Emerging Virginia-based singer-songwriter and producer Sunstoney caught our attention sometime last year with the self-empowering anthem titled "Crown". Now with a new focus, Sunstoney returns with a brand new project titled 2079 which sees her shifting away from lo-fi R&B into a more dreamy psych-pop sound. Helmed by her longtime producer Owen Martin and a team of musicians ranging from drummer Jaylon McCall and Jono Stewart, horns by Sebastian Ford and Graham Robertson, Bassist Jayk Cherry and additional production by Ohbliv and Sunstoney herself.
The project starts off with the upbeat record "RIDE" which sets the tone with its psychedelic sound and rousing drums that blend perfectly with Sunstoney's commanding and sultry vocal runs. This is followed by "GONE" which continues the theme with a more laidback vibe. The production is cinematic and uses lots of layering with pulsating synths, moody textures and atmospheric textures all underpinned by crunchy drums. Sunstoney sounds more than comfortable here and delivers a chilled melodic performance that switches energy in the chorus section. On the Ohbliv-produced title track "2079", the project really ramps up the experimental approach with the spacey-vocal effects that pile up subtle reverberations and a healthy dose of delays that makes her vocals rich and hypnotic. The project closes out with "FREE" and "HOME". The former has a soulful aesthetic while the latter is more ethereal and dreamy in more ways than one.
Other stand-out tracks include "POOL" and "TRIP" which showcase her expressive songwriting style that explores self-love and being confident in one's skin regardless of societal pressures.
Connect with Sunstoney: SoundCloud | Twitter | Instagram
