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You know that there are always a few bands from your hometown skirting around the edge of your consciousness? I think everyone has got a few. Bands that you might have seen at shabby gig nights, in a support slot that was forgotten by most but nevertheless earned your like on Facebook and a peripheral interest in where they ended up. That was me with Sundara Karma. A four-piece hailing from Reading with an eclectic poppy sound and a catchy stoner vibe. The thing is, they’re not ‘that band from my hometown’ anymore, and you can find them if you scour some popular festival line-ups or Radio 1 playlists.
With only one EP of summery hits and a couple of singles out, they’re not a band with an impenetrable back catalogue. More of a group to check out and anticipate what they’ve got to come. Their latest singles ‘Flame’ and ‘Loveblood’ are summer-ready hits with a Peace-y feel and sing-along choruses. On the slower end of the scale, ‘Waves’ and ‘The Night’ provide some more laid back moments from their first EP.
My favourite moments from Sundara Karma, however, come from their first releases. ‘Hustle’ has got more groove than an old vinyl and a chorus that moves your feet for you. Considering this track was one of the band’s first exposures to releasing recorded material, it’s fantastically produced and boasts some great tones from especially the rhythm section of the band. However, my personal highlight and a song that I highly encourage people to check out is the band’s first single ‘Indigo Puff’. With shimmering guitar leads and a gorgeous vocal melody, this stoner anthem shows that Sundara Karma have developed a sound of their own and obtained an incredible sense of maturity for such a band so early in their career.
So give these four boys a listen and pass your own judgement. You can find them at a host of festivals in summer, including Latitude, Boardmasters, Reading & Leeds and their own headline tour in October. They’re a band well worth checking out, if only to recognise the songs as they rise the ranks on radio playlists and festival rankings.