New Music: Sungaze – Rice Crispies

Cincinnati, Ohio based outfit Sungaze are in the middle of a series of American live dates, and Rice Crispies is certain to be one of many set highlights.

Like previous singles such as Feel Better Tomorrow, it references real-life experiences and builds on them in the lyrics to outline personal growth as well as comment on wider concerns.

Sungaze base their sound in shoegaze here, though Rice Crispies feels less rooted in contemplation and more in escape – whether you want to get lost in the music or something else, the options lie before you.

The vocals of Ivory Snow and Ian Hilvert initially seem in sympathy with each other, but as the cracks become ever clearer within the relationship at the heart of the song, so do the performances sound more distant from each other. It’s a clever construction and a devastating one.  

Shares Snow about Rice Crispies, “Addiction has been an indirect player on the periphery of my life since I was a kid. I have loved and lost many people who struggled greatly with it and for many years have harbored a quiet anger for what I feel it has cost me.”

“In my experience, people often seem to go one of two ways when they’ve been exposed to these themes in early life: they follow suit, or they never touch it. For the most part, I’ve tended toward the latter and, as a result, have sometimes had a hard time understanding and empathizing with those who have personally struggled.

“When I heard Ian’s instrumental for the first time, I was immediately reminded of how it felt to be small and helpless, watching as loved ones were pulled further and further down this path. Growing up, I didn’t understand what could drive someone to want to escape so badly. Now, having been around the block once or twice, I get it. Life can be really hard. Sometimes it’s easier to feel nothing.”

Rice Crispies and more music from Sungaze – including their 2024 self-titled album – can be heard on Bandcamp, Spotify, and SoundCloud. For further listening options and to learn more about upcoming live dates, head to the band’s Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok feeds.

Header photo by Kennedy Cottrell