“SUN TO RISE EP” by Stephen Foster

From the coastal stillness of Santa Cruz comes Sun to Rise Ep, the newest release from songwriter Stephen Foster—an artist who continues to carve out a gentle but resolute presence in today’s crowded musical landscape. Across just four tracks, Foster creates an atmosphere that lingers long after the music stops, balancing warmth and vulnerability with the kind of subtle mastery that doesn’t beg to be noticed but deserves to be felt. Opening with the title track, the EP sets a tone of hushed optimism, blending soft instrumentation, hard to ignore vocals and acoustic textures into a comforting embrace. “In Our Moments” follows closely behind, unfolding like a quiet conversation between memory and melody.

These songs don’t rush to make a point—they breathe, expanding with grace and introspection. At the heart of the project is a transformative take on “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” reimagined not as a cheerful nursery tune but as a shadowy folk hymn. Foster’s rendition strips the song down to its emotional core, revealing a kind of cinematic unease beneath the surface—proof of his ability to find hidden weight in even the most familiar corners. The EP closes with “Untitled,” a minimal, meditative piece that gently fades into silence, leaving behind a space that feels sacred and still. What makes Sun to Rise stand out isn’t just its craftsmanship, but its restraint.

Foster doesn’t overreach—he trusts the listener to lean in, to engage with the silences as much as the sounds. Each track is purposeful, guided by a belief in music as a vessel for reflection, memory, and presence. Stephen Foster has once again delivered something rare: a body of work that asks for patience and offers depth in return. It’s music made not for the algorithm, but for the quiet hour between dusk and dawn. Whether you’ve followed his work from the start or are just discovering his catalog, Sun to Rise Ep is the kind of release that deepens with every listen—and it’s yet another reason to keep watching where this artist goes next.

Garcia Penned 🖊️