"Sunshine Baby" by The Japanese House // Song Review

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The Japanese House's "Sunshine Baby" has a certain warmth and glow, while also carrying the weight of inevitable change and the conflicting feelings that come with it. Amber Bain, the British singer-songwriter behind The Japanese House, captures that feeling in such a stunning way. Her vivid and introspective songwriting captures the mundane, small details and translates them into an intimate and profound snapshot of a moment in time. "I wanna be a part of it, I wanna sing along, the feeling when the windscreen wipers line up with the song, perform my stupid rituals, everything is cyclical, hold on to this feeling 'cause you won't feel it for long," she sings in the opening verse. 

This song has such a wistful, golden feeling that is also full of longing. It's deeply rooted in nostalgia, while still looking onward with optimism. "Sunshine Baby" captures the complex feelings that come with knowing that one chapter is closing and the future feeling uncertain, yet still hopeful. Willingly letting go and trusting that everything will work out, and the bravery that it takes to do so, is beautifully depicted. In this instance, she wrote this song from the perspective of knowing her relationship was coming to an end and the bittersweet feelings that come along with having that realization. 

"I don't know what's right anymore, I don't wanna fight anymore," she sings in the chorus. "Sitting in the back seat, driving with my sunshine baby, well, I've gone a little crazy, surely, someone's gonna save me now". 

"Sunshine Baby is my nickname for my dog, and my ex and I always used to lay on the beach together being sunshine babies," Amber told Rolling Stone alongside its release. "The chorus is kind of a submission to the end of our relationship, but singing it in a positive light. There's a transience in every part of a relationship, and in the circle of everything it comes back around."

This song is so central to the theme of the entire album, it truly feels like the heart of In The End, It Always Does. That cyclical feeling is also represented in such a direct and simplistic way on the cover of the album as well. "I miss my dog and I miss falling in love, I miss the feeling that you get when someone fits just like a glove, I can't help but question, maybe this isn't helping." she sings in the second verse. "Putting off the end 'cause in the end, it always does". 

As with the rest of her 2023 album In the End, It Always Does, Amber worked with The 1975's George Daniel on production, alongside Chloe Kraemer. I absolutely love the music they make together, their creative chemistry shines through the entire project. There's a dreamy, shimmering nostalgia that sits at the forefront of everything he produces, and it's something I've always been drawn to with his work. He's been one of my favorite producers for many years, and it's been so exciting to see him collaborate with artists outside of the band in ways that still carry his signature emotional depth.

The 1975's Matty Healy also features on backing vocals for "Sunshine Baby" and I love how their voices compliment each other so beautifully. I especially love the way he and Amber trade lines on the bridge.

One of my favorite concert memories is also tied to this song. I got the chance to hear "Sunshine Baby" live at the 2024 Shadow of the City festival in Asbury Park, NJ. The venue is right by the beach, and she and her band performed it during golden hour, just as the sun was setting. The song already feels so summery to me, and paired with that stunning backdrop, it felt like I was experiencing it exactly the way it was meant to be heard when they wrote it.


Check out more from my song of the week series here + more about The Japanese House. ☆ Thanks for reading!

-Melissa ♡



Photo Credit: Melissa Kacar



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