Sunburnt Sky – ‘Sold My Soul for Love’ (ft. Shadoe)

For some, the journey to a second album can be a long and often hectic one. Yet, for American artist and producer Mike Seely, aka Sunburnt Sky, the follow-up to his 2022 debut album, The Ten Thousand Things, came together rather quick and effortlessly, with a singular and inspiring theme: midlife transitions.

The 12 tracks on The Drift (2023) harness infectious reggae melodies, from the emotionally charged opener Sometimes (Looking for My Place), to the heavy-hitting remix of Sweet Fire that closes out the album. Unlike his first album, The Drift finds many collaborators that each contribute in different and unique ways. The sophomore album appears to sound more mature and reassuring, as Seely continues to find his own distinct niche within the reggae-rock genre by fusing sun-drenched vibes with indie alternative rock.

Growing up in San Diego to the soundtrack of bands such as U2, INXS, and Radiohead, alternative rock laid the foundation for Seely. As a young teenager, his family later moved to southern Utah, and after spending some time as a teenager in the Dominican Republic where Bob Marley was hugely influential, the seed of Sunburnt Sky was planted. However, it wasn’t until the discovery of more recent bands such as Stick Figure, The Movement, and Iya Terra, that Sunburnt Sky sprouted. Sunburnt Sky is on radio rotation with the song, ‘Sold My Soul for Love’ (ft. Shadoe).