Most of Sunniva’s debut album, Fantasy Prologue, was recorded in her bedroom with an SM57 microphone. Production came from link3, with additional recording alongside her bandmates and a producer friend in Los Angeles. Released on 25 September, it follows a first year spent releasing demos, collaborating with other artists and building a community that now moves between gigs, YouTube videos and Twitch streams.
She describes the record as being about “standing on the edge of a major change without quite knowing how to get there.” Its title leaves whatever follows open.
“I used the word ‘Prologue’ because it feels like just the beginning, like I’ve crossed a horizon point and I’m looking towards the future, and whatever it may hold.”
The recordings grew out of a project that already had several outlets. Alongside her solo material, Sunniva sings lead vocals in link3, a project Montreal Rocks has featured before. Her collaborations include Orchid Mantis and Porch Kiss, while her YouTube channel gives her room to spend time with other people’s songs.
Her cover of bôa’s Duvet, uploaded on 12 September under the title and you don’t seem to understand, has already passed two million YouTube views in a month.
Around those recordings, Sunniva and her listeners have built an ecosystem of their own. There are Twitch streams and a Discord fan server called the Sunniverse. DIY signed CDs sold out in a day. A TwitchCon performance is planned for November.
“I feel so grateful to have this incredible community around me that I’ve been building over the past year, and it’s surreal to realize that people were anticipating its release, since there was a time not so long ago that releasing music felt like throwing songs into the ether.”
Sunniva grew up just outside Bath, England, and moved to Montreal shortly before turning 15. Her parents are Canadian, so the possibility of moving had always been part of her childhood.
“I grew up in England but my parents are Canadian, so I always felt like they were gonna end up back here at one point! I moved when I was about to turn 15, and I’m so glad I did, Montreal is easily one of my favourite cities on earth.”
That was also the age at which she received her first electric guitar.
“I noodled around with piano first, and then the ukulele before committing more seriously to guitar when I got my first electric guitar for Christmas when I was 15.”
Barfly hosted her first show. She has since performed across Europe, North America and Japan, but her favourite recent live memory is closer to home: opening for Dead Calm at Bar Le Ritz.
“My first ever show was at Barfly so it always has a special place in my heart. My favourite recent show was opening for Dead Calm at Bar Le Ritz, which not only became a cherished memory, but a new favourite venue to play here! My dream venue to play in the future would be MTELUS as I’ve seen so many incredible gigs there!”
Away from her own recordings, her recent listening includes Car Seat Headrest’s High to Death and The Heavy’s Short Change Hero. Fiona Apple remains a favourite.
“My favourite song of all time is I Know but I’ve been especially enjoying her cover of Why Try To Change Me Now?”
With Fantasy Prologue released, she wants to take the songs further afield. Asked what she hopes the next year will bring, she has a clear answer.
“My dream is to do a proper tour and meet musicians, fans and creatives all around the world! As long as I’m surrounded by my friends and creating music, I’ll know I’m on the right path.”
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