Sun Kin - "I Wanna Believe"

The Summer of 2022 feels an awful lot like the Summer of 1970. Well, at least when it comes to my personal listening preferences. I’m coming across a lot of great new releases that wouldn’t sound out of place on the Beach Boys’ Sunflower, Todd Rundgren’s Runt, or Harry Nilsson’s Nilsson Sings Newman - three great records that all saw the bright light of day 52 years ago. Michael Rault’s latest effort is a recent favorite that fits squarely into this mold, as is “Madison,” the latest from Los Angeles’ Drugdealer. Sun Kin’s brand new song, “I Wanna Believe,” sits comfortably in the harmonic company of these tunes, drawing influence from the easy listening of early 70s soft rock and excelling in the process. 

Even the title, “I Wanna Believe,” screams 70s AM radio gold, but beyond that, Sun Kin works in all of the appropriate bells and whistles to perfectly embody this vintage sound. The keys that kick off the track are effortlessly bouncy, the production is glossy and pristine throughout, and Kumar even mixes a perfectly timed guitar riff that’s effective, but doesn’t detract from the song’s other key features. Most critically, Kumar’s vocals check all the necessary boxes. The harmonies are saccharine and he mixes in just the right amount of call and response interplay (with himself, may I add) to capture that Brian-Carl dynamic. Plus, the lyrics focus on the fickleness and complexities of love. It’s a nice slice of the 70s in a 2022 package.

Stream the track below.

You can purchase “I Wanna Believe” on Bandcamp or stream it via Spotify. Keep up with Sun Kin by liking them on Facebook and following them on Instagram!