New Hampshire folk duo Party of the Sun releases debut album titled Trekker.

Formed by Ethan McBrien and Rory Hurley, their first full length was entirely produced, mixed and mastered by the band itself.

Created over the course of two years, Trekker is about transitioning and migration.

“Trekker” began taking form in the fall of 2017 just after “Lay Low” was released. Each week we recorded demos, exploring possible avenues for the next album. It was during this time, our last winter at the farm, that “Out in the Air” and “Sea Surrounds” were written. These two songs lay the groundwork for “Trekker” and established our vision for the album. Its thematic core is migration, inherent movement and making sense of that power,” says McBrien.

Trekker includes the previous singles “Slide Away” and “Sea Surrounds”.

The band will be having their album release show at Bass Hall, Peterborough NH, on Nov 2nd.

“Trekker” is now available worldwide.

Introduce the band - where are you from?

Ethan McBrien - songwriter

Rory Hurley - multi instrumentalist, producer and recording engineer. We are from Southwest New Hampshire at the base of Mt. Monadnock.

What's the band's story? How did you guys meet?

We met in 9th grade science class making jokes. We started hanging out and jamming right away.

At what point did you decide to form a band?

We formed a band in 10th grade with our friends Jordan Cusano and Dan O’Rourke. It was called The Youngest Sun, high energy rock and roll.

What made you want to name your band Party of the Sun?

“Sun” pays tribute to our early project “The Youngest Sun” where our friendship was born and of course... to the celestial life source. The full name is about the experience of being inspired by community.

You've just released your debut album Trekker. How does it feel like?

It feels like a unified effort made possible through collaboration, we are proud of it.

Could you describe to us the songwriting/production process?

I try and write as much as I can, I tell myself “it’s not about having good ideas, just capturing them.” This makes for lots of duds, but I think duds are key. For me, a song is the product of a bunch of “almost” songs. Once the lyrics and basic form are written I send to Rory. From that point, he produces the tracks, arranging parts, engineering, mixing and mastering. We are fortunate to be part of an amazing community of musicians who help us record, Garrett Cameron- drums, Jordan Cusano - drums, Colin Bradley - pedal steel, Duncan Pelletier - keyboards, Rachel Allen vocals.

Production-wise, where did you get your inspiration from?

Warmth, vibration, fatness, wideness.

What are the different topics you are talking about on this album?

This one is about transitioning and migration. It deals with making sense of expectation. It’s also about the importance of lyrical space...

What did you feel when writing "Slide Away"?

That one is about being imperfect and learning to be humble.

What was the hardest part of making this project?

Deciding which songs to cut.

We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy.

Any favorite memories from the making of the album?

We recorded the pedal steel for “Out in the Air” in this beautiful hay barn in Marlborough, a place of rich spirit and history, watching Colin explore that outro was beautiful. Also, when Garrett heard River I Was as a shuffle instead of double time the song fell into form.

What did you learn about yourselves after finishing this project?

Communication makes healthy relationships and healthy relationships make good things.

What made you want to name your album Trekker?

A few things, but mostly because it fits the thematic core of the album.

What can you tell us about the artwork?

It’s a magic crystal ball that belongs to Rachel Allen, without whom this album would not exist.

What is your goal for this album?

To share it.

As a band, what do you want to accomplish?

Continue making albums!

What appeals to you the most about creating music?

It’s the way.

In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?

Trade education, empowering the creativity of young people, communication education, prioritizing climate justice, shrinking wealth disparity.

What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?

Friendship first.

Connect with Party of the Sun: