interview

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interview ✦

It’s not every day a band jumps from chaotic backyard gigs to international stages in less than two years—but Sun Room was never built for the ordinary. Formed in 2022 in Southern California, the three-member force quickly gained traction with high-voltage live shows, a raw garage-rock edge, and sun-drenched flourishes that nod to their surf culture roots. Their sound blends a classic, analog sensibility with a sharp modern bite—timeless, but never retro.

It’s that distinct mix—both grounded and explosive—that made their rise feel inevitable. Coming up in the local DIY scene, Sun Room did what few bands manage to do in the streaming age: build a loyal following through word-of-mouth alone. Their shows were unpredictable and packed, powered by a kind of reckless energy that felt both nostalgic and new. That spark caught quickly. Within months, they were selling out venues across the U.S., touring the Americas with Louis Tomlinson, supporting Inhaler throughout Europe, and landing slots at major festivals like Austin City Limits and Shaky Knees.

Still, no matter how fast they rise, Sun Room retains something grounded—almost hometown—in how they play. That raw authenticity carries through to their studio work as well. Tracks like “JACKKNIFE” and “OSLO, PARIS, LA” show a band in evolution—sharpening their songwriting while holding tight to the unruly charm that first caught listeners’ ears. Their sound has also found a life onscreen, with two tracks featured in Netflix’s Outer Banks, extending their reach without compromising their identity.

Now, after selling out two nights at Los Angeles’ iconic Troubadour, Sun Room is proudly ushering in a new era. A headline tour kicks off this fall, and their boldest project to date—a brand-new EP—arrived on July 11. So, with their momentum only growing, 2025 is shaping up to be a defining year.

Ahead of the EP’s release, Stardust caught up with frontman Luke Asgian to talk about creative growth, embracing chaos, and what it means to make music that still feels alive.

You went from house shows to international festivals in under two years. How has your collaborative process with each other changed in that time?

Luke Asgian: The collaborative process has changed a ton. The first EP was basically just written by myself during COVID. The band is at a place now where we write together all the time, even on the road. You can sit down in a studio or at a desk a million times and “try” to write a song but I really think all of the best ones come outta nowhere: A late night jam on the road after a couple beers or an accidental riff that we stumble on while jamming in the garage. That’s the beauty of being in a band I think- sometimes someone comes up with something that you never would’ve thought of yourself. You just gotta follow the ideas that are exciting. Sometimes I spend a year on a song and still hate it, but then we’ll jam the next day in the garage for five minutes and come up with an idea that feels better.

Looking back on those first few steps in your career, what would the 2022 version of Sun Room think if they saw where you are now?

Luke Asgian: I probably would’ve just been stoked that we’re able to do the band as our full-time job. I remember dropping outta school and being like “I hope this thing lasts more than a year.” It felt like a fever dream, suddenly going on tour and seeing all these different countries and playing music. It felt like I might just blink and it would be over, and then I’d be broke without a college degree and the only thing on my resume would be “drove around in a van with my friends playing rock songs and drinking Modelos.”

“JACKKNIFE,” “OSLO, PARIS, LA” and “SHE’LL MOVE TO LONDON” sound like a more defined version of your core style. How would you describe the way your sound has evolved since those early releases?

Luke Asgian: I think we’ve finally found our sound. Touring the world, we met so many cool bands with sounds and influences that were so different from what we grew up listening to in Southern California. I remember our friends in Inhaler showed us this band called The Stone Roses, and we had our minds blown. Traveling the world and playing so many shows together really rounded us out as a band and refined our sound to where it is now. I think all of the insane experiences from touring have given us a lot to write about too, because so much goes wrong.

In terms of what’s next, what can you tease about the new EP? Any themes or songs that feel especially personal this time around?

Luke Asgian: I honestly believe these are our best six songs, by far. This project feels much more honest and raw than anything else we’ve done before. I think people will be able to hear the influence that all of the touring has on our songwriting and perspective.

You’ve toured with Louis Tomlinson and Inhaler, and both have very different audiences. What did you learn from performing in those environments?

Luke Asgian: We toured Europe with Inhaler and then we did Latin America as well as Spain with Louis. Touring with these bands, we were able to become really good friends with both bands. There are too many stories to count between all of those shows and cities. Touring with Louis was wild because the sheer size of the rooms and the tour was unimaginable to us. I feel like it was a glimpse into what Beatle-mania must have been like back in the day. Having to sneak around the hotels and drive in the back entrance so that fans wouldn't bombard our car. It was so fun to be a part of that and absolutely blew our minds. And touring with Inhaler was amazing because it felt like we were just traveling all around the world with our new best friends. We’d find a pub after almost every gig and stay up late laughing till our faces hurt.

Having your music landing in Outer Banks felt like a natural next step in your growth as a band. What was that moment like, and what kind of ripple effect did you notice after the placement?

Luke Asgian: Yeah it was cool. That was towards the beginning of the band, and it kind of felt like the moment that it felt real and like this could be a career. I think that’s when our friends started taking us seriously.

When you're not touring or recording, what keeps you creatively inspired—musically or otherwise?

Luke Asgian: I think having other creative outlets helps with constantly staying excited about music. I’ve been writing a lot—like poetry and narratives from tour. My friend Dawson and I wrote a pilot episode for a TV show just for fun. I also try to get out and see friends almost every day. I just moved to LA, so there are so many places to see and people to meet. We also surf quite often, which is a good physical outlet when I’ve been driving myself insane all day trying to write songs.