Exclusive Premiere: Hot As Sun’s addictively rhythmic funk track “It Was Bananas”

A rebellious mashup of genres, the eclectic new single “It Was Bananas” by Hot As Sun features contagious hooks and a raw, dance-punk sound. With Justin Meldal-Johnsen (Beck, St. Vincent, Nine Inch Nails) on bass, the new single was inspired by equally funky artists and their collections. The song’s core ideas, especially, stem from inspiration from the works of West-African band T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, Rachel Yoder’s book, “NightBitch”, and the collection of memories the band shares of past summers.

The funky track in and of itself is perfectly unique and confident, an ode to a culture of coolness and carefreeness, with all their percussive steps and rhythmic dances. “It Was Bananas” is framed by singer Jamie Jackson and Deborah Stoll recounting a story of a meetup at a bar, cheekily chirping “you had to be there” throughout to poke fun at a friend’s absence.

ComposerJackson and writer Stoll started their band Hot As Sun in 2010 with the release of an independently produced EP. The project, composed of four eclectic songs, instantly grabbed the attention of critics from the likes of Billboard and KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic. Named one of Buzzbands’ “LA Bands to Watch” in 2013, they released their debut album a few years later, Night Time Sound Desire, finding big gigs following the release, soon opening for indie bands Foster the People and Phantogram.

With the help of Seth Kauffman (Lana Del Rey, Ray La Montagne), Jackson recorded the group’s “Little Friend” EP in her basement while pregnant. Reviews released soon after found Hot As Sun “firing on all cylinders creatively, with its new wave flavored synths, reverb-tinged drums, and sultry vocals.” And now, six years later, the Hot As Sun duo are back for more. Check them out on their website for more and listen to their latest electric genre-mashup “It Was Bananas” below or on your favorite streaming platform!

Camryn Teder Subscriber

Camryn is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and is currently a music journalism intern with Glasse Factory. She has written for many popular online publications, particularly in the fields of music and other arts, and is honored to be a part of this team of collaborators at Glasse Factory. Connect with her on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/camryn-teder-679061210/