Stefan West’s debut, Just Another Sunflower, Searching For The Sun, gets you going back to the days you were stuck on heartbreaks, healing, and reflecting. Rooted in indie rock but layered with folk vulnerability and punk edges, the album offers an intimate portrait of a man slowly piecing himself back together. The title alone hints at the spiritual longing woven through the record like a tender metaphor for chasing light in seasons of darkness.
The opening track, “Hard Times,” sets the tone with Aaron Schembri’s thick guitar fuzz and tight drums leading the way. West’s vocals arrive low, introspective, and heavy with truth, delivering lines like “Sitting in the backyard drinking until the morning” with emotional clarity. By the chorus, ghostly harmonies lift the mood just enough to offer a sliver of hope. It embodies the tug-of-war between despair and determination.
Mid-album standout, “Take What You Need,” shifts gears with a brighter, more countrified sound. The anthemic drums and horns wrap around West’s voice, now softer, more giving, as he pleads, “Well everybody come and take what you need / Just watch me bleed.” No wonder this track has earned the highest stream count.
Then comes “This Isn’t Me,” the final track hits like the goodbye letter you didn’t know you needed. With stripped-back acoustic guitar and a voice nearly cracking under the weight of regret, West sings like he’s trying to freeze time just long enough to explain himself. It’s a heart-stopping closer.
Listen to Stefan West’s soul on tape in Just Another Sunflower, Searching For The Sun on Spotify.
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Photo Credit: Jake Plumridge
Review by: Naomi Joan