Sun June - 'Mixed Bag'
Sun June have given us a sneak peek of their upcoming album with the release of their dusty, laid-back single, “Mixed Bag.”
Much can be expected of the Austin-based band's album Bad Dream Jaguar, out on 20th October via Run For Cover Records, with the nostalgic scene they have set. Lead vocalist Laura Colwell’s breathy, soothing vocals and lovely acoustic guitar are accompanied by lush bass notes and barely noticeable drums, adding just enough stability to such a weightless song, with the occasional piano chords chiming in. Merging country with pop and indie, Sun June have described their new single as ‘Petty-esque,’ akin to “putting on a cowboy hat and sitting in your bedroom alone, or getting all dressed up in glitter and just staying home,” says Inside Out (2023). Their music video features heavy southwestern American scenery: horses, cattle, and rural farms, to name a few, aesthetically mixing with their genre blend.
“Mixed Bag” is about the reality of inevitable ‘stupid’ arguments in a relationship and doubting what the future holds for two people, particularly when it comes to long-distance. The topic was inspired by Sun June’s very own Laura Colwell and Stephen Salisbury’s relationship, mentioned in lines: “There was an east coast” and “There was a farm road.” The footage in their music video includes vast landscapes or, perhaps, distances, pointing toward being very far apart from a loved one. This pain and uncertainty of being hundreds of miles apart – or, in Colwell and Salisbury’s case, a whopping 1300 miles – are vocalised by lyrics like, “I know every single fight we’ve had/But I got what I want and it’s not enough,” or “There is a part of me that’s lying.” Sun June know how to relate to their audience, and that’s made clear in this song by the vulnerability depicted in Colwell’s voice. “Mixed Bag” will touch a soft spot in listeners. One may feel held and comforted by the lightness of this music. Its meaning is tinted with the hope or possibility of a relationship actually working out for both parties and also, the sadness of knowing you’re eventually going to have to go your separate ways. It’s a bittersweet sentiment. There’s a subtle playfulness to “Mixed Bag,” as well, which I personally really like.
This is a single perfect for long drives on an open road – much like the vast terrain of Texas – with the breeze blowing against your face. Perfect for your new road trip playlist or when you’re feeling a little down with relationship blues.
Words by Sydney Kaster
