Establishing the mood with a subtle vinyl crackle, eventually expanding into a fierce guitar soundscape with a classic rock meets funk adjacency, SoundFarm open Suck it Up with dimensionality and metaphorical depth, inviting notions of liberation and empowerment. We immediately vibe with the playful and conceptual depth that manifests on Suck it Up and the captivating vocals, intertwined with a dynamic and intricately cohesive tapestry of sound.
The sonic ebbs and flows are sublime with trumpet motifs and characterful, iconic nods to funk and music history, leading through to a zen and meditative middle eight which is ethereal and celestial, re-building to a final reprise. In essence, Suck It Up is about embracing resilience whilst remaining true to ourselves. The song encourages us to suck it up and keep moving forwards – to trust the process and find strength through authenticity.
Driven by the magnetic vocals of Marte B. Trolldalen, the track radiates an effortless live energy. Its analogue warmth and production give it a refreshing authenticity – something that is increasingly rare in today’s music landscape. We learn that the song was born during a rehearsal jam session, and was recorded live without click tracks or samples to preserve the energy of its original performance.
Produced using a hybrid analogue and digital workflow, the recording features vintage equipment, including a 1960s Sonor drum kit, classic UA, Neve and API preamps, and an inventive percussion texture created using a bottle filled with rice to lock in the song’s signature sixteenth-note groove.
Suck it Up was mixed and mastered by guitarist Tommy Huseth – intentionally retaining its natural imperfections to reinforce the band’s belief that authenticity will always outweigh technical perfection. We could easily imagine Suck It Up soundtracking an uplifting scene in Ted Lasso, or a movie like Jackie Brown.
Needless to say, we have added Suck it Up to our New Music Spotlight playlist and our TIMELESS playlist, as we continue to stream the wider discography of SoundFarm, including the entirety of their album, After the Rush, and anticipate future releases.