Sweetboy Has A Sweet New Release!

Sweetboy Band / courtesy of the artists

A Day In The Park album art

This past October, indie pop/alternative band, Sweetboy, released their debut album, the dynamic  A Day In The Park. Cofounders Anna Barnett and Jon Flores are relatively new to the music scene, forming the band in 2019, and their 2023 album is a portfolio of years of collaboration and sound discovery.

Barnett labels the new album as a “sonic encapsulation of a dream-filled nap in the grass.” Listeners can expect to hear influences from different artists such as Patti Smith, The Killers, and Snow Patrol, as the lyrics of each song display reminiscent themes.

“It’s about thinking back on that past and matching it up to the present, and feeling the
disorienting swoop as the two mesh or clash,” Barnett explains.  One such song on the album, “Pomegranate,” features the narrator reminiscing about her childhood and the differences between her past and current life. Barnett’s vocals and a trumpet section by Flores are soothing for the listener, allowing the nostalgic storytelling to become a signature style for the band.

Sweetboy Band live in Williamsburg / courtesy of the artists

After living in Brooklyn for a few years, the band uses the city as a source of inspiration for their creativity. Barnett says “the competitive drive and artistic spirit that draws people to NYC in general is not missing.” Sweetboy’s understanding of New York City’s atmosphere is certainly reflected in the album’s titular track, “Day in the Park,” in which the fast and energetic percussion and electric guitar solo carries the listener through Sweetboy’s creative process and transition to life in the city.

Sweetboy is not new to the Brooklyn live music scene. They have played at numerous venues in Brooklyn, including Main Drag and Pete’s Candy Store, a favorite amongst the band. They are always looking to play more and accept new opportunities, demonstrating the beginning of a promising artistic career.