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SUMNER
release love-song-laden
electronic-pop
RETROGRADE EP
and kick off headline tour
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“Sumner with the rush of sound that’ll leave you feeling heightened and on top of the world. It’s only ever hits with this duo.” – triple j
“Sumner will have you feeling absolutely everything… transcending to new heights in a matter of moments. What an experience!” – Claire Mooney (triple j Assistant Music Director)
“A potential production powerhouse, one that enters the music scene fully formed, with some big ideas and the talent to back it up” – Pilerats
“Sumner have developed a keen grasp of brooding, addictive melody” – Mixdown Magazine
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Off the back of the success of recent dance-pop anthem ’Starlight’, Tasmanian electronic duo Sumner release their highly anticipated Retrograde EP, alongside it’s stunning focus track ‘Follow’, and kick off their debut headline tour the same day.
Sumner’s Retrograde EP is a perfectly unique and completely self-assured collection of songs, not only rare for such a young project – it’s precisely what makes them special. With their calming, dexterous production, rich acoustic sounds and honest lyrics, their songs have been compared to the likes of Frank Ocean, Lorde, Booseeka, Running Touch and SAFIA and with anthemic songs like ‘Starlight’, ‘Follow’ and ‘Stranded’, it’s no wonder they’ve made such an impression on fans and industry alike.
Sumner’s Chloe and Jack expand on their experience writing the EP, saying “Written across Melbourne, Sydney and our home in lutruwita / Tasmania, creating this Retrograde EP was an exciting collaborative process we shared with Lachlan Bostock of Mansionair, エミエミ (emi emi) and many incredible musician friends. Creating this genre-fluid body of work together was an exploration of the various sounds and styles we have within us. It is a collection of songs exploring love in its many forms and the passion that love brings to all areas of life. Love makes life worth living, whether that be a person, place or dream, or a moment we all experience together at a live show. It’s going back to basics, back to the essence of Sumner. Sometimes to go back is to go forward. This is what Retrograde is about for us.”
Staying true to the theme of the first two songs from Sumner’s Retrograde EP, ‘Half Myself Without You’ and ‘Starlight’, the third single from the EP, ‘Follow’, is another uplifting dance-pop love song, but this time capturing the bittersweet tension of love unspoken.
The duo explain “This song is all about the feeling of having no idea how to confess to someone that you’re absolutely crazy about them, being head over heels for someone but not knowing how to tell them. Our friend エミエミ (emi emi) features on this track, delivering a spoken word verse that serves as a response to the track’s yearning call.”
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Hailing from the native woodlands of lutruwita country (Launceston, Tasmania), Sumner’s Chloe Wilson and Jack McLaine explore themes of power, intimacy and isolation with earnest and unique perspectives from the cold climate and environment they grew up in.
Sumner caught the attention of the music world in 2018, releasing their debut EP ‘All That I Am’, with subsequent singles ‘Pictures’, ‘45 Roses’ and ‘Put It Out’ receiving airplay on triple j and triple j Unearthed. Shortly after, Sumner were awarded the Josh Pyke Partnership Grant and selected to showcase at both BIGSOUND and EMC.
An intense period of hibernation, reflection and creative expansion followed which allowed the project to grow. This resulted in their 2021 single ‘Stranded’, co-written and produced by Nick Littlemore and Peter Mayes (PNAU, Empire of the Sun). The incredibly striking music video for ‘Stranded’ was filmed on the west coast of lutruwita / Tasmania on a disused airport base beneath looming mountain ranges, as the sun set and their stunning sounds reverberated across the empty airstrip. Receiving full airplay on triple j and setting the tone for the next stage of Sumner, ‘Stranded’ was the first in a string of singles co-written and produced by PNAU, including ‘South’, ‘Good Light’ and ‘Desire’, all released on Lab78, a label founded by PNAU and etcetc.
More recently, Sumner’s electronic-pop anthem ‘Starlight’ has been championed by everyone from triple j and triple j Unearthed to JOY FM, iHeartRadio and The Hot Hits nationally on the Hit Network, as well as appearing widely on playlists across Spotify, Apple Music and TikTok. Once again the accompanying music video for ‘Starlight’ showcases the gorgeous landscapes of their home state of Tasmania, from the wilderness to rugged terrain and snow-capped mountains, perfectly encapsulating the essence of the song and its vast, lush soundscapes, earning it Rage’s coveted Feature Video the week of release.
Having racked up over 8.5 million streams on Spotify, Sumner have toured and collaborated with Holy Holy on their song ‘Ready’, played a massive national tour with Empire of the Sun, supported PNAU, Boo Seeka, Vera Blue, Montaigne and Slowly Slowly, as well as performed at festivals like Falls, Party In The Paddock, Portside Festival and Great Escape Festival (TAS).
Now, to celebrate the release of their much-anticipated EP, Retrograde, Sumner will head out on their first ever headline tour in Australia, to play new songs like ‘Starlight’ and ‘Follow’ along with much-loved hits like ‘Stranded’. With their signature blend of intricate electronic production, heartfelt song writing and raw live energy, Sumner are set to captivate audiences in an intimate and unforgettable series of performances in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart and Launceston.
Get to know Sumner via triple j’s documentary, which goes deep on the band’s history, from meeting over Soundcloud and living remotely in the Tasmanian wilderness, to naming the band after Chloe’s middle name, being discovered by PNAU and how the band came together to manage Chloe’s recent epilepsy diagnosis to bring you the electric live performances they’ve become famous for. Then get pumped up as they play you a very special DJ set for the triple j Friday Mix.
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Fri 14 Feb – Oxford Art Factory, Gallery Bar, Sydney – Buy Tickets
Sun 16 Feb – Fairday, Sydney NSW – FREE
Fri, 21 Feb – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane – Buy Tickets
Fri 28 Feb – Bergy Bandroom, Melbourne – Buy Tickets
Fri, 14 Mar – ALTAR, Hobart – Buy Tickets
Sat 15 Mar – Du Cane Brewery, Launceston – Buy Tickets
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SUMNER’S ‘RETROGRADE’ EP IS OUT FRI 14 FEB VIA ETCETC
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SUMNER
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AMNPLIFY – DB
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Why start a music environment? The truth is I love music, I love writing, and I love life. I work with musicians every day, and I feel certain that I will be until they put me in the ground. I have been managing people in businesses of some sort for over thirty five years so along the way I have developed some “wisdom” from my regular and constant “observations”.
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Hope you enjoy yourself here and find something that hits you somewhere.