Strawberry Guy - “Sun Outside My Window”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 9

Pairs Well With…Father John Misty, Sufjan Stevens, Belle & Sebastian

Classic piano-pop and bedroom folk songwriting intermingle on Strawberry Guy’s debut full-length Sun Outside My Window, a cinematic record aided by lush instrumentation accompanying the UK artist’s vulnerable songwriting. It’s a beautiful and consistent piece, an example of Strawberry Guy’s use of orchestral flourishes that build his otherwise lo-fi, emotive songs into something much more grand and ambitious. Sweeping strings make sad moments especially resonant - Strawberry Guy’s evolution is clear here, moving from his floating, chillwave roots that made for excellent foundation to the rich and rewarding arrangements that power Sun Outside My Window. (Kevin McStravick)