Song of the Day: Tangerine - Sunset

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Morning Show with John Richards, is “Sunset” by Tangerine from their 2016 EP, Sugar Teeth, on Swoon Records.

Tangerine - Sunset (MP3)

Seattle band Tangerine's breakout from the garage isn't the least bit surprising when you listen to them: they bring a tight, pop songwriting sensibility to a rock scene dominated too often by technically simplistic, "so lo-fi and raw it's just bad" garage rock, distinguishing themselves from the mess of Seattle's punk scene as they rose meteorically from our backyards to this year's Sasquatch lineup. From their recent EP, Sugar Teeth, "Sunset" is perfectly poised at this turnover point from humble beginnings to bright futures, a carefree, funky rumbling punk before turning on a dime to a slow, introspective, half-tempo comedown. There's a youthful, reckless abandon to their sound, with singer Marika Justad's refrains sang with the inflections of a schoolyard tease, a fun adolescent taunt. The song concerns itself with growing up, reflecting on the way a teenager feels fully grown in a world that says otherwise. As she puts it: "'Sunset' is a toast to the intensity of being a teenager, to the weirdness of feeling so alive but also not yet fully formed."

Tangerine will be playing at both Sasquatch and The Capitol Hill Block Party this summer as they conclude their national tour, but if you can't make it to either of those admittedly costly venues, don't fret: they recently came through the KEXP studios, so we have your live Tangerine fix right here.