I recently got to have a conversation with guitarist and producer Kevin Donohue ahead of their highly anticipated return to Hula. Enjoy this exclusive interview where we get to celebrate SunSquabi’s journey, their artistry and their new album; find out some of Kevin’s hidden talents; and talk about their Road to Hulaween 2025.
A musical journey
Do you ever look back on an artist you’ve loved and tried to recount how lucky you’ve been to follow their music for over a decade? For me, one of the artists that I look back on like this is SunSquabi. They came into my life in 2015 when I let my friends convince me to go to a Grizmas afterparty. I remember getting to hear “Anytime” live for the first time and being absolutely amazed by the three guys in front of me being silhouetted by yellow, blue, purple and red lights. The way the funk filled my movement and kept me up WAY past my bedtime is a feeling I still hold onto dearly to this day.
Over the last 10 years, I have gotten to see SunSquabi perform at countless shows in Detroit, Grand Rapids (my favorite being their 2018 two-night New Years show at The Intersection), Electric Forest, Resonance Music & Arts Fest, and Secret Dreams. There’s nothing like getting lost in the grooves of their funky songs with jammy and electronic twists while being washed under a colorful array of lights that I’ve found myself associating with almost every SunSquabi set I’ve seen.
Kevin Donohue Chats About SunSquabi’s Road to Hulaween 2025, Googly Eyes, Juggling, music inspirations & More
EF: For fans who may be newer to SunSquabi, how did you first come together as a band, and what inspired the formation of the project?
K: The band was formed as a duo in 2011, largely inspired by duos like Ratatat and Daft Punk. Chris Anderson joined the band in 2012 and it became a trio from there forward. The main inspiration musically was like a combination of the above electronic duos, in addition to Big Gigantic, Pretty Lights when he used to play as a duo with Adam Deitch on the drums, and then further evolving into a jam band sound as I started to play more instruments – largely inspired by multi instrumentalists like Prince, David Phipps and STS9, Herbie Hancock, Papadosio and others.
EF: If you had to describe the “SunSquabi sound” to someone who has never heard your music, how would you put it into words?
K: We’re an electronic rock band that also has a hip hop feel to it and can jam in almost any genre.
EF: Over the years, your music and live shows have continued to evolve. What have been some of the biggest milestones in Sunsquabi’s growth as a band?
K: Learning to incorporate live looping using Ableton in both a writing and live show way has always been a key factor in how we get our sound. Finding a balance between total chaos and absolute control is the fun part.
Creative process & connection
EF: Do you have any personal or group rituals that help you get into the creative mindset when writing or preparing for shows?
K: I think over the years the thing that becomes the most important is breathing deep and appreciating the moments on stage for what they are. Letting go of the nerves and the risk and just letting it all happen.
EF: How do you balance staying true to your signature style while still innovating and exploring new directions in your sound?
K: Always listening to new music! Every year there are more and more new artists, many of which we eventually get to connect with through the festival world and touring. Always keeping an open mind to new music while also listening to classics like Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, STS9 of all times, Pink Floyd…keeping homage to what got us into music in the first place.
EF: On stage, there are often moments where you seem completely in sync with the crowd. Can
you describe what that connection feels like from your perspective?
K: It is something that is truly felt on multiple levels. When the energy is truly right… You can look up and see people’s faces looking back at you; feel their movement and energy in the room; hear their reaction to moments that you built together as a group- there is nothing like it in the world. In my view, it’s the greatest platform that we can connect on instantaneously as humans.
The Road to Hulaween 2025
EF: In your experience, how does playing at Spirit of the Suwannee compare to other festivals and venues?
K: Suwannee is an incredibly unique place for its stage design, its tree coverage – which helps with sound and climate, and its history – which I think has everyone that attends feeling a mutual respect for one another and the grounds. Truly nowhere else like it. And of course SCI representing CO on such a big scale is always a treat and they always pick the best lineup of both new and classic artists.
EF: What’s one of your favorite memories from past Hulaween performances?
K: The year that we decided to dress up as panda bears, in big cotton onesies in 80 degree weather for a daytime set facing the sun. That was HOT. Just seeing everyone in costumes really makes everybody let go on a different level.
EF: Without giving too much away, what can fans look forward to from SunSquabi’s 2025 Hulaween set? Any surprises, new material, or collaborations you’re excited to share?
