Song history written by TimelandIsWacky
A sun explodes when it runs out of hydrogen in its core. Our sun is no different, and will most likely explode in a few billion years — though it doesn’t have the mass required for a supernova. While we don’t exist anywhere near a star whose explosion would risk human life, if the sun were to explode right now, it would no doubt engulf Earth in a ball of gas, ending all life on the planet before becoming a white dwarf and fading away. This existential (albeit distant) scenario is the focus of “Exploding Suns,” the sixth track on Changes released October 28th, 2022. Backed by a chill but dark instrumental with haunting synths and finger-snapping, Stu and Ambrose sing of the chance of armageddon at any moment, and the potential fallout, wrapping back around to a time before life.
Multiple demos for the song have been shown off over the years. The first demo was released on the limited time benefit album Good Music to Lift Los Angeles before a final release on Demos Vol. 8: Music To Change To. It features electronic instrumentation with some small but notable changes to the song’s melody. The biggest of these differences is a new section before each verse similar to the final song’s pre-chorus. The second demo first appeared in the film Sleeping Monster and was later released on Super Bloom: A Benefit for Fire Relief in Los Angeles and Demos Vol. 8. This take on the song is very short with Stu only singing a unique set of existential lyrics over the pre-verse and two lines from the verse itself. The instrumentation is sparse though mixed more organically than the first demo. Like the second demo, the third was first heard in Sleeping Monster before its release on Demos Vol. 8. Unlike the prior demos however, this instrumental version was done with real instruments and features a heavy section around the three minute mark.
The song was first foreshadowed all the way back in 2017 during the song “Murder of the Universe”, where Han-Tyumi, vomiting an extraordinary amount of bile, says “exploding suns vomit comets.” Changes was originally intended to be released that year, and according to a press release the final version of “Exploding Suns” was recorded at the same time. “Murder of the Universe” was most likely trying to set up what was, at the time, considered to be the fifth album of that year.
Only Stu (vocals/Wurlitzer/synthesizer/bass), Cavs (drums), Cook (bass/synthesizer) and Ambrose (percussion/vocals) play on the song. “Exploding Suns” is also the only track on Changes recorded by Sam Joseph. Like the rest of the songs on Changes, this song takes its influence from the album’s opener “Change.” The chords and melodies are built around Ambrose’s section of the track, as well as the opening motif.
The song was released on October 28th, 2022 as part of Changes, and was later made the b-side of “No Body” for a limited edition 7” single.
This song has never been played live but Ambrose has said he wants to play it live.