Three-piece indie band Sunset Habits brought their eclectic sound to The Fiddler’s Elbow in Camden on Saturday 5 October.
The group player their set list of hit songs, as well as a cover of Lucy Pearl’s Don’t Mess With My Man.
The three-piece ensemble consists of guitarist Benno Baker, 24, drummer and singer Margarida Bartalotti Roxo, 22, and bassist Jason Kofe, 23.
Up until around two months ago, the band were a four-piece, with a split ratio of two male and two female band members, but the band are continuing to make strides as a trio.
Sunset Habit’s unique sound can be described as a fusion of pop, indie, rock and soul.
It’s multi-faceted, eccentric and edgy, and its avant-garde appeal pushes boundaries as it transcends into territory that was previously left untouched, boldly melding different musical styles into a multi-genre cocktail.
On the night, the band performed their full repertoire of singles but their hit song, I Want My Own Wikipedia Page, is a fan-favourite and crowd-pleaser noted for its realistic depiction of external validation in a social media fuelled age.
The song boldly addresses the inextricable link between external validation and self-esteem.
Kofe, dubbed ‘the organised one’ within the group, speaks of the importance of maintaining an individual identity, shedding light on how to incorporate this in the context of a group collective.
He said: “There is so much individuality and personality among each member, despite the ‘clustered’ stereotype associated with bands that can sometimes work to suppress that all-important sense of individuality.”
“That doesn’t exist in our case which gives rise to some interesting group dynamics but despite the emphasis on the individual, we all get along like a house on fire, and when we come together its pure magic.”
The band formed at university and have remained together ever since.
Baker said: “We were just a bunch of university pals enrolled onto creative courses at the University of West London [graduating in 2023].
“Jason and I were both on the performance and recording undergraduate course whilst Margarida was on the undergraduate acting course.
“For our assessed practical coursework, it was a group performance, however, the rigid requirements of the course stifled creative expression as we were judged to a tick-box format which doesn’t necessarily take into account the subjectivity of the arts.
“It was this, as well as working with people in your cohort who you don’t necessarily get on or agree with meant that we felt that ,even after our formal assessment, there was a lot of unfinished business and untapped potential.
“Jason and I were performing in separate groups so we’d seen each other perform but hadn’t yet performed together.
“We’d already befriended Margarida as we’d see her on campus and on student-nights.
“Her [Margarida] angelic vocals were that final piece of the puzzle needed to create something special and this was the start of Sunset Habits.”
Hungry to see what they could achieve in a more ideal scenario, they decided to form their very own music ensemble.
The graduate job market is beyond oversubscribed and the music industry is equally saturated, but this band are determined to pull out all stops to ultimately become successful.
By day, the respective band members work a number of varied jobs ranging from job coaches, guitar teachers, baristas, supply teachers to breakfast and after-school club activities leader.
By night, this facade of normalcy evaporates and is transposed by packed gigs and venues, not to mention plenty of rehearsals and 5am starts in between, akin to the double life of Hannah Montana and the Best of Both Worlds.
The talented trio seek to go far in the music industry and are hungry to succeed. Perhaps the band’s biggest cheerleader is Laura Geere, 22 , who has assumed the role of mother hen and manager.
Kofe said: “Laura goes to every performance and event, full of energy and enthusiasm.”
Geere is also the ex-girlfriend of band member Baker.
The former flame turned diehard fan has her own take on the band’s musical sound and virtuosity.
Geere said: “Adrenaline-pumping: the atmosphere is electric but at the same time mellow and chill.
“They all work really well together as they pull from each other’s different sounds.
“It’s pure vibes.”
Follow Sunset Habits on Instagram, and TikTok.
Picture credits: Laura Geere
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