With their latest LP Eternal Grief having been released on Halloween, Connecticut’s Sunday Morning stepped forward with a sound that leans into heaviness both emotional and atmospheric. The release date wasn’t planned, but the timing feels right… the record carries a slow-burn melancholy that fits the season. Tracked with Rob Chiarappa at Barbershop Studios and mixed by Brett Romnes, the album draws on the quiet stillness of winter on Lake Hopatcong, pairing lush texture with an ache that sits just under the surface. It’s grief as process, not spectacle… a record rooted in personal loss but written to leave room for anyone who needs it. We caught up with vocalist Westly Benjunas to talk growth, community, and making something dark that still lets the light in.
Your debut LP Eternal Grief drops on Halloween this year… was the release date intentional, and does the timing tie into the themes of the album at all?
It wasn’t intentional, it just happened to fall on that date when we mapped out when the singles were going to be released. I guess the overall theme of the album is sort of dark so it definitely ties into the whole Halloween vibe. I like to think it was meant to be!
You recorded at Barbershop Studios with Rob Chiarappa. How did the studio environment and lake setting shape the sound and feel of the album? What role did Rob Chiarappa and mixer Brett Romnes (The Movielife) play in shaping the emotional tone of the album?
The studio and Lake Hopatcong (NJ) were absolutely beautiful. I think whenever you’re in an environment like that it just makes the creativity flow a little easier. We recorded in the winter so we weren’t able to completely enjoy the lake, but it snowed a few times while we were there so that was fun. Rob and Brett were instrumental to the sound of this album. It was so nice to work with people so knowledgeable and willing to try new things, it certainly contributed to the different sounds on the album.
What was the most challenging song to record on Eternal Grief, and why?
That’s a tough question…I think it’s a tie between “Your Parallel” and “Missed by Anyone.” “Your Parallel” was just a little tricky because everything starts on the “and” of the beat. So it was just a lot to make sure everything was locked in and perfect. “Missed by Anyone” was completely different than anything we’ve recorded in the past. We took a lot of time trying different things to get different sounds from the guitar and all the drones and synths that go on throughout the song. They were challenging to record, but definitely worth it!
The emo and alt-rock scenes have seen a resurgence in recent years. How do you feel Sunday Morning fits into that movement today?
It certainly has and it’s been great to see it. There’s so many good bands coming up and putting out good music in the emo/alt-rock scene and we’re just happy to be a part of it. I feel like there’s so many different shades of emo/alt-rock so it makes it easier for bands to play together and mix into playlists and stuff. We’re just happy to be a part of it!
How do you approach lyrics about grief in a way that remains relatable without being overly personal or inaccessible?
I think for me, a lot of the writing for this album was me just processing things that I went through and my own grief. With that being said, there is a fine line between keeping things ambiguous, but still meaningful. Everyone unfortunately has to deal with loss or the potential of loss in their life. Having these lyrics vague, but still articulate enough to have someone connect with them was the ultimate goal for me.
How do you hope fans connect with the album on a personal level, especially those dealing with their own struggles?
I’ve always really appreciated the way people can resonate with lyrics and music on their own personal level, even if the lyrics were written for something completely different. I hope the lyrics and songs from this album can give people a sense of closure and a sense that they’re not alone in whatever difficulties they’re going through.
Your sound has been compared to early Citizen, Basement and Movements. How do you see Sunday Morning’s style evolving from those influences?
Those are definitely huge influences for us. We’ve been listening to those bands since their first EP’s and albums. We collectively listen to a lot of the same music, including those bands, but we all have our other niche influences that we pull from when it comes to writing. Listening to new music, artists, and genres always keeps me inspired to challenge myself as a songwriter!
Punk is often about community. How have your fans influenced the music or the way you approach shows?
Being in a punk band has been one of the best things in my life because of the immense sense of community. It’s inspiring and keeps us going when we see the same people coming to shows wherever we play. Seeing people tell their friends about bands and have them come to shows too is what it’s all about. We’re all in this space to be expressive and inclusive and it’s an honor to be a part of something like this.
What’s next for Sunday Morning? Was there anything we missed or that you’d like to dig deeper into?
We’re playing a run of shows starting November 7th and ending on November 15th. We also have our album release show in Hamden, CT on November 26th? You can find flyers for all of those shows on our Instagram – @sundaymorningct
Thank you so much for the opportunity to answer these questions, they were all fantastic!
Roll of the Dice is a short interview format with a variable amount of questions. A pair of dice is rolled and the total, between 2 and 12, is the amount of questions we can ask. All questions are given to the interviewee(s) at once, and no follow-ups are allowed. The interview may be lightly edited for content and clarity.
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/