ON OUR RADAR: WHEN THE SUN SETS
With their brand new EP dropping on Friday, here’s your chance to get to know When The Sun Sets!
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES!
We are When The Sun Sets, a pop-punk outfit from Chicago, IL & Nashville, TN made up of Zack Baumgartner (Vocals), Rob Hlavka (Bass), and Matthew Kleinman (Lead Guitar). Essentially we are three goofballs that want to make a difference in people’s lives through our music.
WHAT’S THE ORIGIN STORY OF YOUR BAND?
The band started when Zack was in High School struggling with mental health, and not knowing how to use his outlets. He knew there were others that felt this way, and hoped that through the creation of the band, that people would find hope when they needed it. The three of us all met at different times and when the perfect storm struck allowing us to work together, we knew we couldn’t turn it down. We’ve all been the ones in our projects with the most drive, and when paired together we really think we can begin to make an impact for people.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC TO A POTENTIAL LISTENER?
We are a hybrid just like your favorite vehicle. We blend elements of the nostalgic pop-punk that we grew up on in the 90s and 00s with modern day pop elements to bring all possible feelings into a listener. Our listeners typically also like: A Day To Remember, Neck Deep, The Home Team, State Champs, Real Friends, New Found Glory, and more.
YOUR LATEST SINGLE, ‘SEASONS;’, FEATURES THE HOME TEAM - HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT AND WHAT INSPIRED THE SONG?
We have been friends with Brian and the guys from The Home Team since they toured on their “Better Off” U.S. tour. We were blessed to have opened for them, and the relationship built from there until we were playing every Chicago show they were playing up until the pandemic. Hearing the progression of the band, we knew we wanted to continue the relationship and knew that ‘Seasons’ would be the perfect track for Brian to be on.
The song is about realizing that some love goes flat, and that sometimes it’s best to move on in life. Brian wrote his verse and blended it beautifully with the song, we truly couldn’t be more grateful for him and everything he does for the little guys in the scene.
YOU’RE RELEASING YOUR UPCOMING EP THIS FRIDAY. LET US KNOW WHAT FANS CAN EXPECT!
We’ve got the three singles that we released over the last year which include: ‘Seasons’, ‘Memory’, and ‘Complicated’. On top of that, we’re bringing two new songs to this EP that we are hoping will define this band. ‘Home Run’ is our personal favorite, and it is about how tough it can be in the music scene for relationships in bands. More often than not, pressure severs friendships, and this song highlights that.
The last track is titled ‘Dissonance’ which speaks heavily on anxiety and the effects on daily life that it has. Many people struggle to find the correct treatments and/or medications for themselves, and get discouraged for their long-term mental health. If we can inspire just one person to keep going on their path to recovery with this song, we will have done exactly what was sought out.
WHAT ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU? DO YOU USE YOUR MUSIC AND PLATFORM TO COMMUNICATE THESE?
Mental Health Awareness has been our number one priority as a band since forming in 2017. We aim to bring people together with our music, and give those a voice who feel they don’t have one. We can make community through music, and together we can all beat the rollercoaster that is mental health recovery. Every show we make sure to let people know that they aren’t alone and have resources through Hope For The Day at our merch table during all performances.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 3 ALBUMS AT THE MOMENT?
How To Lose A Girl In 7 Songs by Knox, Laurel Canyon by Calling All Captains, and God Save The Teen by MOD SUN.
WHAT’S ONE SONG YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE WRITTEN?
Hands down My Friends Over You by New Found Glory.
IF YOU COULD TOUR WITH ANYONE, WHO WOULD IT BE?
A Day To Remember is a bucket list band for us because they’ve been a staple in the scene since we all got into the genre. They are pioneers, and we have so much respect for them.
WHAT SHOULD YOUR FANS BE EXPECTING FROM YOUR BANND IN THE NEAR FUTURE OTHER THAN THE EP?
We are going to be releasing singles throughout the rest of the year rolling into a larger project that we’ve got planned. We are focused on growing ourselves throughout our home regions and building community there through our music and spreading awareness for mental health. From there we are aiming to bring it all over the country, and help anyone who is willing to listen.