Get to know: Pocket Sun

Pocket Sun’s dreamy psyche-tinged alt-pop is the perfect sound for a summer’s day. Their music is blue skies, corn fields and hazy scenes through half-closed eyes.

The juicy synth and sweet, ethereal vocals of Gina Tratt offer up a sense of nostalgia that warms and breaks hearts in turn. She’s backed up by funky minimalist chops on guitar and keys, light touch jazz-inspired drums and bass that sits right in the pocket.

Tratt’s background in 70s-inspired animation is a key influence for the band, which formed in Bristol five years ago. It informs their aesthetic where, they say, their performance becomes a visual extension of the music.

But sound and image aren’t the only elements the band bring to their live shows. As they prepare for the launch of their debut album, Mirror in a Blue Light, Pocket Sun tell Bristol24/7 a little more about their origins, the band’s creative process, and why they’ve designed their own fragrance….

How did Pocket Sun come together?

“The band was formed by Gina Tratt and recorded two EPs, Nocturnal and Binocular, with a fluid lineup that finally settled with current members Hugh Sarjeant (drums), Laurence Fazakerley-Buglass (guitar, vocals), Rob Burr (keyboard, vocals) and Seb Schofield (bass).

“Some members attended university in Bristol and were active in the local scene before joining the band – some had connected through other projects. Most have lived here for a while and enjoy the diversity of the scene.

“That’s the thing with the Bristol music scene—it’s very interconnected, making it lovely socially but often difficult to retrace the origins of collaborations!

“We handle most production in-house, for our music, videos and photos. Gina’s visual arts background, which includes illustration, photography and videography, spearheads the band’s aesthetic. It helps us curate a cohesive image that aligns with our tastes.”

What kind of music are you putting out into the world?

“We’ve been busy releasing singles Familiar, Jupiter, and Hidden Places over summer.

“It’s all built up to our debut album, Mirror In Blue Light, which was released on August 28. The record is a mix of deep intimate vocals, hypnotic soundscapes, soaring guitar solos, and fluid jazzy unison lines. In the works for over two years, it’s our most ambitious work to date.

“We hope that people enjoy the ride of the album, are moved by the intimate moments and excited by the crazy bits. It really is a kaleidoscopic journey, made with a beginning-to-end listen in mind. We all really like listening to full albums and hope that people enjoy this in a similar way.”

 

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What’s the inspiration behind your sound?

“This album is a representation of our fluid writing process and varied inspirations. We keep an open mind during the arrangement process, and everyone brings something different to the table, resulting in a relatively unpredictable sound from song to song. It’s a really fun and diplomatic way of writing and arranging music, keeping us on our toes – we never know what’s coming next.

“The one constant is that Gina always writes the lyrics – us boys are too scared to wear our hearts on our sleeves. And Gina’s better at it anyway!

“Our golden thread can be found in our compositional inspirations. We’re all very inspired by the 70s soul of Stevie Wonder, and by jazz in general, unifying our songs on a deeper harmonic level.”

What can audiences expect from your live shows?

“Over the past two years we’ve been honing our live sound, experimenting with tech and delivery to try and improve all round. Our recordings are often intimate and soft, so people can be surprised by the epicness and power of our live performances. That’s a huge compliment and motivates us to keep finding new ways to push it even further.

“We strive to make the show as immersive as possible. Live animations created by Gina change from song to song. We even have our own custom-made scent, ‘Memory Lane,’ which we diffuse subtly to enhance the room’s mood.

“One of our favourite gig memories so far has to be our Binocular EP launch at Strange Brew a few years back. The crowd was great, and it felt like a pivotal moment for the band.

“And our album launch at Jam Jar is gearing up to be our best show yet.”

Pocket Sun’s album launch takes place from 7.30pm on Saturday, September 7 at Jam Jar, with support from James Storm. Buy tickets at www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/whats-on/jam-jar/sat-7-sep-pocket-sun-album-launch-james-storm–110608#e110608

All images: Pocket Sun

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