Sun Speak Break Boundaries with Probiotic Orchestrations

As genre conventions continue to morph and blur, a wealth of stunning new music is being created by artists who dare to transcend traditional boundaries and simply play what comes naturally. Few groups embody that adventurous spirit more than Sun Speak, whose new album Probiotic Orchestrations offers a dazzling journey through sound, style, and imagination.

Formed a decade ago in the crucible of Chicago’s experimental music scene, guitarist Matt Gold and drummer Nate Friedman first collaborated with some of the city’s brightest talents, including Makaya McCraven and Patricia Barber. Together, they forged a sonic partnership rooted in curiosity, intensity, and playfulness. Over the years, Sun Speak has expanded its horizons, and with Probiotic Orchestrations—their sixth release—they reach new creative heights.

The project now thrives as a trio with Daniel Pierson, a fellow Chicagoan who first joined as engineer and sound designer but has evolved into a full creative collaborator on keyboards. The three musicians now live in different parts of the country, yet in 2024 they reunited in a remote seaside cabin in New Hampshire. There, amid quiet isolation and daily bursts of inspiration, they composed and recorded the material that would become Probiotic Orchestrations.

The result is music that feels both urgent and unbound, pulling together the rhythmic drive of rock, the improvisatory daring of jazz, the shimmer of electronica, the storytelling spirit of Americana, and the expansive textures of progressive music. It’s adventurous yet accessible, powerful yet playful.

“This record showcases everything we love about our way of making music together,” says Nate. “Playing with sounds and textures, improvisation and chance alongside deliberate songwriting. We're enjoying folding Dan into the tapestry of the music—it’s a new and exciting avenue for us.”

Dan reflects on their shared roots: “We all come from that Chicago scene where jazz and noise rock and hip hop all collide. There’s deep experimentation alongside great songwriting, freedom alongside discipline.”

For Matt, the essence is simple: “It’s all about trusting each other as long-time friends—and simply playing the music.”

Probiotic Orchestrations captures that trust and creativity across nine tracks that weave humor, depth, and bold sonic textures:

Tracklist

1. With Our Chins to the Sky

2. Canadian Dream

3. Running While Crying

4. Everything is a Clock

5. Ruby and the Flam

6. Way Too Early

7. There’s a New Librarian in Town

8. Fine Line

9. The Return of KJ

From the propulsive urgency of “Running While Crying” to the whimsical mystery of “There’s a New Librarian in Town,” each piece unfolds like a chapter in an unpredictable story, blending composition with improvisation in thrilling ways.

Probiotic Orchestrations is available now in heavyweight black vinyl and digipak CD editions—a must-have for listeners who crave music that expands the imagination while remaining deeply human and inviting.

Sun Speak’s latest release proves once again that when musicians trust each other, embrace experimentation, and play from the heart, boundaries disappear—and music flourishes.