Today we’d like to introduce you to Sunny Faris
Sunny, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Fort Collins, CO which at the time was a really small town. As a teenager it felt to me like you either played sports, was good in school and stuck to the norm, or you were “a weird kid” that was into music and theater, who got in trouble and basically did anything that made all the ‘normies’ uncomfortable. When I was a teenager I sort of wore both hats, and for a while was really confused with where I fit in. I had gone through a lot of changes in my family early on, floated between friend groups, and struggled in school. I had a really hard time. Like a really, really hard time. I started going to shows when I was around 15 in high school, and I knew right away that I loved music, being in venues, and the power that music had to build community and make everyone feel welcome. I spent a lot of time from then on going to as many shows and open mics as I could, and that eventually turned into house shows and DIY spaces. After high school is when I really landed into the music community and everyone I was around was a part of it in some capacity. Folk, bluegrass and indie was prevalent in my group of friends and it was those genres that really took my heart at first. I moved to Portland, OR in 2008 and it was there that I really started to figure out that this was going to be my life. My first experience on the road was during a few summers following my move, with some friends from CO in a band called Dovekins. I shot a lot of photos of them and started learning about Tour Managing and selling merch. From there I eventually ended up forming a group with my friends and roommates called Grandparents. It was in that band that I started actually playing guitar and bass regularly, and playing with other people. I think our first show ever, we played for maybe, the sound guy, and a girlfriend or two, and that was it. Fast forward some years, I’m in and out of a handful of different bands, jobs, tours, traveling and so on, and in 2016 is when Blackwater Holylight started taking shape. It was pretty slow for us in the beginning, and we didn’t release any music until 2018. It was my first time working with a label, and a lot of newness and endings were all kind of happening at the same time, so it was a lot of learning! This project for me has always been about filling curiosity, being genuine, nurturing vulnerability, letting go, and holding space and compassion for the times it feels hard. We moved to LA in fall of 2021, and since have fallen into who we truly are as a unit and a band. Everything before LA was a crucial link in the chain of what we are, but since being here we’ve really found ourselves and leaned into it deeply. We have been all over the world together, and everyday get to know each other better and support each other more and more. It’s really so wild to look back on everything that music has done for us individually and as a group, but it’s all brought us here, and we are happy to be here and excited for everything ahead.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think anyone that makes art know it’s not easy. There have been so many countless times I have wanted to toss in the towel on this project and music as a whole but my soul won’t allow that. At least so far… Honestly it’s hard to even list the struggles because there have been so, so many along the way. We are human, we are imperfect, we live in this world…. the struggles are a plenty. Being in a group where you are best friends, roommates, creative partners, business partners, travel buddies and family comes with its sets of ups and downs. We’ve had some bumps in the road but we’ve done a really good job of playing all these roles for each other and supporting each other through it all.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
There are a lot of things to be proud of with this group. We have overcome a lot. A lot of change and time and love and loss. We’ve lived 100 lives together already. There have been a lot of skeptics and criticism along the way, and theres also been a ton of love a support. I am just proud that we are still showing up everyday to do this with each other. That we continue to choose each other and music. That we allow each other to be ourselves and just be where we’re all at in life. We do this because we love doing it together and we do it to share our hearts with people and I think that in itself is a huge accomplishment. We try to make meaningful music that people can connect to. It’s important to me to create a space where everyone feels safe and a part of something. The goal has never been to be the biggest and best band there ever was, the goal has just been to be honest with the music we put out and the people that we are. It’s taken a lot of courage from all of us and I’m proud of every step we’ve taken to accomplish that goal together.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Oh god what I question. I grew up in the 90s before computers and cell phones. It’s hard to think about one singular memory from childhood that could be deemed “my favorite” but being outside as a kid with my sister and neighbors where I got to be myself and be creative and silly, before we all became congested with the internet and adult problems will alway be something I hold dear to my heart.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Blackwater Holylight
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2fqEhs5dZBrDLUqHvWRtBc?si=O6Xs85NYTlO6tetwxf56WQ
Image Credits
Qu Metcalf
Candice Lawler
Janan Photography
