Amiyah Golden
Words and photos by Amiyah Golden
Sun Child is a name that is often echoed in the Jacksonville art scene — with rave reviews always followed closely behind. It was a cachet that always piqued my curiosity and since I suffer from the unfortunate plague of FOMO, I needed to dive into the discography of Sunchild to experience this musical ingenuity for myself. I first listened to the single “Waves” and instantly became a fan.
While Sun Child has now become a collective of talented individuals, its origin began with Brooke Garwood.
While a native to Jacksonville, Garwood’s musical journey didn’t truly begin until she was living in Charleston, South Carolina.
“I met an inspiring group of friends and musicians right after graduating college who supported me and my music after years of being very scared to show anyone songs of my own. Before that point, I honestly didn’t think I was good enough,” shared Garwood. “I didn’t believe in myself as more than just someone who plays covers in a noisy restaurant. The welcoming people of the music scene in Charleston that I came to know changed that, along with much introspection.”
Years later, Garwood has not only found her sound but a supportive fan base and some additions to her musical voyage.
“I started the project Sun Child as a solo effort, but finally pieced together the right people to form a band.”
Garwood’s sowing of the initial seeds was pivotal in the blossoming of Sun Child, as we know it today.
Inspiration from artists such as The Lumineers, Jewel, Fleetwood Mac and Billie Eilish and her desire to tell a story melodically were shaping points for the sound that Garwood had curated, but her ability to welcome other contemporary musical influences are just as congruent. 
“My current inspirations still remain but also have moved to more niche/indie artists like Adrienne Lenker, Searows, Robert Lester Folsom, Indigo De Souza, Faye Webster.”
As a fan of all the artists attributed, I think this familiar sound was what captured me initially, but the vulnerability in her lyrics and vocals is what kept me — which is evident in her songwriting process.
“Moments of inspiration are delicate and I never force them. Inspirations for writing have come from introspection, nature, life lessons, love, loss, existential crises,” Garwood stated. “Sometimes I’ll think of a melody or lyric while on a walk or doing something random like cooking breakfast. Once I have lyrics or a melody in mind, I’ll usually accompany it with a piano (my first instrument). I take thousands of voice memos and spend hours working through the perfect lyrics. Or sometimes, it will all spew out at once with no rhyme or reason.”
This approach to the inevitable — that is the human experience — and the welcomed influence of sound has allowed Garwood to embrace change; making it hard to be bound under the constraint of one genre (which is never a bad thing) when trying to label her music.
“To be honest, it’s kind of hard to describe the sound sometimes. I would say they can expect soft vocals, emotional lyrics, ethereal sounds. It’s in the lines of folk but not traditional folk. My friend texted me the other day after I asked him what he thinks the genre of my music is and I think it takes the cake: bedroom sad girl dream pop alt-rock emotional nostalgia folk.’”
Remember those seeds that she planted, well it’s turning out to be a great harvest, as Sun Child is preparing to hit the road for their spring tour with fellow Jacksonville artist Robert Lester Folsom.
This comes just in time for the release of their latest single, “Snooze” which will be out April 18.
“Snooze glorifies the mundane aspects of life from the perspective of a burnt-out musician,” explained Garwood. “Sometimes the little things in life like sleeping in or going to the grocery store are what keeps yourself sane after so much of your routine is taken away from you with nonstop travel and work. Before you know it, the time you thought you had with yourself and with those you love has vanished as the clock keeps ticking.”
A sentiment that many of us can relate to (even though I possess no musical capabilities in my body) this is just the first of many songs that Sun Child will be releasing this year. Further building up the anticipation for their debut album, “Waves,” which touches on introspection and growth.
It seems like growth is a recurring theme in Garwood’s life as her garden continues to expand and become bountiful with opportunities and new listeners.
“In five to 10 years hopefully we will have the opportunity to do headlining tours. Right now, we are about to get on the road with Robert Lester Folsom opening for him all across the West Coast. It’s a complete honor to be doing so, and we are also playing in his band as well. I’m so excited for this opportunity. It also inspires me to one day be able to be in the position of headlining where fans come out to see our show.”
Garwood is on the right track to stardom, alongside her bandmates as they continue to produce music that is fluid and innovative.
“Our sound has definitely shifted as we become a more cohesive group. We have started writing more together which has inevitably changed the sound as it has been more collaborative in writing the music. I believe it’s going in the direction of something very special, keeping the aspects of singer-songwriter/folk, but also expanding into ethereal indie dreamland. As the project gains direction of the sound, the songs keep getting better and better I think.”
While the desire to tour would be a dream come true, Garwood’s ultimate goal as an artist would be to “reach other people with my music and songwriting and for them to be able to relate and feel. One thing about music is it can make you feel so many different things and can be interpreted in many different ways. I hope my music is relatable to others and makes them want to laugh, cry, dance, scream, or just sit and think. That’s all I could ever ask for.”
I’ve truly never seen a more fitting name for an individual and as Sun Child continues to expand from a seedling to a greenhouse of talent, its genesis with Brooke Garwood is a story that is a testament to perseverance.
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