We were headed to Arizona the last time we heard from Chicago indie rockers Ax and the Hatchetmen, who released “Flagstaff” back in May. A warm and radiant jam, “Flagstaff” focused on that feeling of being in the moment and living it up with your best friends. It instilled a sense of nostalgia and youth, two themes that are synonymous with summer and the band itself, as the guys in Ax and the Hatchetmen have a close camaraderie that can’t be beat. As they continue to rock out and make memories this summer, they are serving up more delicious, sunny songs with “Sunscreen.”
On “Sunscreen,” we are brought back to the past. Haunted by an ex, vocalist Axel Ellis shares the longing he has for this former flame and the desire to be with her again. As he sings apologetic lines like, “I think about you always / Sorry for calling / Thought I saw you in the hallway” and “This new girl in my bedroom / She drives me up the wall / And how are things back home? / You know you can be honest / I really fucking miss you / Now that I’m alone,” the fresh guitar lines keep the tone vibrant. It is a melodious indie rock track that speaks to the strain of lingering feelings, making it a bittersweet soundtrack to anyone dealing with the woes of a summer romance.
Telling us more about “Sunscreen,” Axel shares,
“‘Sunscreen’ is a post-breakup song about loneliness, isolation, and a longing for what once was. We chose to write the lyrics somewhat through the lens of a ghost, watching their past lover live on and wishing they were alive to re-connect. The metaphor aims to express the desire to relive the past and feel again, describing the death of a past love in a more literal sense. The song describes different pieces of dealing with a break-up, like trying to numb the feeling through shallow love, along with the feeling of being ‘haunted’ by dreams and visions of the person you still love. It’s a lost-feeling moment in time.”
You can listen to “Sunscreen” on platforms like Apple Music, SoundCloud, and Spotify.
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