Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with The Sunset Kids

The musical chemistry between singer-guitarist Josh Palmer and songwriter Ellaya Zampieri is undeniable; from the moment that they sat down with their keyboard and guitar, everything clicked. There were no creative struggles or growing pains, and the pair is ready to take over the music industry. They recently made their label debut on 604 Records with the attention-grabbing single, “Fantasy”, and followed that success with the perfect pop summer anthem, “Ocean Clear”. We caught up with Josh and Ellaya, a.k.a The Sunset Kids, to chat about the new track.

PC: How did you both discover your passion for music?
Ellaya: Josh has always been in the music scene. Since he was a little kid, he played guitar and participated in jam sessions. I discovered I could compose music and write lyrics around the age of thirteen—it was honestly like a lightning strike out of nowhere. I have a piano and was taught how to play it classically for a year or so when I was six, but then didn’t touch it again until my teen years. I started to hear melodies in my head all the time and couldn’t separate myself from the piano anymore.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your careers?
Ellaya: It’s hard to answer this question. I think all of the music we’ve accumulated over the years has had a significant influence on what we’ve actually ended up writing. I vividly remember when we started the project, I wanted to do something like “A Real Hero” by Electric Youth: 80’s sound, vibe of sunshine and positivity—it really got me. I write a whole bunch of different styles of music, but for The Sunset Kids, I wanted this particular feel.

PC: Tell us about your new single, “Ocean Clear”. What inspired the track?
Ellaya: “Ocean Clear” is an exciting one and very personal for me. I was in love with my best friend and I didn’t know what to do about it. I had a mixture of feelings—I knew that he felt the same way about me and we both were scared to lose each other if anything went wrong. [laughs] So, nothing happened. That feeling gave me a song, and for that I am thankful. Now, this bittersweet memory is bottled forever in these lyrics and this melody, and hopefully, it can help someone else be braver.

PC: What is your creative process like when you’re working on a new song? Has it changed throughout the years?
Ellaya: I think maybe it should’ve changed throughout the years, but it hasn’t. It happens really fast; songs come up very quickly, with both the melody and the lyrics. Sometimes we are together in the studio, and in those moments, we can actually write and produce the song within eight hours or so. Sometimes when I complete it, we go to the production stage where we spend more time playing around with sounds and polishing the melody.

The best inspirational days have to be rainy. I brew my favorite peppermint tea, and I have this feeling that a new song is about to come. I go straight to the piano and let the magic begin. I have no idea how else to describe the process other than that it is magical and transcendent in a way.

PC: This is the second single that you all have released. Can we expect a larger body of work this year? Maybe an EP or album?
The Sunset Kids: “Ocean Clear” is our first single to go to radio in Canada, and we’re excited to release our full-length album, Volcano, to the world later this year!

PC: What does the rest of the year hold for you as we look ahead in 2019?
The Sunset Kids: We’re in the process of booking shows; some are already lined up and some are still coming in. We’re super excited to play at the Constellation Festival this summer, happening July 26th to 28th! We’re also planning to start recording more material soon!

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Josh: Star Trek: The Next Generation

Ellaya: House

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Josh: Easy A with Emma Stone

Ellaya: Interstellar…and yes, I’ll admit To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. [laughs]

PC: Favorite book?
Josh: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Ellaya: Otherworld by Jason Segel and Lolita by Nabokov

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Josh: La La Land

Ellaya: La La Land

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Josh: Kendrick Lamar

Ellaya: Eminem! I am crazy about him and his lyrics. There’s also Rammstein, a German heavy metal band…what can I say, I love them, too!

PC: First album you bought?
Josh: Small World by Huey Lewis & The News

Ellaya: The Best of Cranberries. They were booming for so many years and I was too small to even know. My older cousin got me hooked on them when I was eleven.

PC: First concert you attended?
Josh: My dad’s show! He played in a blues band called The Big City Rockers.

Ellaya: Ed Sheeran

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Josh: Grace by Jeff Buckley. It took my breath away.

Ellaya: That’s a tricky one…I have a song. It’s “Zombies” by The Cranberries…I was swamped by Dolores’ vocals and tried to imitate her style. Her voice owns my heart forever! Rest in peace, Dolores O’Riordan.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
The Sunset Kids: Rose Bowl Stadium in Los Angeles

To keep up with The Sunset Kids, follow them on Twitter and Instagram, and pick up “Ocean Clear” on Amazon Music, iTunes, or stream it on Spotify.