Animal Sun, the tight rock band with southern charm and west coast wishes, combines wistful pop rock vibes and elegance in the new track “Still Believe”. Expressing pleads of the heart and triumphant music beds, “Still Believe” is a catchy tune that showcases a band with a penchant for touching the heart and soul of its listener.
URL: https://www.animalsunofficial.net/
Formed in 2015 in Charlottesville, Virginia, by brothers Steven Blake (primary songwriter/vocalist/guitar) and William Alton (drummer), the name is derived from their late friend James Sun. The band is now comprised of Tyler DeCastro (keys, percussion) and Adam Gardner (bass). They are now based in Los Angeles, but Blake’s vocals still have a tiny twang trailing and the end of his words, further proof that you can leave home, but you always take a piece of it wherever life takes you.
When he sings, he sounds clear and emotionally driven. No more running/no more hiding / no more faking broken ties / and just before you leave / hold me like you still believe, Blake sings. He captures a tenderhearted journey, with bounds of percussion and ethereal orchestration underneath his words. A sunshine-y acoustic guitar, a bright set of piano keys, carry the weight off his shoulders. He’s still burdened, though, and Blake’s words are pouring from his soul. Humming along is easy, matching his devotion and presence is not. As the wide, cinematic music bed moves along, like a slow dance, his voice never ceases to amaze. He speaks to the listener in a way that is comforting and terrifying all-at-once. He’s experiencing pain and the glimmers of hope are bubbling up beneath him.
Your hands are cold / wrapped in my own / this time we’ve seen / has given me something to believe, Blake sings. Up until that line I thought this song was about a romantic relationship. I kept going back and forth if this was about someone who died, or someone that has passed away. At one point, it crossed my mind that it might be a Christian rock song. That’s the beauty of this song – it can be interpreted so many different ways. I really gravitate towards these type of songs and as much as I want to take it literally, it really depended on the time of day I listened. I felt different emotions each time, with the key strokes and percussion movements changing each time. The chorus, never changing its hook, got me on each listen.
The ballad “Still Believe” is a follow-up to the more caffeinated, synth-pop flavoring of “Without You” released earlier this month. Just as infectious and ear-candy -like, these tunes are proof of Animal Sun’s whit and one-of-a-kind style. I can totally see either of these songs blasting the airwaves. Regarding “Still Believe” it has moments of grandeur that just bleed to be heard in a romantic drama film or TV drama. It touches a lot of themes for people. Fans of Keane, Coldplay, The Killers and The Script will dig both these tunes, but “Still Believe” especially.
Troy Johnston