Sully Banger, Providence EP

We’re all searching for ways to be productive, to find a little peace of mind in a troubling time. That was at the forefront of Sully Banger’s mind when he set out to create Providence, a five song EP of relaxing, jazzy hip-hop instrumentals that he released at the beginning of May. “I hope that when people are cooped up and listen to my music, they’ll feel a little bit better, or at least productive.”

Named for the city he lives (and is currently quarantining in), the EP represents a foray into new territory for Banger. While he’s got a musical background, his main job is a professional wrestler, which probably isn’t the first career that comes to mind when you think “chill lo-fi hip-hop beats to study to.” He’s played in bands before, but those were mostly punk and hardcore outfits, which feels a little more synonymous with the bombastic aggression that gets tossed around the wrestling ring. In the past, Sully has popped up as a surprise act at music gigs, staging a wrestling match in the pit, like he did when Camp Blood and La Neve played Great Scott back in 2019. But even over the phone, there’s a gentle and understanding kindness in Sully’s voice. 

Photo by Emily Gardner

On the shift to a different genre, Banger said, “I don’t think it was something I needed right now, to play loud, aggressive, and fast music. I’ve been having a hard time- I think everyone’s been having a hard time. I needed something that was really calming, to make me feel productive.”

Utilizing electronic production styles helped Sully tap into his spontaneous creativity, especially when it came to sound design. He utilized a field sampling technique, going around his household and recording percussive sounds that he could layer into his tracks. “There’s a couple instruments that are in my audio program, but I tried to customize everything, even if it was a built-in preset. I made it exactly how I wanted it to be. Most of the percussion is like, shaking a box of D&D dice or clinking on cups. That was the fun part of it. Walking around, hitting stuff with sticks. Everything was an instrument.”

Playing off the stereotype of this kind of music, he refers to Providence as “lo-fi beats to pandemic to.” He sought out to create something grounding and relaxing that would give him something to focus on and be productive. He stresses the importance of finding ways to relax, clear the mind, and get something done: “Even if it’s in the background, you feel a little inspired, you can get into a groove. It doesn’t need to be the focal point of what you’re doing. I think if you’re listening to something really laid back and drawing, you’re going to be in a better headspace. I was trying to accomplish that for myself, then I thought other people might benefit from that too.” 

It’s definitely a feat he’s achieved with the EP, and it’s for the best that he was able to do so. The past few months have been hard for countless people across the world. After his partner’s father died from coronavirus the other month, she and Sully felt the full brunt of the tragic reality we are collectively facing. At first, Banger dealt with this loss with some degree of (understandable) escapism. He says, “The first month of everything, I just sat on my ass and played video games and farted around. That was my way of coping, just tuning out and not doing anything. My partner is super productive and doing stuff all the time. She said, ‘you can totally do that, that’s a valid reaction. But at some point, it’s going to make you feel worse, and when you start to feel worse, you’re going to need to recognize it.’”

Being so closely affected by the virus, Sully understands – probably better than most – how important it is to take social distancing protocol seriously. He’s a little confused and unnerved by the very vocal groups of people who are protesting the shutdowns of the last few months. “ I don’t understand why people want to rush it. I think a lot of people have a hard time dealing with themselves, being alone for a while. But it’s not something that should warrant being a danger to your community.” Sully cites his experience in the wrestling community – which isn’t strictly left-leaning – as a lens through which he can see the divides in the current social and political discourse. “I think my bubble is a little bigger than a lot of people’s on the progressive-leaning side. I have wrestling fans in my social networks who are plandemic sharers. How do you reason with someone who has that mindset? The line is almost exactly the same as the political divide, I think.”

Despite his efforts in terms of his own productivity, Sully still stresses being understanding and gentle with yourself. “I don’t think people should feel guilty for not being productive or not doing stuff during this. You make art in private when you’re able to go out and function in society. If you’re stuck at home the whole time, you shouldn’t be expected to write a book. But there’s a pressure people put on themselves.”

Stream Sully Banger’s Providence EP below via Spotify.