Distracted

BY: ALLIE RUSSELL & AMY SCHWARTZ

From the beginning, Sweet Hudson has drawn inspiration from their namesakes – Mr. Hudson and Mr. Sweet – the high school music teachers of Jaden Epis and Oscar Rodriguez, the band’s lead guitarists and vocalists. “Mr. Hudson was more into jazz, he taught us a lot of jazz pieces and chords, which became the foundation of our sound,” they explained. With Jaden Epis and Oscar Rodriguez being the founding members of the band, and Cole Burrell and Sean Peco being the newest members, their sound has gone through much evolution. Over time, they’ve built upon the jazz foundation, adding more instrumentation like synths and keys while maintaining their core music identity. Lately, they’ve also begun experimenting with incorporating different languages into their music. “We have a song fully in Japanese, and another one coming out soon that’s entirely in Spanish”, Rodriguez shared. 

Sweet Hudson’s two latest singles, “Lovely Coincidence” and “Not That Guy”, mark a unique milestone in their creative process. For the first time, Rodriguez brought nearly finished songs to the rest of the band, a shift from their usual collaborative approach. “I wrote them in 2024, and it took almost a year to iron out the details before showing them to the guys,” he said. “In some ways, it was easier to record since everything was already written, but at the same time, it was tough to capture the same vibe from the demos.”

The recording process, often taking place in Epis’ attic, also saw them experimenting with new techniques, particularly for drums. “We recorded the cymbals and shells separately, which was a challenge in editing, but it gave us the sound we were looking for,” explained lead drummer, Sean Peco. Additionally, for the first time, they incorporated elements from the original demos into the final versions. “With these songs, it almost felt necessary to keep some of the original takes to preserve the vibe.”  

When it comes to artistic influences, Sweet Hudson’s musical tastes are always shifting. Right now, they all have different artists they’re looking up to, including Radiohead, The Strokes, Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Supercar, and Title Fight. “We try to take bits and parts of the sounds that we like ourselves and implement them into our music with our own interpretation of those ideas,” explained Rodriguez. One particular take stood out, with lead bassist Cole Burrell poking fun at Oscar Rodriguez’s love of Coldplay. “Saying that Coldplay is the best band of all time is such an unpopular opinion these days that it’s actually bold, and I respect that.” This type of unconditional support is sure to be what keeps the band’s bond strong.

Since 2023, Sweet Hudson has exclusively released singles – a choice made out of necessity rather than strategy. “But we’re on the way,” teased Burnell. “You heard it here first – we’ve got some stuff in the pipeline.” The band acknowledged that it’s been a challenge to put together a longer project due to life getting in the way. “It’s been a crazy journey, start to finish,” they admitted. “We didn’t think people would mind a singles-driven release schedule, and it just made the most sense for us.”

As they continue to refine their sound, the band is optimistic about the future. “It’s always nice when we’re on the same page about the sonic direction we want to head in,” Rodriguez shared. “I have a lot of self doubt about whether we’re going in the right direction, but these guys give me confidence that what we’re doing is right. I’m really excited for everything we have planned this year.” With their continued growth, experimentation, and plans for bigger projects coming soon, Sweet Hudson is proving that their journey is only just getting started.