Suntwist have today released their new EP titled ‘Matchbox’. There is a certain point in every young band’s existence when the songs stop sounding like exercises in figuring things out and start sounding like an actual identity. Suntwist appears to have reached that point with ‘Matchbox’, a five song EP that understands the ancient indie rock tradition of making existential uncertainty sound extremely good through electric guitars. Born from five musicians who found themselves in Phoenix from different corners of the country, Suntwist turns the awkwardness of growing up, moving on, and wondering what the hell happens next into something remarkably easy to listen to. ‘Matchbox’ is nostalgic without becoming trapped in nostalgia, energetic without behaving like it just drank three cans of energy drink, and catchy enough to make you forgive the band for reminding you that adulthood is happening whether anyone ordered it or not.
‘Stay High (Chasing Ghosts)’ gets things moving with a steady drumbeat, retro leaning guitar work, and the kind of relaxed groove that practically demands an afternoon drive with the windows down. There is plenty of sunshine in this song, although Suntwist is not exactly pretending everything is perfect. Beneath the easygoing surface is that familiar pressure to keep moving, keep improving, keep pushing, and somehow become the person everyone apparently expects you to become. The clever part is that the music never wallows in it. A playful guitar entrance gives the track another jolt of personality, and Suntwist manages to make youthful uncertainty sound less like a crisis and more like something you can dance through.
‘Winded in the Moonlight’ keeps the momentum going with charismatic vocals and electric guitars that gradually push the song toward an infectious chorus. This is where Suntwist really shows its knack for making songs feel effortless without actually sounding empty. There is longing here, particularly for the things that are disappearing behind you, but the song understands that staring backward forever is a lousy way to see what is coming next. ‘Why Mind It’ then changes the temperature, bringing a more cinematic coming of age quality to the EP while turning burnout into forward motion. Apparently exhaustion can have a guitar riff. Who knew? Suntwist does, and the result is one of the EP’s more interesting shifts in mood.
Then comes ‘I Just Wanna Dance,’ which pretty much refuses to entertain the idea that every song about growing up needs to stare dramatically out of a rainy window. It is the EP’s biggest burst of energy and one of its most immediately singable moments. There is something wonderfully uncomplicated about the song’s desire to simply be where you are rather than constantly wishing you were somewhere else. Considering the band’s members arrived in Arizona from different parts of the country, that sentiment gives the track an especially fitting sense of arrival. It is the musical equivalent of finally unpacking the boxes and deciding that maybe this place is home after all. And yes, indie bands are legally allowed to have fun.
‘Man I Wanna Be’ closes ‘Matchbox’ with shimmering guitars, layered vocals, and a driving rhythm that gives the EP a satisfying final lift. The song is more reflective than what came before it, but it never loses the guitar driven dream pop character that holds the project together. Its central idea of seeing yourself through another person’s eyes gives the record a surprisingly intimate conclusion, because beneath all the youthful energy and retro cool, ‘Matchbox’ is ultimately about connection. Suntwist formed in a Phoenix dorm room, somehow turned five different backgrounds into one musical personality, and now has a debut EP that sounds like a snapshot of a particular moment before everything changes again. If ‘Matchbox’ is about wondering which match will burn last, Suntwist has done the sensible thing and turned the uncertainty into five songs worth keeping lit.
About ‘Matchbox’
Matchbox, an EP shaped by the changing seasons of young adulthood, follows Suntwist as the members navigate the end of college, life away from home, and the evolution of their ensemble. Each member migrated to Arizona from a different part of the country, creating a shared experience of feeling pulled between where they came from and where they were collectively building a life. Throughout the EP, that experience takes shape through themes of pushing your limits, longing for the past, moving through burnout, learning to appreciate the present, and seeing yourself through someone else’s eyes. The title Matchbox comes from a period when the group felt like it was on thin ice as college slowly came to an end and members began preparing to move for jobs. “One by one a match would go out, and we were left wondering when the last in the box would burn,” the band explains, capturing the unpredictability of watching a defining chapter of their lives slowly come to a close. “Stay High (Chasing Ghosts)” opens the EP with a steady drum beat and retro-leaning guitar chords before settling into a relaxed, sunlit groove. A playful guitar strum enters midway through the track, complementing its carefree atmosphere, followed by lyrics that explore the pressure to keep pushing your limits.
