? HERE:
