Sunburnkids Opens Up About Music, Fashion, Art, and More

INTERVIEW

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INTERVIEW ✦

Sunburnkids, a multifaceted creative director and artist, has recently made waves with a full-length debut album titled Elephant in the Room.

Before its release, Sunburnkids had already established a reputation for self-taught expertise in fashion, videography, and music, creating a unique artistic identity that thrives in various creative disciplines with a penchant for visual storytelling.

This diverse creative background is extremely evident in Elephant in the Room, where each delicately crafted track narrates a story inspired by real-life experiences from family upbringing to social surroundings.

Now, Sunburnkids is sharing details about the conception of the album and its unique, collaborative process.

Congratulations on your debut album Elephant in the Room! What were some of your primary goals or objectives with this particular body of work? 

Sunburnkids: This album started because of a child who stopped me on the street. I had experienced quite a lot at such a young age—brand director, visual director, creative, and even music video director. However, the more my accomplishments got noticed by people, the more I felt an emptiness and unresolved matters within myself which means I was definitely not stable, nor was someone who kids would be following after. While I was struggling with these feelings, the child I met on the street told me that he listens to my music all day and night. That literally made me feel ashamed.

I was afraid thinking about how my current state and thoughts might influence that kid and shape his mind and future. Basically, I just happened to see the power it has on others’ lives especially on kids. So, I stopped expressing myself and spent a lot of time reading books and being with children, trying to focus on my primal emotions. Then, one day, I was reading Augustine's Confessions, and when I saw how he came out with his flaws to his readers, all because he hopes they would pursue rights from wrongs, so that I thought that maybe I also could confess my flaws that I had always been afraid of and busy hiding and denying. That’s how I came to write each line of these lyrics for this album.

Can you share the story behind your personal music video for “Red Cheek Boys” and how it correlates with the track?

Sunburnkids: “Red Cheek Boys” represents kids who are doing something wrong without awareness of what they are doing. But, since he has a conscience, his cheeks get blushed doing all sorts of those shameful things. This also speaks of my childhood when I was energetic but ignorant. I was always looking for something that can pleasure myself and looked up to the older boys who seemed to be closer to evil.  "Red Cheek Boys" tells the story of my past physical relationship with a girl, an experience that contributed to the emotional scars I carry today. At that time, I was too naive to recognize the consequences of pursuing an unhealthy attraction. A vivid memory from then is us dancing together, gradually losing ourselves in a situation I wasn’t proud of.

Eventually, my friends discovered what was happening, and I became a target for manipulation and blackmail. I created this song and music video to reflect on the need to break free from that chapter of my life. It also explores a deeper message—what we should truly fear is not just rejection from others, but something much more profound, like in my case, my relationship with God. The guilt I felt was even stronger because my mom was always there, praying for me when I came home. Through this song, I tried to capture those raw emotions and offer guidance to others facing similar struggles, helping them understand what they should truly let go of.

Kids who are on the same page with me wanting to fight hard not to get lost in this chaotic world, participated in this project with their voices, and my younger brother also appeared in the music video. In the process of creating this song, I had already accomplished that goal. “Red cheek boys” is basically the opening door of my journey. It shows a kid who used to commit sins and felt ashamed. Following this song, you will see what we should pursue and sail toward song by song.  

How did collaborating with everyone from children, to actors, and other artists shape the creative process of this album?

Sunburnkids: The children who participated were ones I had carried on my back and played with since they were younger. Having spent time with them offered me a chance to tell them many stories I wanted to share.  Also, since ultimately what I wanted to express in my lyrics was life itself, I had my family participate in this project. 

How have your experiences in the fashion world influenced the visual aspects of your work — whether it's through music videos or other aesthetic choices?

Sunburnkids: What the fashion world gave me was nothing but vanity and the contagious destruction of the pure writings I had as a child. Many of my choices are made with the hope that I can have the same heart and hope that Richard Baxter, Samuel Rutherford, and Augustine had for the souls of his readers. Therefore, those hearts were reflected in my aesthetic decisions.  

What challenges did you face while taking on multiple roles such as writing, composing, directing, and producing for this album?

Sunburnkids: To be honest, I have never officially studied music, video, art, or fashion. I can never do better than someone who has been in those fields for over 10 years. But I know what’s right and what’s wrong in my work. I also know what is essential and what is unnecessary, so if something is lacking, I can find and fill it. Thus, I didn’t find creating this work difficult at all.  

However, because I have children who would listen to my lyrics seeing my life close enough, the question of whether l am eligible to tell them what is right and if I am living as it says in my lyrics has been a big task. This was the hardest part and even made me question whether I should release the album. Overcoming this required the most effort.  

Conversely, what was your biggest success with Elephant in the Room? 

Sunburnkids: I have been chased by the fear of the possibility that my stain might get discovered as I become more famous. However, since my point of view and goal have changed, now I can come up with my flaws without shame. I feel a great sense of accomplishment in being able to talk about those weaknesses. I also often ride bikes with my younger brother and take walks through forest paths in the evenings. It gave me a chance to honestly talk to him about things I hadn’t been able to share before, which was another big achievement. 

When I was writing these lyrics and drawing out my wounds, it hurt, and I cried a lot. But each time, God comforted me, contrasting my current life with my past, and showing me a new perspective. That was also a major accomplishment.  

If someone is discovering your music for the first time with this album, what do you hope they learn about you and your artistry through Elephant in the Room?

Sunburnkids: I used to be trapped in a prison of guilt, thinking that all my flaws were my fault and that no one could understand me, like I was in an inescapable prison. I thought no one had committed a bigger sin than I had. But in Augustine’s *Confessions*, he exposes his weaknesses with the hope that others won’t follow the same path, out of love for their souls rather than just their bodies. I found many answers there.  

The prison door was open, but I had been trapped inside it, unable to come out. This album was something I wanted to shout to those whose vision is blurred and who are unable to break free from their own prisons. I want them to know that the door is already open. Move forward instead of being trapped by the past and self-destructing.