Song Review: ‘Doomsday’ by Sunday (1994)

On the 21st of February, Sunday (1994) released their new song ‘Doomsday’. Sunday (1994) consists of Paige Turner and Lee Newell and their anonymous drummer referred to as X. After writing for other artists for many years, the band entered the music scene with their project last year with their self-titled debut EP Sunday (1994). ‘Doomsday’ is the first single after this EP and its deluxe edition.

In their emergence as a band, Sunday (1994) have carefully crafted their aesthetic of 90’s nostalgia but with a dark undertone, with influences of religious imagery, and compelling storytelling both in their songs and overall branding, all surrounded with a bit of mystery and a hunch for dramatics, which all fits perfectly with their sound.  

In ‘Doomsday’, the band continues along their line of sweet-sounding dream pop, with clear-as-day vocals, upbeat guitars and drums, that turn to a darker layer upon deeper listen. The tone of ‘Doomsday’ is set right off the bat, singing: “I hear church bells, at a nearby funeral, and now I’m picturing you six feet underground.” Perhaps this is less morbid than it initially sounds, as the song is not about wanting someone dead, but rather about the underlying fear of losing someone that often goes hand in hand with loving someone.  

The song has clever songwriting capturing the listener’s attention, as the statements range from poetic-sounding metaphors — “Love is a sonnet, and I’m starting to choke, ‘cause every time I sing for you, heartbreak clears its throat” — to extreme and more straight forward lines of implying to die together with one’s lover. 

All of this is accompanied by a constant drum beat, as well as guitars and occasional synths. The instruments swell down in the pre-choruses and bridge to emphasise Turner’s wonderful voice, managing to create a slightly eerie feeling that goes well with the more extreme lyrics like “Love is a bullet, and I’m jumping the gun.” The song is accompanied by a music video that captures this same nostalgic but slightly eerie feeling that the song has to it.

With both their debut EP and the release of ‘Doomsday’ now, Sunday (1994) has laid a solid foundation in the music industry that can only make everyone excited for what else they can do. This summer they will play their first-ever Europe shows, in the UK and the Netherlands which will be well worth checking out.