Sunburn by Dominic Fike

Review written by Space Cadet

Dominic Fike has been my favorite artist since I first heard his 2018 EP, Don’t Forget About Me, Demos. Fike’s music reflects his Naples, Florida roots, blending hip-hop, rock, and alternative influences. His genre-blending talent is extraordinary; the man can’t be boxed in. Fike’s career soared after signing a $4 million deal with Columbia Records. In 201, his debut studio album, What Could Possibly Go Wrong, was released. This album showcased his versatile sound and willingness to experiment. It received mixed reviews but solidified his reputation as a rising star in alternative and pop music.

Fikes 2023 album, Sunburn, is a shining example of an artist evolving into their most authentic self. This album blends Fike’s Florida roots with raw explorations of growth and nostalgia. It’s a window into Fike’s life, his struggles with addiction, family drama, and the challenges of fame. What makes this album so relatable is the way Fike lays it all out – raw, real, and unapologetically honest.

The messiness of Fike’s life is revealed in the opening track, “How Much is Weed?” Immediately, it establishes a raw and intimate tone that runs through the album. While it might initially sound like a breezy question about the price of weed, it’s used as a gateway to explore deeper themes of family drama, addiction, and self-reflection. It’s a simple and almost cathartic opener to the album. The slow burn track pulls us into Fike’s complex world of emotions.

We get a taste of where Fike came from throughout the album, not only within the lyrics, which dive deep into his upbringing in Naples, Florida, but we also get to hear how his musical influences have inspired the album. “Think Fast” is a standout example, exploring Fike’s relationship with his past. The track features Weezer and interpolates elements of Weezer’s “Undone (The Sweater Song).” It perfectly represents Fike’s ability to blend his alternative and modern sound with a twinge of nostalgic influence so seamlessly, undoubtedly one of the best elements throughout this album.

Co-written by Fike and Red Hot Chili Peppers members, “Frisky” brings a playful, funky energy to Sunburn. First seeing it performed live during Fike’s 2022 Out of Order tour, this track was the one I was most excited about when Sunburn dropped. The punchy bass lines are reminiscent of Flea’s signature style, infusing it with that familiar Chili Peppers groove. This collaboration perfectly blends Fike’s eclectic sound with alternative rock and modern pop. He even samples Chili Peppers’ song, “Scar Tissue,” one of my all-time favorite songs. Frisky captures the longing for connection in a distant, messy relationship.

“Mama’s Boy” and “Dark” both showcase Dominic Fike’s ability to open up emotionally about his personal life. In “Mama’s Boy,” Fike explores deep themes of emotional abandonment, identity, and the complexities of relationships, wrapped in a surreal and childlike narrative. The childlike chanting (“M-A-M-A-B-O-Y”) contrasts with the deeper sadness of the verses, creating a duality between innocence and emotional distress. The playful tone masks an undercurrent of longing and loss. This track lets Fike’s vulnerability take center stage as he admits feeling stuck between childhood and adulthood. For me, this candidness is one of the most relatable moments on the album.

“Dark” dives into Fike’s emotional struggles with isolation and fame. This song illustrates the bittersweet-ness of memories, highlighting both the innocence of the past and the weight of the present. The song’s tone shifts toward the end with a tender interlude of Fike speaking with his mother. This moment reminds us that behind the fame, Fike is still just a person seeking connection and understanding like the rest of us. It’s a moment of comfort and vulnerability that adds depth to the track and rounds out a song that grapples with personal demons. Both songs highlight introspection and genuine moments of emotional connection, making them some of the album’s most powerful tracks.

Over the past year and a half, I’ve probably listened to Sunburn about 100 times. Maybe I’m biased because I’m a die-hard Dominic Fike fan, but what makes this album so special is the personality behind the tracks. Whether he’s rapping or singing, Fike puts himself into each and every line, and his charm is evident in every track. He has always approached his voice as if it were another instrument, pushing its boundaries and using it in experimental ways; this is by far his most successful album in that regard.

What’s also striking about Sunburn is how cohesive it feels. At a running time of only 39 minutes, it doesn’t overstay its welcome. Each song feels like it has its own purpose within the larger narrative. The album doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard to be anything; it just is. That’s something I admire about Dominic Fike; he doesn’t ever seem to be chasing trends or trying to conform to any particular sound. Instead, he’s carving out his own space in the alt-pop, indie, rap scene, one that’s uniquely his. It’s a delicate balance between vulnerability and confidence, and Fike nails it with Sunburn.