Sun Way Street, the indie folk duo led by singer-songwriter Steven Eli and multi-instrumentalist Leor Manelis, invite you into the rain-streaked sepia tones of Shadows on the Rain. This single turns a storm into something tangibly diaphanous, wrapping you in an atmosphere of vulnerability and aching emotion. The delicate strings carry a tender weight, echoing the confessional mood as the duo trace the bitter reprise of “I don’t know if I can trust her” without any anger or spite clouding the candour.
Their melodies and harmonies function like magnets, drawing you in as the instrumentals swell and ebb with graceful subtlety. The arrangement, artfully crafted in classic indie folk style, feels like an aural comfort blanket; one that haunts you with the pain of betrayal while offering catharsis.
The single is part of their debut album Planted Heart, released earlier this year, which came from a transatlantic collaboration born during the pandemic, with Steven flying from Ireland to Colorado to record in person with Leor. The album features contributions from an international roster of musicians, lending oceanic depth to the project that’s already deeper than what you’d imagine the airwaes carrying. They’re operating in the abyss of the heart.
Shadows on the Rain is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify.
Review by Amelia Vandergast