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)—recently announced their long-awaited new album, Headful of Sugar. The band previewed the record with “Baby Don’t Cry” and lead single “Who Put You Up to This?” The next single, “Roll The Dice,” a song featuring Cumming and Kivlen singing in unison, and culminating with careening feedback and a spry piano part crash through a static wall of sound. An indictment of the so-called American Dream, “Roll The Dice” was written about how many young adults now need side-hustles to secure their futures.

The band explains, “Almost everyone we know struggles with money. The traditional routes towards success and stability in America have severely narrowed. The only way to get ahead is to take big risks and roll the dice.” The video for “Roll The Dice” sees Sunflower Bean continue on the cinematic journey that began with “Who Put You Up To This?”

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’sKing 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.