Nashville-based multi-talent Aaron Friend has always navigated the space where rugged honesty meets soaring rock energy, and his new 2025 EP, ‘Sunset Clause’, sees him push this balance to compelling new heights. The independent release, crafted alongside long-time collaborator Ryan Truso and co-producer Nick Brown of MONA, is billed as a testament to the artist's evolution, offering a collection of tracks that merge contemplative lyricism with genuinely cathartic rock tones.
Friend, who takes on the roles of singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer, cut his teeth early in his career, sharing stages across the US with national acts such as Lifehouse. Since officially launching Aaron Friend & the Enemies with the bold ‘Colors’ EP in 2018, and following up with 2023’s pandemic-shadowed ‘A Friend 4 A Season’, his trademark sound has been rock music "that teems with humanity, uplifted by fuzzed-out distortion, head-nodding hooks, and unfiltered honesty."
The six-track ‘Sunset Clause’ embodies the idea that music itself can be a catalyst for change. At its core is the single ‘The Good Times’, a track that recaptures the pure, liberating rush of falling in love with music all over again. It’s an infectious ode to simplicity, channelling the feeling of those early days of playing with mates, losing track of time in the glow of arcade games and cheap wine.
Sonically positive but emotionally grounded, the track reminds you that joy is always worth chasing, even when life feels heaviest. The short, sharp single, clocking in at under three minutes, is driven by fuzzy riffs and an anthemic chorus that urges listeners to lighten up and embrace the present moment.
You can hear this push-pull dynamic loud and clear on the track. Understated, almost tiptoeing verses, featuring palm-muted guitar, turn on a sixpence as distortion floods in for a chantable chorus. It’s here that Aaron Friend’s unfiltered honesty truly shines through, as he admits: “I’d give anything, if the good times, if the good times would come back around.” It’s a moment of grounded vulnerability amidst the sonic drive, a jagged edge that cuts through the fuzz and keeps you completely hooked.
The full EP, ‘Sunset Clause’, reflects lessons learned, scars carried, and joy rediscovered, cementing Aaron Friend & the Enemies as a formidable voice in contemporary rock.
You can tune into the full EP today, and for more from Aaron Friend & the Enemies, join them today on Facebook and Instagram.
