Kate Butler @Butler2
Toronto’s Sun K brings debut album Northern Lies on cross country tour
The last name Bravener is synonymous with exceptional music talent, especially in the Fredericton area. This is no different for Fredericton drummer Aaron Bravener who recently moved to Toronto to join rock/folk band Sun K. With only two years under their belts they have recorded and released their first album Northern Lies and were recently signed to Maple Music.
I was able to chat with Bravener in Toronto before Sun K began their cross Canada Tour which will have them through the Maritimes over the upcoming week.
Drums wasn’t the first instrument Bravener started playing but it was the first one he enjoyed so he stuck with it. He continued on drums in high school and started to play more seriously in university, “I was in the middle of my first semester at STU and I dropped out. I wanted to play drums and it was at that point I started to get serious about it.”
As for how he got hooked up with the guys in Sun K, sometimes it is just fate waiting to happen and for everything to line up perfectly.
“I was playing a gig at Paddlefest In St. Andrews last year and one of my good pals JuHang Sin was there playing bass with the guys in Sun K and I casually mentioned ‘if you ever need a drummer give me a call’. About a month later I got a call from Ju asking me if I wanted to come to Toronto to play with Sun K and of course I said yes.”
Another good act of fate lead Sun K to begin recording their first album. Sun K’s lead singer Kristian Montano was playing a solo gig at the Magpie Taproom in Toronto. Mid way through his set former Sum 41 bassist Jason McCaslin (nicknamed Cone) walked into the nearly empty bar. After his set, Montano was approached by Cone asking him if he had a band. Cone has been producing albums for the past five years and was interested in working with Sun K.
“I grew up listening to Sum 41 so it was kind of surreal to meet him that first time,” said Bravener, “but he’s a really great guy, down to earth and has been so helpful to us with this record and an excellent producer. He has also been doing a bit of band managing for us and helping us with that along the way too which we definitely appreciate.”
Sun K was also recently signed to Canadian label Maple Music and Bravener admits it is intimidating to be on a label with some of his favourite bands, but “it’s the good kind of intimidating”.
Although Bravener has toured previously, he has never been to the west coast and is just excited to get out there. “I did a tour with Oh No Theodore but we only came as far as Toronto. I am really looking forward to getting out west and seeing the mountains and being on tour. It feels a bit surreal now especially where the album officially came out today too. I am just looking to get out there and play with my best friends.”
Bravener says his hometown can expect, “a really upbeat show. We love to have fun and we are high energy and that definitely comes across in our songs too.”
Sun K’s debut album Northern Lies opens with a hard hitting rock anthem titled Teaser Pt 1 and evens out with a hook catching fifth track titled, New York City Blues. If you dig Neil Young, Cuff The Duke and the raspy voice of Julian Casablancas, this is an album you should definitely check out.
Sun K’s cross country tour is in full swing and will have them through the Maritimes beginning mid March with a stop in Fredericton at The Capital Complex on March 21st.
Tour Dates
March 19 – Charlottetown, PE – Baba’s Lounge (support for NQ Arbuckle)
March 20 – Saint John, NB – Pepper’s Pub
March 21 – Fredericton, NB – Capital Complex
March 25 – Toronto, ON – Dakota Tavern (March Residency)
March 26 – Sudbury, ON – Townehouse Tavern
March 27 – Oshawa, ON – Moustache Club
April 3 – Winnipeg, MB – Times Changed High and Lonesome Club
April 4 – Saskatoon, SK – Amigos Cantina
April 7 – Banff, AB – Elk & Oarsman
April 8 – Kamloops, BC – The Dirty Jersey
April 9 – Vancouver, BC – The Railway Club
April 10 – Kelowna, BC – Fernando’s Pub
April 11 – Calgary, AB – The Palomino Smokehouse & Social Club
April 12 – Twin Butte, AB – Twin Butte Store
April 14 – Red Deer, AB – Fratters Speakeasy
April 15 – Jasper, AB – Jasper Royal Canadian Legion Branch 31
April 16 – Edmonton, AB – The Mercury Room
April 17 – Regina, SK – O’Hanlon’s Irish Pub
April 18 – Brandon, MB – Double Decker Tavern
