New York trio Sunflower Bean—vocalist and bassist Julia Cumming (she/her), guitarist and vocalist Nick Kivlen (he/him), and drummer Olive Faber (she/they)—are gearing up to release their long-awaited new album, Headful of Sugar, next month. Following the previously released “Who Put You Up To This?,” “Baby Don’t Cry” and “Roll The Dice” is “I Don’t Have Control Sometimes,” out today. On the track Cumming revels in a period of recklessness and instability that brought her to the breaking point that made this new album such a force. But there’s no darkness to mine here “I Don’t Have Control Sometimes” is a jangly, bright pop song reminiscent of The Cure, confident in its refusal to be apologetic. “I don’t care what tomorrow thinks/ Today I’m totally mine,” Cumming sings, her scintillating vocals communicating a witticism and self-awareness that swallows any suffering beneath. 

“I’ve always thought that my reckless side was both a gift and a curse, leading me to my best choices on stage but my worst choices in life,” explains Cumming. “I don’t have control sometimes is the admission, acceptance, and almost celebration of the parts of yourself that are impulsive or maybe even insane.”

Sunflower Bean released their sophomore album Twentytwo in Blue in 2018, which skyrocketed to the UK’s Top 40, and quickly followed it with 2019’s King of the Dudes EP, which saw the band’s Triple A debut with “Come For Me.” Now, three years later, the band returns with their long-awaited third studio album. Headful of Sugar will be released on May 6 via Mom + Pop, and follows Sunflower Bean navigating the agony and ecstasy of contemporary American life. “Tomorrow is not promised, no tour is promised, no popularity is promised, no health or money is promised,” bassist/vocalist Julia Cumming says. “Why not make what you want to make on your own terms? Why not make a record that makes you want to dance? Why not make a record that makes you want to scream?” A psychedelic headrush designed to be played loud with the windows down, Headful of Sugar features songwriting collaborations with the likes of Shamir, Suzy Shinn and Jacob Portrait (who also produced, mixed and co-engineered the record with Faber).

Photo Courtesy: Driely S.