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London-based musician and producer David Zbirka, the driving force behind sunnbrella, has returned with their latest project, Gutter Angel. Following the dreamy, shoegaze aesthetic of 2023 debut, Heartworn, Gutter Angel makes a noticeable turn into darker, almost gothic territory. Flipping their distinctive futuristic sound, this 12-track project is an intense, brash expression of love, identity and self-destruction, with driving influences of hyperpop, industrial and rave music. In a world where a second album can feel predictable, sunnbrella rises to the occasion, releasing a body of work that is an undeniable wild ride through their sound, and an exciting glimpse of what’s on the horizon. 

“omnimori” is a vulnerable shift in the project’s tone. The track is an honest look at heartbreak, worn right on its sleeve. As sunnbrella (David Zbirka) puts it, “It’s a bit of a sonic collage—it ties together the sounds and influences that run throughout the record. Lyrically, it’s essentially a break-up song, which is funny given I haven’t gone through one in years. But heartbreak—real or imagined—is always a well to draw from.” Fluidly fusing surreal, hazy guitars that complement some ethereal harmonies (guest vocals Claire Peng) “omnimori” transforms from a lovelorn ballad into a full-on dancehall track, showcasing the range of sounds sunnbrella experimented with on the album, all while keeping their signature futuristic edge. 

“nothing forever” explodes with a euphoric burst of energy, a rush of pulsating, gritty bass and trance-inducing synths that immediately captivates listeners. The titular lyrics are a captivating hook, and the track is a refreshing homage to 2000s underground electronica and shoegaze, “nothing forever” is an intoxicating celebration of self-destruction and love, marrying the repellent themes with a hypnotic, spellbinding rhythm. 

As Zbirka himself describes, “The song is about the tension—between beauty and decay, connection and detachment,” sunnbrella explains. “I always try to marry the ugly with the beautiful in my music, and ideally make it danceable as well. What better way to do that than to set it all to a four-to-the-floor kick?” Hitting just shy of three minutes, the track is a vibrant push and pull, and is a see-saw teetering between cynicism and romance. 

Gutter Angel is an exciting next step for sunnbrella. The sophomore release confidently blends shoegaze, hyperpop, industrial and rave music into a captivating and fresh sound, leaving us eager to see where sunnbrella takes their sound next. 

Listen to Gutter Angel below: