sungaze

Sungaze is the dreamy, genre-bending project that centers around husband-and-wife duo Ian Hilvert and Ivory Snow. Together, they draw from their own life experiences and emotions to explore the many facets of the human condition through their songs, often focusing on themes of love, loss, and self-discovery.
What sets them apart is the way they build upon these themes, creating a whole universe within their music.
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Hilvert began his musical studies at the tender age of 12 when friends prodded him into learning to play guitar in the interest of starting a punk band. He spent the next decade performing and writing music with several bands in the Cincinnati punk and metal scene before setting his sights upon a new, softer project, now known as Sungaze. Snow's journey, on the other hand, was less straightforward. From a young age, she held a burning desire to leave her mark on the world in the form of song but found herself unable to connect with any of the musical instruments she attempted to learn. That changed when Hilvert built and gifted Snow a handmade guitar for her 26th birthday, and taught her a few simple chords. This opened the floodgates, allowing years of inspiration to finally take form.
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Hilvert's heavy edge and years of musical training bring a unique perspective and athleticism to Sungaze's music, while Snow's diverse musical influences and passion for songwriting provide the band's captivating, introspective melodies. With a sound that is simultaneously ethereal and grounded, Sungaze captivates listeners with lush soundscapes, soaring guitar riffs, and haunting vocals. Their music, a perfect reflection of their name, envelops audiences in a warm haze, both calming and exhilarating, transporting them to a dreamlike world where the boundaries between genres dissolve and emotions take center stage.
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Though Hilvert and Snow are the creative forces behind the band, their live shows feature a rotating cast of talented musicians who help bring their songs to life, including Snow's sister, Angela Colvin, as a permanent fixture on bass guitar.
From intimate club shows to festival stages, the band's dynamic performances never fail to captivate audiences. With their genre-bending sound, emotive songwriting, and talent for world-building, Sungaze is a band that is pushing the boundaries of what music can be. Whether you're a fan of dream pop, psychedelic rock, shoegaze, or alt-country, Sungaze's music is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Sungaze has been making waves in the music scene since their debut album, Light in All of It, captured the hearts of listeners in 2019. The album soared to new heights the following year, debuting on the NACC Top 200 at #91, maintaining its chart presence for over six consecutive weeks.
Their follow-up release, 2021's This Dream, further solidified their reputation as a force to be
reckoned with in the industry.
2022 saw the release of Sungaze's most successful single to date with "New Twang". Drenched in slide guitar, it revealed a fresh new take on their fast-becoming signature sound.
Sungaze are currently working on their third studio album.