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Arizona's Sundressed newest self-titled album is an erratic listen combining pop and indie sounds to spearhead an attack on not talking about mental health while finding a sense of community within the turmoil of negative and self-defeating thoughts. This album is ferocious. Explosive, pop-oriented instrumentals and lyrics that look towards better days fill up Sundressed in a nice package.

Intricately woven and deeply personal, the self-titled release from Sundressed offers an intimate glimpse into the inner workings of frontman Trevor Hedges' creative psyche. This artistic endeavor was first set into motion in 2012 when Hedges embarked on a musical journey under the moniker Sundressed to navigate his sobriety journey. Yet, as time has shifted, so has the project's purpose, morphing into a resonant platform that seeks to address critical matters, particularly within mental health, while fostering a profound sense of community among its listeners.

The Noise was able to catch up with Hedges and dive deeper into the album's creation, the highs and lows of the creative process, and what he hopes fans get by listening to the record.

It's been three years since your last LP, Home Remedy. This self-titled album feels like a re-introduction to who Sundressed is at this point in time. So tell me, who is Sundressed, and what kind of stories do you want to tell at this point in your career?

Trevor Hedges: Thanks so much for the thoughtful question! This does indeed feel like a re-introduction, but also a combination of past, present, and future. I have always collaborated with lots of people on Sundressed, which was definitely the theme of this record, so when it all came together at the end, it really just felt like the Sundressed sound I've been looking for all these years! These songs are about getting better, getting older, and wanting to still hold on. I hope listeners feel the same way.

Tell me about the beginning stage of making your self-titled album. Were you writing and creating new music and eventually realized, "Oh, we have one cohesive body of work coming together here," or did you set out with the goal of making an album in mind?

We definitely knew we were writing for a record, but we had a lot more time and resources than we had in the past, so it kinda happened naturally. We wrote around 20 songs for the album and narrowed it down to ten, so by then, we were pretty happy with what we had.

Tell me about your inspirations right now. What kind of things are you influenced by, and how did those influences make their way into the record?

I've been really influenced by bands who have had longevity and have recreated themselves over the years. Being from Phoenix, The Maine has always been a big one. I've always strived to do something different every time and no one does it better than them.

What was the most challenging aspect of making this LP? Was there one song that was really hard to flesh out? How do you work through creative blocks?

For me, the song "Nothing" was definitely the most difficult to make. AJ wrote the majority of that song, so I put a lot of pressure on myself to do the vocal part justice. It ended up being a favorite for all of us!

You have so many fantastic features on this album from Glacier Veins to Have Mercy! How did these team-ups come about, and what is the most essential thing when it comes to a creative collaborator?

Honestly, I always really try to think who would have the best voice for the part! We got really lucky with this record, having made so many close friends in music over the years, everyone we asked was available and down!

Cliche question, but what is your favorite song on the album?

"Anyone Else but You" is definitely my favorite. It's a very special and personal song to me, plus I love the last track on the album!

Do you have a favorite music moment from the album? This can mean anything from a favorite lyric to a favorite instrumental, breakdown, etc.

I love the production and delivery of the line "Thought I was building a castle, but I was building a boat, now I just feel like an asshole, because it won't even float" Very funny part of the record for sure!

This record tackles a lot in terms of subject matter. Y'all very honestly dive into things like sobriety, mental health, and the never-ending coming-of-age story. If you had to sum up the overall message of the record to listeners, what would you say?

Find the little moments that make the challenging ones worth it. Lean on your loved ones. If I can get through it, so can you!

I know right now y'all are on the road performing around the US. Which song is your favorite to perform live right now?

Definitely "Shake." It's so freakin fun to play!

What's one thing you're looking forward to during the remainder of 2023? It can apply to anything unrelated to music too!

I'm really looking forward to our Phoenix album release show on 9/16!

Do you have a message for your fans who could be reading this interview?

Thank you for sticking with us all these years! I really hope you love the new record!

Be sure to check out Sundressed's self-titled LP today!