Sunny Day Real Estate: ‘We Could Bang Out An Album Real Fast’

Ahead of their first-ever London show, we chatted with Jeremy Enigk about the future, the past and everything in between.

Posted Friday, 28 May 2010 in

Sunny Day Real Estate, legends that they are, will play the Forum in London on Monday May 31. We had a chat with frontman Jeremy Enigk about new material, why they’ve never visited the capital before and their musical legacy.

They will be supported by some special guests whom will be revealed when they walk onstage at 8pm. So get there early!

It’s a few months after your first reunion show - are you still feeling positive that getting back together was the right thing to do? Does it feel as right as you thought it might?
“Just being able to re-connect with the guys on a personal level was enough for it to be the right thing to do. So it couldn't be more of a positive thing.”

How did it feel the first time you, Dan, Nate and William all played music in the same room again?
“I felt like I had just came home from a long journey. I've played with all kinds of great musicians, but the instant musical connection with SDRE was just uncanny.

Were you aware of how keen fans around the world were to hear and see Sunny Day again until you got there and played for them? Was it a surprise?
”I had a pretty good idea that we would have a decent turn-out at shows, but was surprised that we were playing bigger venues than we ever had. The love for the band seemed to grow over the years.”

Dan mentioned in an interview that you were planning on getting into the studio once this tour is finished - is that still the plan?
”Yes. We have written about 17 rough sketches of songs and hope to start the pre-production process ASAP, but we haven't made any solid plans on the official album recording until we are further along in the process. We could just bang out an album super fast, but I'd like to take the time to make sure it's the best we can do.”

Is there anything you can tell us about any new material?
”It's hard to answer this question since we are still exploring the new music, but I can safely say that when it's finished it will be undoubtedly SDRE.”

After being cited as forerunners of a particular style of music are you looking forward to creating some new history?
”I am very excited about the creative process. It's a joy to hang with the guys and explore what SDRE's music is now. Given our history it is important to me for this recording to stand tall next to our older records.”

How come you haven't managed to visit London before
”It's weird that it never happened. We always wanted to do world tours, and would make it a point that it was something that we must do, but it never fell into place. Then we broke up before the one tour we had scheduled in the UK and Europe. It just wasn't time I guess.”

Are you looking forward to playing your songs for a whole bunch of people who've never seen you before? Or slightly nervous?
”It will be a truly awesome thing to see how we are received. Especially from a reunion standpoint. The energy from the crowd is usually amplified having been gone for so long. There's nothing like the feeling of a big crowd of people singing along with your songs. Maybe I'm jumping to conclusions though.”