Today, the Hudson Valley, NY based indie rock-folk band Setting Sun announce their self-produced sixth full-length studio album and first in ten years, The Feelings Cure due out May 19 via Young Love Records and available for pre-order now. Alongside the announcement, the band share brand new single “Feelings Cure” out everywhere now, along with an accompanying lyric video. Plus, join Setting Sun live in Woodstock, NY for their official album release show on May 18. Tickets are on sale now via settingsuntheband.com.Setting Sun, led by frontman and primary songwriter Gary Levitt, began in San Francisco where the band’s first release, holed up, was recorded in 2003. From there, Levitt moved to Los Angeles, then to Brooklyn, NY and now resides in the Hudson Valley of New York. After holed up came Math And Magic the following year and caught the attention of Pittsburgh City Paper who wrote “Isolation” from the album, “brought together the dramatic delivery with a set of lyrics spilling out with a poetic skill rarely heard in any style of music.” Four years later, Children of the Wild arrived, and PopMatters wrote the band’s third album is characterized by “delicate, hushed vocals and well-crafted pop songs.” In 2010, Setting Sun released Fantasurreal, and three years later came Be Here When You Get Here in 2013.Today, with the newest, most comprehensive body of work yet on the horizon, Setting Sun is ready to re-introduce themselves. In the band’s current iteration, alongside Levitt are long-time collaborators Lawrence Roper (keyboards, vocals) and Jonathan Hambright (drums) and John Burdick (bass/vocals).The forthcoming sixth studio album by Setting Sun, The Feelings Cure, was recorded like no other Setting Sun record––diligently. Explaining the creative process and creating the album while now being a father, Levitt says, “I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get in the creative zone with set times of having to turn creativity on and off like a switch. I used to write and record in creative blasts when I felt it come on like a wave or virus. Having kids forced me to write, record, and mix in the gaps of being a father and the maturity shows on this record.”Over ten rich tracks, Levitt turns inward to blend genres and juxtapose upbeat instrumentals and production with melancholic lyrics. Unafraid to take risks and allowing himself to create without reserve, the album chronicles Levitt further discovering himself and his artistry, culminating in the band’s most realized work to date.While producing the album, Levitt learned to listen to himself and how he was feeling to best use his time and play to his strengths. “I produced this record myself in my studio and enlisted friends to lay down some tracks like drums, harmonies, violins, etc. One trick I learned is to be aware of my mood. If I wasn’t feeling a creative wave, I’d then do some mixing. If I was in the creative zone, I’d sit and write and record a part to one of the songs.” The creative process became casual, free-flowing and unforced.Levitt says, “Most of the sounds you hear on this record were written and recorded simultaneously, so you’re getting the raw thing, not a reenactment of the moment it was written, this is the moment.”“Feelings Cure,” out today, aims to resist feelings of pain and sadness through music. Levitt says the track is about “denial and playing music and finding a cure for sadness or pain.” Written three months into the start of the pandemic, Levitt was forced to confront the reality of diving back into music, only this time, in quarantine with his wife and toddler which presented brand new challenges. Levitt adds, “It took a while to be able to turn on the creativity at will according to the clock, but I found it was actually possible. The limitations made me more productive. This song was one of the first I recorded for the new record and maybe it helped get out some of that frustration from being forced into a new life and future not made by my choice.”Watch “Feelings Cure” (Official Lyric Video)Setting Sun will celebrate the release of their first album in ten years album with a show at Colony in Woodstock, NY on May 18. The following month, on June 15, the band will perform at Riverside Concerts in Germantown, NY. Tickets are available now via settingsuntheband.com.”Feelings Cure,” out everywhere now, fights feelings of pain and sadness with music. The Feelings Cure, the forthcoming sixth studio album by Setting Sun is due out May 19 available to pre-order now via Young Love Records. Join the band live for their official album release show in Woodstock, NY on May 18, and later, in Germantown, NY on June 15. Tickets are on sale now here. CDs are available for purchase here, and connect with Setting Sun on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube to stay up-to-date for much more from the rising band.
1. “What’s a common myth about Independent Artists and can you debunk it?”
Hmm. A common myth is that you can be a successful independent artist without having a slew of other skills besides writing and performing music. You’ve gotta know what you’re in for. You’ve gotta keep up on all the social media platforms or have someone do it for you, which is not very independent, is it? You’ve gotta learn to be creative outside of music if you want anyone to ever hear your tunes.
2. “What advice would you give to someone wanting to enter the music industry?”
It’s not for everyone. Are you sure? Why do you want people to hear your music? Maybe you’ll just be happy writing music at home and maybe even recording it for yourself and friends?
3. “Are there any resources or even advice that have really helped you on your journey?”
Find people who are where you want to be and ask how they got there.
