Captured by Katie Geller
Katie Geller | March 21st 2025
Pop duo SUM SUN, comprised of Nick Benton and Ilan Pomerance, has mastered the combination of intimate instrumentation with grand, energetic production. “We’re trying to make songs that sound good in a stadium, made from my bedroom,” shared Ilan.
When asked about their experimentation during the production process, Pomerance answered, “We’re constantly changing our songwriting techniques. We start on piano or guitar and we try tothink that, you know, the best sounding song should really feel great on just one instrument.” SUM SUN emphasize their songs’ core structures first, separate from the complexity added later to achieve their signature energetic sound.
No source of inspiration is too small for SUM SUN. Benton finds himself inspired by everyday activities, such as running or driving. “You never know what you can find out of just looking at something.” While Benton shared that he pulls creativity from looking at art and how different colors interact, Pomerance has a completely opposing experience. One of the fascinating sources of inspiration for him comes from his color blindness which led to the creation of their song called My Favorite Color Is You. Pomerance explained that he aimed to “make it sonically feel colorful as best I could without being able to really see.” In short, the duo takes the visual perception of art and turns it into a feeling. Since Pomerance perceives colors differently than
others, he taps into a more abstract form of writing, reaching a deeper level of expression than what’s beyond the surface, making this song truly unique.
SUM SUN constantly breaks boundaries by not holding themselves back. “At the end of the day, what we’ve learned is that if it feels right, just run with it. Whatever we feel, we do,” Ilan explained. This authentic approach to making music allows Benton and Pomerance to feel excited about their new projects without being confined. Such freedom finds its way into their songs, giving their work a raw and spontaneous feeling.
Setbacks are no problem for Benton and Pomerance, who excel at turning failures into something even better. “As an artist, you always battle with perfection,” said Benton. “Nothing you make is ever perfect, but what comes after is always better than what you’ve made before.” The continuous growth of SUM SUN constantly pushes their creativity, allowing them to produce music they’re truly happy with. Ilan explained, “We start with a concept and it sort of evolves into a story that ends up being authentic to us.” When writing music can become overwhelming, remaining true to themselves is key to creating fulfilling art.
Pomerance and Benton have a special kind of musical relationship—Benton describes their collaboration as a “telepathy situation,” as they are completely in sync during the writing and production process. This kind of effortless connection is likely the reason their music feels so natural to the listener. “Ilan and I almost have a collective brain when it comes to what we want the songs to sound like.”
Benton and Pomerance make up a collaborative dream team by trusting each other’s musical instincts so well. This seamless connection not only allows them to push boundaries but strengthens their creative process, allowing them to continue making music that resonates with their listeners.
--------------------------------------
Keep up with SUM SUN!
