Sunshine Travels

Auckland band the Ruby Suns are fusing the sounds of the South Pacific and California, “bridging the gap between world music and pop.” Sole permanent member of the band, American Ryan McPhun permanently resettled in Auckland and took up work as a musician, initially playing drums for the Brunettes. “I met a lot of people in New Zealand who influenced what I was listening to,” McPhun explains, “which then changed what kind of music I was making.” McPhun began moulding the Ruby Suns’ eclectic sound, which owes as much to California’s musical legacy (most notably the Beach Boys) as to the native Maori traditions of his adopted country. As a two-piece the band is currently on tour in the US, with a number of dates supporting Nebraskan indie pop group, Tilly and the Wall. The Ruby Suns formed in 2004.