K: We have been hard at work on more new material in addition to our album we released this year, so expect some musical surprises as well as a ton of friends sitting in and some wild costumes for sure!
For full lineup details, tickets, and festival news, visit hulaween.com
Going Deeper
EF: What’s the funniest or weirdest thing a fan has ever given you at a show?
K: I have a pair of googly eyes that somebody put on my keyboard…2 keyboards ago. I have re-taped them to every keyboard since. I also have a giant wooden cat that I got Alex Grey to sign at Red Rocks one year…
EF: Do any of you have hidden talents or unexpected hobbies outside of music that fans might be surprised to learn about?
K: I am actually a phenomenal juggler, a black belt in Tae-Kwan-Do, and I ran a half marathon last September the day after we played at Red Rocks.
Looking Ahead
EF: After the road to Hulaween 2025 ends, what’s next for SunSquabi? Are there any upcoming projects, tours, or collaborations that you’re especially excited about?
K: We’ll be going on a west coast run to close the year out with some good friends, a new album is on the way already, a super epic collab is about to come out, and 2026 is going to be full of surprises.
EF: To wrap the interview up, what is the best piece of advice you’ve received in your music career, and how has it shaped your journey as artists?
K: Don’t give up. The day your chances turn to zero is the day that you decide that they do.
With each set, SunSquabi continues to prove why they’ve become a festival favorite. They’re one of the most exciting live acts on today’s jam and electronic scene that I have seen in my decade + of catching live music. Fans can look forward to a dynamic, genre-defying set that honors their roots and delivers the energy that has come to define SunSquabi’s shows. In other words, you’ll definitely want to make sure SunSquabi is on YOUR road to Hulaween 2025. They’re definitely on mine!
Thank you again to Kevin Donohue, SunSquabi, and Hulaween for making this interview possible!
About SunSquabi
Music has the power to move us—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. For SunSquabi—Kevin Donohue [guitar, keys, production], Josh Fairman [bass, synth], and Scotty Zwang [drums]—that power lives in the unspoken language they share on stage and in the studio. With millions of streams and high-energy performances at venues like Red Rocks Amphitheatre, they’ve carved out a space where electronic production, jam-band freedom, and funk-rooted grooves collide.
Now, the Colorado-based trio turns the page with their most defining release yet: a self-titled album that reintroduces SunSquabi in their purest form. More than a record, SunSquabi is a creative reset—a declaration of who they are now, and where they’re headed next.
“This is the most honest version of us,” says Donohue. “It felt right to make it self-titled, because we’ve grown into something new—and we wanted to mark that.”
The album follows a strong run of EPs Cloudburst and Grind that saw the band evolving through collaboration, improvisation, and reinvention. Tracks often began as live jams—many from their livestream sessions during the pandemic—and grew into fully fleshed-out songs that reflect both discipline and spontaneity.
“We didn’t overthink it. We trusted our instincts,” adds Fairman. “Everything came from a real place, and we stayed true to that. This record feels like a culmination.”
Since 2015, SunSquabi has toured relentlessly and released boundary-pushing records like Odyssey (2016), Deluxe EP (2017), and Instinct (2019). They’ve collaborated with artists like Lettuce, GRiZ, Late Night Radio, and The String Cheese Incident, building a loyal following along the way. Media outlets including JamBase, Live For Live Music, and ThisSongIsSick have praised their genre-defying sound and explosive live shows.
While their past work laid the foundation, SunSquabi feels like the project that defines them. It’s not just a name on a record—it’s a statement of identity, intention, and evolution. And as always, their goal is simple: move people, lift spirits, and keep the groove alive.This segment provided by SunSquabi’s PR team
Don’t miss SunSquabi at Hulaween 2025! Check out the official Hulaween website for festival lineup, stage and schedule details, get your tickets and be ready for a transformative live experience that only they can deliver. This feature is brought to you as part of our exclusive Electric Feels Road to Hulaween 2025 coverage. Be sure to check out our Hulaween 2025 EF Playlist and our Must See Acts and stay tuned for more!
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Follow SunSquabi
Website: sunsquabi.com
Instagram: instagram.com/sunsquabi
Facebook: facebook.com/SunSquabi
Twitter/X: twitter.com/sunsquabi
SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/sunsquabi
Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/1CLLPNftraxuTDyTd6hn3J
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCGm0-cNNX123mDHWvVsucJA
Bands In Town: bandsintown.com/a/2008056
