Some songs sound as though they were written with the sun on their shoulders. “Sunny Day,” a brand-new cut from Jackson Hole trio snow shack with lyricist Atryp is just that kind of song or, warm, genre-bending and chock-full of energy that you can’t help but smile as you click along.
Massachusetts-based rockers snow shack have been finding their place among the DIY scene for quite some time now, and their trademark banjo-rock sound makes their music pop with an organic feel. On “Sunny Day,” they don’t lay down the trademark charm, but multiply it, layering acoustic strings over modern production. The real coup here, however, is Atryp and his jagged, liquid delivery, a surprising yet entirely fitting hip hop twist in the tale. But the finished product is a feel-good anthem that skips along the line between rootsy indie and forward-thinking rap, a tension that feels both teasing and cleansing.
There is something magnetic about the juxtaposition, the rootsy, approaching pastoral, twang of the banjo riding alongside the crisp Atryp verses. Where one tends rustic and thoughtful, the other supplies contemporary punch and flow. Together, they create a live conversation, a testament to how music thrives when lines are blurred. And, of course, there is the mood, light, upbeat, and tailored for the season. Whether you’re cruising with the windows down on the open road, arranging a backyard hang with a few friends, or simply looking to brighten your daily routine, “Sunny Day” very much lives up to its title. It’s catchy, but not in a way that feels predictable, and familiar, but fresh. By the time the chorus lands, it’s difficult not to listen and think about how this track will soundtrack untold late-summer nights.
What is fascinating about this partnership is the way in which it serves as a hint for both for snow shack and Atryp. For that trio, it’s evidence that their banjo-driven roots can thrive in surprising places. For Atryp, it’s a display of versatility and of swing, one that sounds as natural over folk-tinged strings as it would on a more brutal beat. Together, they’re not just reaching across genres, they’re creating something that sounds like a collective party.