By Jordan Kravitz
This interview was conducted during the North Beach festival in Miami Beach, Florida in early December 2023.
INTV:
All right. We’re at the Bandshell.
Who is Sunsquabi ?
I’m Scotty Zwang.
INTV:
And what do you play?
Scotty
I play drums.
INTV:
And you sir?
Kevin
Im, Kevin Donahue you, im a blackbelt in tae kwon-do and I like to juggle
INTV:
And you sir?
Josh
Im Josh Fairman bass and motion
INTV:
is just is the first time you’re playing this festival?
Kevin
Yeah. Yeah. We’ve played in Miami very sparsely. It’s obviously very far from home, from us being from Denver, but we’ve had some really, really crucial experiences as a band coming down to Miami.
I think we played for like my 27th birthday. We stayed Miami for the week, just like hung out here. Really, really kind of transformational that year, next to the ocean, you know, being kids from Colorado. Yeah, I was going to say I have probably come back one once or twice. I think honestly, that’s far between.
That’s our only experience is coming down here and other than a couple of times years ago. So it’s nice to be here at this festival because heavy pets are playing right now and they’re from Tallahassee and like, man, it’s cool to be a part of something that’s like incorporating that Florida band and out of state bands.
It’s kind of like where we’re at and then, you know, having the biscuits and guys like Dietch come out here play in North Florida and Mark Farina, it’s like, yeah, it’s, it’s kind of all different kinds of music and different levels, incorporating the local communities.
INTV:
What brought you three guys together as friends and musicians?
Kevin
I mean, it’s kind of a crazy story that’s got a lot of different directions. Josh joined the band 5 years ago, 6 years or 7?
2016. Josh joined band. Before that, we were recording albums at Josh’s studio in Colorado, and prior to that I have always been like a fan of different bands. Josh has been in like genetics, Analog Science, Colorado . So we’ve been homies for a really long time in the Colorado Music Brothers and Opportunity came up for him to join the band and we’ve just been like on fire since then writing so much music. So much as a band.Thats kind of how Josh and I know each other.
INTV:
And Scotty?
Kevin
Scotty Yeah, I have just met really, this past year, but it seems like everywhere we travel together we have all the same fucking friends that you know.
Josh
Didn’t we meet on an everyone orchestra game?
Scotty
We kind of met on that everyone orchestra gig on the boat.
Scotty
We played jam. We played jam groups together, and then I play with you, and I don’t know, but the one that. Yeah, the one after in in Denver. Shortly after that, we did an everyone orchestra together. So we’ve kind of really only all known each other for the last like 6 to 8 months, something like that.
INTV:
What happened to OG drummer Chris?
Kevin:
Here’s the story with that our drummer Chris, who Chris and I started the band in 2011 right? yeah. He recently had his first child a year and a half ago, so we’re happy for him.
He is, you know, really experiencing what it’s like to be a father right now. So he’s taking a little bit of time off on the road and creatively speaking. And we’re also like really good homies. But Scotty has just recently moved to Denver is, you know, trying to play the drums and we’re trying to get out here and play it on the road.
So it’s been a great experience, kind of bringing in some fresh blood and, you know, trying out new things And that’s that’s kind of the story there.
INTV:
Studio or live – major difference for you guys?
Kevin
I mean, I mean, it’s a very fluid process. I would say like some of our songs start from jams that we have playing live in front of people. And when I say jams, I mean like we’re improvising, writing, whole new things, right? That will evolve kind of into an idea, you know,
INTV:
Where do you guys see yourself in five years?
Kevin
hanging out in Miami. Yeah.
Scotty
Yeah, I’m more into, like, this beach vibe of things, especially in the winter. I like to do like a Hawaii, a Miami and a Costa Rica trip.
Kevin
I mean, it’s you know, we’re bringing people together and I hope that in five years and ten years and 15 years, we can continue to grow and do that all over the place. So, yeah, I hope that we’re traveling around and playing music almost every night like we are now on an even higher level and more people are bringing more people togetherI would like to. That’s all I can really ask for.
Scotty
I would like to see more of the the world and play in other spots around the globe rather than just the United States.
Josh
What’s the question?
INTV:
Five years. Where do you see yourself?
Josh
In Five years? Where do I want to be in five years with this band? I’d like to be just out here playing nice rooms for a lot of people, having a lot of fun, probably having a cat and a dog that are friends. Thats my five year plan.
INTV:
Well, thank you very much Sunsquabi
Seriously. have a good show. I’ll be there taking photos. Cheers.
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