Debut EP from Stephen Sol & The 7

Stephen Sol took his first musical steps to the sounds of Johnny Cash and Elvis, passed down by his grandfather “Boots.” A secondhand guitar and a growing obsession with The Beatles and My Morning Jacket soon followed, planting the seeds of a songwriter with both reverence for tradition and hunger for exploration.

Today, Sol channels that foundation into his role as frontman of Stephen Sol & The 7, a nine-piece Washington DC outfit blending folk storytelling, rock energy, soulful harmonies and flashes of playful absurdity. It’s a sound equally cinematic and intimate, as comfortable in stripped-down reflection as it is in full-throttle, horn-drenched euphoria.

With an output that threads mystical lyricism and spiritual undercurrents through indie folk rock textures, their music feels mythic and still tethered to real life emotion. Across their catalogue, themes of transformation, rebirth, desire and ego find expression through symbolic imagery and bright instrumentation. The group draws influence from Pink Floyd, Mac DeMarco, Bob Dylan and even contemporary humorist Bo Burnham, giving their music a sense of unpredictability.

That expansive vision now crystallises on their debut EP titled Sunshine Wine, a five-track outing that captures the golden warmth of summer, the mystery of night and the restorative power of love. Blending psychedelic folk rock with soulful vibes, it’s an intoxicating collection that confirms the band’s place as one of the most exciting rising acts from the DC scene.

Recorded in the capital with the full live ensemble, the EP shines the energy of close collaboration and the expression of live instrumentation. “The opening title track, Sunshine Wine,” pours out as a golden-hour anthem; nostalgic, healing and intoxicating in its warmth, it feels like sipping the last rays of summer through glass. Its nocturnal counterpart, “The Moon,” takes inspiration from wolves howling under a mystic sky, lifted by soaring harmonies from Yasmin Wamala, Bema Tadey and LEIF.

On “Forever Changed,” the group strip back for a haunting ballad of love and loss, delicate and compelling, calling to mind the emotional intimacy of artists like Hozier and Iron & Wine. “Spring (I Made It)” flips the mood, erupting into a survival anthem that blends alternative rock intensity with cinematic storytelling, serving up a celebration of rebirth and determination. Closing track “Hum of Love” leaves listeners in a glow, its radiant message a reminder of love as the universe’s deepest vibration.

With previous singles “Eternal Peace” and “Forever Changed” laying the groundwork, Sunshine Wine stands as their first emphatic statement that mirrors both the band’s live energy and their capacity for absorbing songwriting. Already known for high-energy, packed performances at venues such as Union Stage and Galactic Panther, Stephen Sol & The 7 now prepare to bring the EP to the stage with a headlining show at Union Stage on January 9th next year. That performance kicks off a regional East Coast tour leading into the release of their full-length studio album the following month.

Listen to Sunshine Wine below