The Big Ears Collection #5: Sunny War

For this episode of Pass the Mic: Creating a Stage for Change, we spoke with singer songwriter Sunny War prior to her performance at the Pilot Light in Knoxville. Sunny War’s early musical history was rooted in punk music, and she has successfully blended these punk influences with elements of roots music— a unique sound that is further highlighted by her distinct right-hand technique that mimics the clawhammer banjo. Sunny is candid about her early experiences with heavy alcohol use and addictions to heroin and meth that started as a teenager, which eventually led her to a medical crisis. During these years, she began busking on the streets, writing, and recording original music. Her most recent album which we discuss in this conversation, is called Anarchist Gospel. In this conversation, Sunny War discusses how early substance use and family problems use have shaped her perspective, important musical influences, and ways that songwriting provides space for emotional processing and moving past difficult experiences.

This episode features music by Sunny War, all from her 2023 album Anarchist Gospel. These tracks include "No Reason", "Whole", and "New Day". Theme music for this episode was composed and performed by William Wright.