It’s not yet been a year since the release of their debut EP, but now Sunship Balloon have shared the first single from their upcoming full-length record.
Formed in 2019, Sunship Balloon is the product of Tord Øverland Knudsen and Dan Haggis, better known as two-thirds of English indie-rock outfit (and honorary Australians) The Wombats. Sharing their Intergalactic Teacup Travel Centre EP, it was clear that the sound offered by the duo was different to their main group, but just as powerful and mesmerising as ever.
Now, the pair have shared “A4 Life” as the first single from their newly-announced debut album.
Titled Everywhen, the record is set for release on September 18th, with John Congleton (Angel Olsen, St. Vincent, Bombay Bicycle Club) on mixing duties. Its lead single serves as a perfect taster of what to expect, with Sunship Balloon’s psychedelic alt-pop sensibilities on full display throughout the four-minute cut.
“‘A4 Life’ came from the Norwegian phrase ‘Et A4 liv’ that Tord said in the studio once describing that ‘Happy (or indeed Unhappy) Groundhog Day’ feeling we all get after being in a long relationship or seeing the same bad news on the TV year after year,” Haggis explained of the track.
“I loved the imagery of a huge stack of A4 paper representing every day feeling identical and started writing around that idea. I thought about the phrase and wondered whether we are destined to repeat mistakes and continuously fall into the same traps.
“People often think changing their partners or moving to a new city will fix their boredom or sadness and while it can help distract for a little while, eventually you end up back in a similar place and the cycle recommences. It’s about accepting that a lot of our problems are actually in our own heads.”
Of course, Haggis and Knudsen aren’t the only members of The Wombats focusing on music seperate from the group, with Matthew Murphy recently releasing the debut album from his Love Fame Tragedy project.
Sunship Balloon’s “A4 Life” is out now, while the pair’s debut album, Everywhen, is set for release on September 18th.
