Sunset Stallion

Little indie bands in the Midwest have a habit of making cheap thrift store sunglasses look good without Gucci purses and irony to go along with 'em, so in that spirit, OUTdependent decided to pick one of the many indie bands in the Chicago area on TheNextBigSound.com that shows promise. So we set about getting a little virtual face-time with the Sunset Stallion to see what they've been up to, and lo and behold


they answered us promptly and primly like a good band should. So without further ado, the co-ed voice of Champaign, Illinois, Chad, Marty, Hannah, and Otto.

Outdependent: So band, what've you guys been up to this summer?

SunsetStallions: Chad worked at Sea World Orlando over the summer toting kids around the park, making out with shamu and making mad money to buy instruments so he didn't have to borrow them anymore. Marty, Hannah, and Otto stayed in Champaign writing poetry, braiding hemp wares and working their buns off in the just to make that dough and do their part to support the economy. We tried to do a lot of networking, making new contacts so we could have shows to come back to. We also did a postal service esque transfer of new songs so we could hit the ground running with some fresh tunes come fall. Overall, we felt it was most important to have yummy tans and multiple pairs of sunglasses in case we were asked to play some outdoor festivals.

Outdependent: Under your influences, you guys list a whole lot of very American-sounding American bands: Ben Folds, Wilco, Sufjan Stevens. But lets say that in a dystopian future-world where the United States is shunned culturally and musically, you were forced to pick a music favorite from off the continent. Who would you choose and for god sakes why?

SS: For me personally, (Chad) I think I would pick Coldplay because my hair is curly like Chris Martin's. Marty would probably pick Dexy Midnight Runners because he love's ubiquitous bar jams. Otto would probably pick Bjork because he's eccentric and bi-polar. Hannah would probably pick...I literally have no idea what Hannah would pick. I think she might like MGMT...I know I do. Are they from a different country? They sound like they are.

Outdependent: How did you guys pick your instrumentation, with two vocalists and all of that?

SS: two words: Sex Appeal. I'm only in the band because I'm hot. Hannah tells me so on a regular basis. Factually though, it was kind of a nonchalant sort of thing. Me and Marty were kickin it in the apartment one day thinking about how to make Sunset Stallion flourish and sound more legitimate and he suggested Hannah, and I said yeah...that sounds good, and she came over and had some awkward harmony sessions and the rest has worked out pretty nicely.

Outdependent: Are you guys looking to stay together throughout the college years, and do this for a living?

SS: It's totally a dream to do it for a living. Realistically speaking though we're playing it by ear. We're going to do everything we can to hone our sound and set ourselves up for this to become our livelihood, but if it doesn't come within a reasonable time, then we might have to seek alternative employment or move to Branson, MO. We love what we're doing, we're still having fun and we really want to put together an album we can appreciate for the rest of our lives as a vibrant work of art. We'll see how the music world receives us. It's up to the fans if we do this for a living or not.

Outdependent: If music were not an option, what would you each like to do as a dream profession?

SS: I (Chad) would love to be an Abraham Lincoln impersonator. Otto would like to be a professional jockey. Hannah would like to be a regional sales manager at a mid-sized paper company, and Marty would like to be a professional Rock Band Video tester, which is close, but not quite in the music realm.

Think they talk pretty? Listen to them SING.