Spearheading Niagara Falls, ON Trio Sunshine Express Push Spontaneity to the Max on “UNSHINE”

Experimentation is the soul of Sunshine Express, one of the most prolific bands to emerge from Niagara’s fast-growing alternative scene. MattUU (vocals & guitar), JassChau (sampler) and AidanR (bass) embody an unorthodox pioneering spirit with colourful songs, striking visuals and a dazzling, electronic approach to rock ‘n’ roll.

On “UNSHINE,” Sunshine Express’ audacious new single, the band further embraces their affinity for live recording, enlisting drummer Justin Dobbelsteyn to push spontaneity and experimentation to the max. Singer MattUU delivers dry-humour nihilism—first slow, then fast, then faster—with anthemic zeal. An icy, warped piano cuts through a turbulent rock instrumental—first frenetic, then dizzying, then kaleidoscopic.

1. What did you enjoy most about the recording process of this new release?

The goal of the band was always to carry forth the spirit of rock music. To me, that means being creative and authentic but also, importantly, getting involved with other people. You work with other people to push past your own limitations—your playing, taste, sensibilities. It’s a chance to be less calculated, less self-centered. You take part in creating something without knowing exactly where it’ll end up.

Our bassist’s recording studio is out in the country, and the extra space has granted us the ability to track live-off-the-floor as a group. We turn off the metronome. We don’t even set a BPM. We set up, hit record, and make the song happen, together, in real time. We also mic the room and capture the ambiance of the space, adding to the live feel.

Our live approach takes more work and invariably leads to imperfections. But in 2024—when most other music production is done in a cramped studio apartment, mixed on a laptop, snapped to a grid track, and quantized—it almost seems vital to record the way we do. Day-to-day life is already enough like an assembly line, so why make studio time like that, too? Music is a chance to get together and really feel alive.

Sometimes people talk about making music as “content” or a “product”, and I’m like, “Why even bother?” 

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2. Share a nugget of advice that has resonated with you most over the years.

 I think the best advice is just to get out there and do what you can. You can’t wait for the perfect circumstances. They’re not coming. Creativity requires taking what’s in front of you and making something special happen.

To that point, Jess, Aidan, and I haven’t had a consistent drummer for the better part of the last year. We’ve been lucky to work with some great players along the way, but to keep playing live, we’ve had to develop a whole other set with just the three of us.

You could call it a stripped down, electronic-acoustic setup. It’s forced us to really pay attention to what works and doesn’t with each song. We’ve incorporated new instruments because of it (hand percussion, a Kaoss pad, baritone guitar), and it’s opened up all kinds of weird performance opportunities: a super intimate gig in an arcade, an electronic night in Toronto.

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3. Who would be your dream artist/band to co-headline a tour with?

Right now, our local scene—Niagara’s alternative scene—is really dynamic. It’s got a unique style. It’s something approachable—not as competitive as a place like Toronto. High-energy music does well, but people also want to convene in spaces that are good for chilling out, hanging out.

Is there a big-name artist that would be cool to work with? Honestly, right now, it’s just more exciting to work with other artists in our scene.

In that context, Days on Parade is the big name, and we already work closely with them. There’s also Maggot Pizza, The Moonlight Circus, August Yours Truly, and others.

Where other scenes tend toward conformity, exploring a narrow range of genres or aesthetics, I’d say the soul of Niagara’s alternative scene is an earnest non-trendiness. We all write from the heart and have unique styles that are open to a range of influences.

To that end, we’ve helped put together a couple “Niagara Invasion” shows, where we venture off to another city, usually organized through our label Routine Exploits. It’s a great time and a great way to share this culture we’re all part of.

I’d love to go on a big tour with something like that.

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4. What sets your music apart from others in your genre?

Our music is informed by a desire to make something a bit beyond reality. It’s about a sense of escapism and adventure.

Life seems rather dull—pointless even—if you’ve already seen it all, done it all. That’s why I don’t get these rock revival trends: psych rock revival, garage surf, Americana neo-folk, or whatever. Why start by limiting yourself to what you’ve already seen or heard before? Isn’t that depressing?

I guess the idea is that—if we’re successful—we won’t just take people on an adventure through our music; our music will take us on an adventure, like, physically out of the house, out of the city, playing who-knows-where. That’s exciting.

I think that desire for escapism, the idea that there’s something new around the corner, comes through in what we do.

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5. Tell us what your favourite song is at the moment and why.

Matt – Our label mate halfdecentheart just put out his new ambient record, “a sampler of sorts”. I’ve been listening to that lately.

And for some reason, spring always finds me revisiting Led Zeppelin. It’s III and Houses of the Holy on sunny days, IV on gloomy days.

Aidan – My favourite song right now is When The Angels by Prefab Sprout because of its contrast between an upbeat feel vs the subject matter of the lyrics.

Jess – UK based artist and friend of the band, GOROX, recently released a great record and I’ve been listening to “the i in me” on repeat. It’s sincere, danceable, and sad but a little hopeful.

In the age of laptop mixes, algorithmic niches and lonely doom scrollers, S.EX is spearheading—and invites you to join—an alternative charge; venturing outside the box, fusing genres and championing the chaotic, communal spirit of rock ‘n’ roll.