SUN ROOM
Sun Room may have come up through the sunny surf-rock scene of San Diego, but their latest EP Ritual of Chaos proves they’re far from one-dimensional. Blending upbeat urgency with emotional depth, the six-track project reflects the wild rhythm of being a band constantly on the move : from heartbreak and homesickness to pure adrenaline. We caught up with bassist Max Pinamonti ahead of their headline Jackknife Tour to talk about the band’s evolution, the real stories behind the songs, and how they’re staying grounded while everything around them speeds up.
Picture by Kaden Morris
Your EP Ritual of Chaos showcases different shades of your sound. What unifies all six tracks, both thematically and emotionally?
These songs represent the stage of life we’re in. Being a young adult can be pretty chaotic, especially in relationships and always traveling, in our case. I think these songs are about being in the moment, missing somebody close, or longing for some kind of excitement. The kinds of things that come with being in your 20’s.
“On Fire” is the focus track from the EP, with its chaotic yet upbeat energy. What inspired that mix of disaster energy and fun? Was it based on real experiences?
The best way to describe the energy in “On Fire” is urgency. The song is pretty fast, actually, and I think that energy kind of contrasts the song itself. I think anybody could relate this song to some personal experience.
“Oslo, Paris, LA” reveals a softer, more acoustic and emotional side of the band. What inspired you to explore that direction, and how have fans reacted to this shift?
I remember Luke writing “Oslo, Paris, LA” on a rainy off day on tour in Alabama. I think he just wanted to try to make that song feel how he felt that morning in the rain. We didn’t intentionally set a goal to write an acoustic song, but if a song feels good to us, then that’s really what matters.
You’re heading out on your own headline THE JACKKNIFE TOUR this fall. What can fans expect?
We’re really excited for the tour this fall. It feels like we have so many songs we’re excited to play, like there’s not one that we’re on the fence about. So you can expect some fast and loud rock and roll.
You’re known for your high-energy shows. How do you balance that rowdy, chaotic live energy with your laid-back California surf-rock vibe?
I don’t think we intentionally try to give off a laid back vibe because we’re all used to playing hectic house shows growing up in Southern California. And at the end of the day, we are who we are and we’re from where we’re from. So I guess people can just tell we’re from Southern California, ha. We just feel like kids trying to make rock songs, I guess.
You’ve played house parties, beach shows, and now sold-out tours across the world. What part of that journey still feels the most “you?”
I think as long as we’re playing together, whether we’re at a house show or small rock club, it feels like us. We have the same setup at every single show, no big production. So I think wherever you see us, we’ll give you the same show and energy each time.
You’ve toured with Louis Tomlinson, Inhaler, and Dayglow. What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned from being on the road with artists like them?
Those support tours are some of the best memories we have. We really did learn a lot from the other bands and crews, especially early on. We went from house shows to opening in huge clubs in a matter of weeks. And everybody was so kind to us and helped us figure out what the hell we were doing!
From Outer Banks features to over 500k followers, how do you stay grounded as your popularity grows?
I think what keeps us grounded is our work ethic. We know we’re not a huge band, but we’re working all the time on new stuff. And also touring in a van is pretty humbling too!
Your debut album is set for early 2026. Can you give fans a hint about the musical or lyrical direction you’re taking?
Yeah, we’re really excited about working on an album. We feel like we’ve really found what we want to sound like with RITUAL OF CHAOS and hopefully we can just improve off of that for the album. We’re just trying to write the best songs we can, and not trying to fit into any niche.
Looking back on Ritual of Chaos, is there a particular moment or track from the EP that stands out as especially meaningful or transformative for the band?
Out of all the songs, I think “Jackknife” is the most meaningful to me. It’s not as out of the box as some of the others on the EP, but I just remember the first time we played it live. It might’ve gotten a better reaction from the crowd than “Sol Del Sur!” So that always stuck with me.
RITUAL OF CHAOS OUT NOW