4. “What has been your biggest accomplishment in your career thus far?”
For me it’s the songwriting. That’s my favorite part. Being able to write a song that resonates with people and helps them in some way is the best. I’ve had people tell me a song got them through a breakup and they’d listen to it to ease their heartbreak, or even make them feel the feeling more so the emotion moved through them faster. That’s a big accomplishment for me.
Another one that popped into my mind was playing in Pescara, Italy to a packed house and kicking into No Devil me no More (from Children of the Wild) and the crowd started singing along. I never had that happen before. Being onstage and seeing everyone singing, my mind went to my little room in NY where I wrote the lyrics and I was awestruck at how those words made it all the way to this little city by the beach in Italy. It made me smile so big I had to turn my back for a second and get my grips.
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5. “What do you wish you had known when you started out?”
I’m glad I knew nothing. If I had known all it takes to get somewhere in music I don’t think I would’ve bothered to even write a song. I would’ve missed out on all the creative fulfillment and life adventures it’s given me. They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, but if I knew what the journey entailed and looked at all the steps ahead, it would paralyze me. I’d probably just go back to bed.
6. “What led you to becoming a singer-songwriter?”
Haha, this is kind of a funny story. I had a band in college where I was just the guitarist who helped write parts to songs. We had a tour booked going across the country because we were all moving from NY to San Francisco. Days before leaving, the singer disappeared. He snuck into our house and took his gear in the middle of the night and we didn’t see him until several years later. We had to do the tour because it was paying our way to SF. It was brutal. I had 2 days to learn how to play my guitar parts and sing simultaneously. I think that tour was very, very not good. It was rough, but at least it got me singing.
7. “What do you think is your unique skill(s) that has helped you become successful?”
I wouldn’t say I’m successful in the mainstream sense, I would say I’m successful in the creative sense. I think what sets my songs apart are their sonic dichotomy; Driving rhythms with melancholy lyrics and a joyous sound. Mixing synthesizer and sonic experimentalism with acoustic sounds inside traditional pop structured songs with catchy melodies. I write what I want to hear. Hopefully other people want to hear that too.
8. “How was your journey to what you do now?”
It’s still happening! I’m not big on nostalgia because I find it can hinder the present and future. It’s great to learn from your past, but I’m big on constantly reinventing myself, or at least I try to be.
9. “How did this project begin?”
Setting Sun began because I wanted a project to never fall apart. I had been in bands that broke up and left me with nothing but parts I wrote that make no sense on their own. I decided Setting Sun would be my songs and a rotating cast of talented musician friends that are welcome to stay or go.
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10. “What makes this project different from “past projects?”
The music sounds like it’s coming from one person, though I do have collaborators. In past projects with proper bands we’d all write together democratically. It takes a lot longer to write a song, but we made music I never would have written on my own. I would’ve never thought of the things we came up with. The synergy of a group of people creating together is usually totally unique.
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11. “What’s the inspiration behind this project?”
As an artist I feel like my job is to find inspiration. Inspiration comes and goes, and when I don’t have any I’ll go search out new music, take a walk, call a friend, try to do something to get some stimulation to put my mind back in an inspired state to create.
12. “What word or phrase would you use to describe this project?”
Catchy!
13. “How can listeners get in touch with or support you?”
Contact us at our website http://www.settingsuntheband.com or buy our music at https://settingsun.bandcamp.com
14. “What is coming up for you in the near future?”
I’ve gotta bring my daughter to school and change my son’s diaper. We’ve also got our record release show May 18th in Woodstock, NY. There are some new songs in the works, too, for another record.
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15. “Many people believe that becoming a musical artist is challenging to the point it becomes overwhelming and too much to handle. Why do you think people believe that?”
Because it’s not for everyone. You kind of either have to have a huge ego that drives you, or be humble and know that you’re just another person writing music. Some people will like your songs and some won’t. You can’t let it get to you. There’s no such thing as perfect when it comes to art.
16. “What’s the most common reason for people failing or giving up?”
Hmm. Maybe ego, lack of money, or not being able to hold a band together?
17. “What is your favorite word?”
Yes!
18. “What are you not very good at?”
Following written directions. Whenever I have to assemble a piece of furniture I just look at the picture and try to build it with the parts. Thank goodness my wife Abby is good at reading directions. We make a good team if you need some furniture assembled.
19. “If you could have one superpower, what would it be?”
I would love to fly through space and time, to have wings and fly through the air, but I would also love to be able to fly through time as well. I’d fly from NY now and land in 1970’s Laurel Canyon in California to sing some songs with Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. It would be too much fun!
20. “If you were a type of food, what type of food would you be?”
A burrito because I’ve eaten so many burritos.
21. “If you could switch lives with someone for a day, who would you choose?”
My daughter because I would love to see the world through her 3 year old eyes.