Tulsa's under-the-radar maestro of bedroom synth pop steps outside for a sunny new single in search of serotonin
written by Evan Jarvicks
narrated by Evan Jarvicks
What happens when a bedroom pop artist exits the bedroom? Gone are the fuzzy comforts of four walls and solitude in a climate-controlled environment. Sometimes, though, the bedroom can become a cage to prevent a person from living a fuller life. While there is a freedom in self-determined seclusion, especially for introverts, there is also a freedom in allowing oneself to explore the outside with no agenda but to seize the day.
Sunhertz, one of Tulsa’s most criminally underrated indie artists of late, has gradually been coming out of a cozy bedroom pop shell over the past few years. Still a self-produced solo artist but looking to expand into a proper band, Sunhertz has released two EPs in as many years. 2022’s An Otherwise Perfect Day and 2023’s Culture Creature both offered atmospheric synths and guitars as pillows to reflective songwriting that sought comfort in music that was soft yet catchy. While both albums found enough mainstream appeal to land numerous blog features from around the country, the latter was more energetic. It signified momentum from one release to the next.
Today, Sunhertz released a new single called “Freedom”, and it answers the question of what can happen when a bedroom pop artist fulfills that momentum to leave the bedroom. Stream it here in this Make Oklahoma Weirder track premiere.
From the opening guitar riff, “Freedom” evokes sunshine. This is a running theme through Sunhertz’s work — it is in the artist’s moniker, after all — but oftentimes, the sun is setting. Literally, 2022’s “Setting Sun” is written on the theme of a sunset, a time of day for rest and reflection. In “Freedom”, however, there are no lazy rays of orange to ripple across a sparkling body of water or slip through a drawn window blind. No, the sun here is high and bright in the sky, shining down to provide warmth on a summer day.
The timing of this release is not coincidental. Sunhertz cites road trip music as an inspiration for “Freedom”, and late Spring to early Summer is the ideal season to roll down the windows and blast a feel-good jam. The recurring synth line here recalls the instrumental hooks that regularly land pop music needle drops in commercials and movies. The full arrangement with drum kit samples, humming bass tones, clean electric rhythm guitar, and a choice collection of synth voices form a rich but never intrusive environment for Sunhertz’s soft vocal work.
Lyrically, “Freedom” channels a dual sensation. It can be scary to let go of the baggage that past experiences pack into an apprehensive state of mind, but there is also a rush of excitement in daring to try new things. Lines like “I could hide here inside and never take a risk” and “I’ll try to feel again” speak to how reclusiveness, while necessary for safety and comfort, can be suffocating in high doses. “Freedom” leaves the house, grabs a bike, takes off the training wheels, and pedals forward, understanding that confidence and momentum are what propel a cyclist to find balance.
That said, the word “freedom” might be a bit heavy for some listeners and miss the mark for them. It is a loaded term that often comes with a multitude of historical and social contexts. Sunhertz presents freedom in a strictly personal vacuum. It’s great for introverts fighting off their inner doubts to pursue their best lives because the suppression comes from inside the house, so to speak. For many marginalized people, though, freedom is often withheld by external factors. For a broad example, consider financial freedom. When wages are low, costs are high, and debt continues to pile up, freedom is not simply a matter of setting aside caution and chasing a dream. One might argue that such a move could worsen matters.
Then again, one of music’s great functions is escapism. Music transports people to different times and places, offering comfort and encouragement to continue in grueling times, and Sunhertz’s music is nothing if not comforting. The cover art for “Freedom” does depict a dicey move with a person taking a Miles Morales-level jump of faith, but it also presents faded colors and vintage multimedia layers. Similarly, while the song is easily one of the most energetic cuts in the Sunhertz catalog to date, it is still a warm, relaxing listen. It does nudge its audience to be brave, but it never coerces.
There is a moment in “Freedom”, during the bridge which depicts the feeling of flight after liftoff, where Sunhertz does something clever in the drums. As the proverbial wheels leave the ground, all percussion disappears. Then, in the latter half of the bridge, the drums return in double time. This leads to a final chorus that is more amped with confidence and momentum. For folks grappling with anxiety, fear, depression, or any number of other mental embargos needing that extra push to step outside of their comfort zone, this could be the song to do it. Sunhertz is a living example, having left the bedroom to explore the open road. “Freedom” is a testament to the fulfillment — and serotonin — that comes with adventure.
aka Jarvix, the Chief Executive Weirdo of Make Oklahoma Weirder. His out-of-the-box music coverage has been published by the Oklahoma Gazette, KOSU, and The Oklahoman among others. He also makes DIY music as a solo multi-instrumentalist live looper in his spare time.