SPECIAL THANKS KARTEL AGENCY
Today, Leeds-based alt folk-pop duo Sunflower Thieves release their evocative EP Same Blood. Co-produced with Jack Hardman, this EP builds on their signature ethereal soundscapes, infused with newfound grit and buckets of vulnerability. Exploring themes of friendship, connection, romance, mental health, and therapy, it feels like a warm embrace - a support network in sonic form. The theme of sisterhood flows throughout this release, so it only felt natural for F Word to invite this dreamy duo to participate in our "Through a Loved One's Eyes" series. Here, Sunflower Thieves document each other, asking intimate questions and revealing authentic answers that come from a bond forged over nearly twenty years of friendship and musical partnership.
Amy: We’ve known each other and have been doing this project for long enough now that I can’t imagine how things would look without that. When you think of Sunflower Thieves, what comes to mind? Like, what do you think of?
Lily: I think of how hard we’ve worked, how much fun we’ve had, how lucky we are that we both want to do this and have found a great rhythm that fits both of our strengths and how much fun we are yet to have with all the support we have around us these days. It’s crazy really, how many people believe in us and want to be a part of what we’ve built together. The Sunflower Thieves family is huge and I feel very honoured and thankful to everyone who is a part of it.
Amy: Seconded! It’s so warming to have people who have stuck with us since the start, who know all the songs. If you had to pick, which of our released songs is the most Sunflower Thieves song, that you’d recommend someone listens to, to get the essence of the project, and why?
Lily: Ahh, that feels impossible to answer! We put so much blood, sweat and tears into every song - they’re just completely us. I think we obviously have songs that initially connect to one of us more than the other, but I love naturally finding my own way to relate to each individual song. They take on new meanings and become all the more real. However, saying all of that, I suppose the answer would be Same Blood, as this song is literally about our friendship, sisterhood - it feels really poignant and true to how crazy hard and exhausting, but thrilling the past twenty years together has been. Bring on the next twenty!
Amy: Yeah it’s been a journey! What do you think you’ve learned about yourself through making, releasing, performing music?
Lily: I’ve learned that I’m an introvert that masks being an extrovert [laughs]. This industry is so scary and weird but I’m really glad that we get to navigate it together and thankful that we both have the same views on staying authentic and honest! Also, I've learned how much I love hearing how our songs have impacted people’s lives and how people relate to lyrics, even if they hear them differently to how we intended. I think it’s beautiful that our music can make people feel things.
Lily: Which of our music videos do you think represents the song and us as a band the best? Was this your favourite to create together? If not, which one has been so far?
Amy: I feel like our videos are all little time capsules - I love love love the Driving Lessons visualiser, despite it being such a simple thing, because it represents exactly where and who we are right now, and captures the song perfectly. The whole shoot was such an unplanned, last minute thing that it could have been really awful [laughs], but it’s perfect. But I think my favourite will always be Sirens. It came out of such a weird, sad time for me personally, so the song is so so special, and I remember we just had a lot of fun on that shoot with Olivia. It captures us perfectly, and the shots with Sam and Tom make me feel a lot of things! We’d made, and still have, such an important friendship between the four of us and we just were each others’ ‘someone to be there for’. I also love that we got to shoot it in some of our favourite Leeds spots. I’ll always treasure this video and that time.
Lily: We obviously grew up with similar music tastes but there were some differences. How do you think our music would differ if we had only met and started working together at uni?
Amy: Honestly, who knows - I think I would have felt I had to go down more of a cleaner pop route. I love so much pop music, and love collaborating in this genre for others, but it was never me in the way that what we’ve made is. Or maybe way folkier, singer-songwritery. Like you say, we’ve generally been pretty in sync with discovering artists and sharing love for songs, and that’s allowed us to feel able to explore to get to the lyrics and arrangements and production that makes Sunflower Thieves, rather than picking a genre and trying to stay inside it. Perhaps we’d be less bold, through being less comfortable with one another.
I feel an inevitable love for some artists and songs, which I feel would have found me at some point, but I’ve picked up so much music with you just sitting in the living room or car together listening and I love that.
Lily: If thirteen-year-old you looked into the future, what would she have wanted? And if she could see us now how would she feel?
Amy: I think thirteen-year-old Amy wanted to write books and own a bookshop, and play football. So, writing songs - and still playing football! - is pretty good going. I think I’d be amazed that we kept this thing going, and maybe wonder how someone with so many traits of an introvert has ended up on stage so often. I’d be grateful to have gained a sister. I would appreciate that practising your instrument is important and how lucky I am to have the world’s most supportive family [I also appreciate this right now]. I’d be really really proud and excited for me!!
