Motel Sundown Capture Fleeting Perfection on “What Do I Know”

Motel Sundown return with their third single from the upcoming EP, What Do I Know, a track that blends reflective warmth with a subtle sense of liberation. Building on the emotional landscapes of earlier singles Echoes and Colours in the Rain, the band captures those fleeting moments of absolute peace — instances when everything feels just right. Recorded at Coastal Sound Studio in Liverpool and mixed by Sean Reid, the track showcases the band’s evolving sound, bridging classic influences with a modern sensibility.

1. “What Do I Know” feels steeped in reflection — there’s a sense of clarity and calm that runs through it. What inspired the song, and how does it connect to the themes you’re exploring on the new EP?

It’s actually a very old song, existing before the band got together, but it’s certainly right for us in style. The inspiration was actually very precise for this song I was travelling to visit a friend and he lives on the coast and I remember watching the sun setting over the sea and thinking how perfect things can be just for a moment, and how we can never hold those moments or explain them in words but there is a second of ego death and absolute peace that we all have from time to time. I remember really clearly finishing it off with a friend, MT Jones and thinking this was the first good song I had ever written. So it holds a special place for me.

2. The track was recorded at Coastal Sound Studio in Liverpool and mixed by Sean Reid, who’s worked with artists like Iggy Pop and The Pretenders. What was that process like, and how did those collaborations shape the final sound?

Sean is really great, it’s nice to send something away and have someone send it back where it’s even better. He can realise our sound and I think really understands what we are aiming for.

3. You’ve described the song as capturing those fleeting moments when “everything is just right.” How do you translate that kind of emotional stillness into music?

I think the stillness is a nice relief, to get out of your own head for once. So it’s not a quiet stillness, it’s like a bursting liberated feeling full of life and hopefully the feel of the track captures that a bit.

4. This is your third single from the upcoming EP — following “Echoes” and “Colours in the Rain.” How do you see “What Do I Know” fitting within the broader story or mood of the record?

It’s a pretty positive bunch of songs actually there’s some more to come that are pretty upbeat, which is nice. I think music should provide some inspiration and hope. I think the best stuff is bittersweet, I’m not fond of things that are just purely negative, it’s one dimensional besides it’s easy to be cynical, it’s a quite cowardly way to be.

5. Your music often draws comparisons to Fleetwood Mac and CSNY, but there’s a distinctly modern warmth to your sound. How have your influences evolved, and where do you feel Motel Sundown are heading creatively with this next release?

I think you can only make music in the time you’re in, there’s no way it sounds like our songs are from the 60s or 70s even if we are reading from the same hymn sheet. Obviously there’s the element that we’re heard later music and production they couldn’t have heard but it’s also a matter of how different the world is influencing the writing and performing. Also there’s loads of great bands from the 90’s to now that have influenced our lyrics, sonics and ideas. In some ways this EP’s songs are a bit more like the debut album than the El Dorado EP, if a bit more mature and more modern musically.