“Winded in the Moonlight” follows with charming indie-tinged vocal swag and electric guitar, gradually building toward a lively, driving chorus, continuing its easygoing rhythm. The song acknowledges longing for what has passed while recognizing that something new may be waiting ahead. “Why Mind It” shifts the pace, channeling the feeling of a coming-of-age A24 soundtrack while turning everyday burnout into forward momentum. “I Just Wanna Dance” delivers the EP’s most energetic moment, building into a highly singable track inspired by the group’s journey moving to Arizona from all across the country. The song embraces being present rather than constantly wishing to be somewhere else. “Man I Wanna Be,” one of the previously released singles, closes the EP with shimmering electric guitars, layered vocals, and a driving rhythm that carries into its most expansive moments. The track carries a more reflective tone while maintaining the quintessential indie dream pop guitar-driven foundation that runs throughout Matchbox. Written while Suntwist was spread across their respective home states, the song explores the contrast between how someone sees themselves and how they are viewed by the people closest to them. Its refrain, “But in your eyes / I see the man I want to be / And he’s standing right in front of you,” captures the experience of recognizing yourself through someone else’s perspective and became a turning point for Suntwist’s songwriting.
Their latest release brings together Logan Mullert on vocals, Grant Baker on guitar, Braden Kotzin on drums, Isaac Morrison on bass, and Nathan Dilla on lead guitar. Baker, Mullert, and Kotzin produced the EP, with Ryan Buckland handling mixing and mastering. The project was recorded at the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences and TrackPharm, with mixing and mastering completed at GCU Recording Arts Studio.
Suntwist formed in 2024 in a Phoenix dorm room when five musicians from throughout the country came together and began developing a shared creative vision. Though none of the members are native to Arizona, Phoenix became the backdrop for their developing sound, blending their different backgrounds, influences, personalities, and styles into a unified identity. Drawing inspiration from The Strokes, Djo, Tame Impala, Flipturn, and Arcy Drive, the band has developed a retro-leaning rock sound rooted in nostalgia, youth, and human connection. Since forming, Suntwist has performed at Phoenix venues including Crescent Ballroom, Valley Bar, The Rebel Lounge, The Nile, and Last Exit Live, continuing to establish themselves within the city’s indie community. The band has been featured by notable publications in the indie rock space, including Live Nation’s Ones to Watch, Grimy Goods, and Tongue Tied Magazine. In celebration of their debut EP, the group will perform a hometown release show at Crescent Ballroom on September 18th. The momentum will continue into 2027, when Suntwist takes the stage at M3F Music Festival, marking a major milestone for the rising hometown band.
About Suntwist
Formed in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2024, Suntwist is an indie rock band that pairs energetic songwriting with catchy melodies and a sound that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly modern. The group was founded by vocalist Logan Mullert and bassist Isaac Morrison after meeting in a college English class, and later expanded to include Grant Baker (guitar), Braden Kotzin (drums), and Nathan Dilla (lead guitar). Though none of the members are originally from Arizona, they found common ground through a shared passion for music, blending their diverse backgrounds into the distinctive sound that inspired the band’s name. Drawing influence from artists like The Strokes, Djo, Tame Impala, Foxtide, and Ax and the Hatchetmen, Suntwist crafts guitar-driven songs that capture the feeling of late-night drives, summer evenings, and the intimacy of small venues.
Since their formation, the band has steadily built momentum through a string of single releases and an expanding presence across the Phoenix music scene, performing at venues including Crescent Ballroom, Valley Bar, The Rebel Lounge, The Nile, and Last Exit Live. With an energetic live show and a growing local following, Suntwist continues to establish itself as one of Arizona’s most promising emerging indie rock acts.
SOURCE: Official Bio
LINKS:
https://www.instagram.com/sun.twist/
https://www.tiktok.com/@suntwistband
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMNIAxu2mFsWPs_xsoHZI9Q
https://open.spotify.com/artist/72XDiHU6dM1C0BkoZqVHbh