On The Record With: Dune Blue
Sarah Walsh
September 15, 2026
Photographer: Cherry Mac
The Brooklyn-based indie surf band Dune Blue is officially done with their Always Sunny tour, with their final stop on September 10th at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn. This tour came off of the release of their 2025 album Doom & Bloom, and their latest single “Always Sunny.” With over 26k monthly listeners on Spotify, Dune Blue was able to tour in New York and the Carolinas.
As their tour responsibilities died down, I got the opportunity to ask the Dune Blue members (Roland Mounier on vocals/guitar; Connor Picascio on electric guitar; Leo Blomenfield on bass; and Jensen Meeker on drums) questions about their career so far, and what lies ahead.
Lou Magazine: You have been releasing singles since 2021, with an EP in 2023. What made you decide that 2025 was the time to release a full-length album?
Dune Blue:
“It felt like by 2025 we finally hit our stride as a band and a songwriting unit. We also made connections with two Aussie engineers who we greatly admired, Callum Howell and Jack Nigro, and the tunes that were coming out of those collaborations were too good not to have an album ahaha. I think it really captured our energy and tastes as a band for that first era of Dune Blue and we are so proud of it.”
Who were/are your biggest musical influences? Who/what nurtured your relationship with Surf-rock?
Dune Blue:
“This will probably be interesting here but not many of them are "surf rock". And the way we use surf rock as a descriptor is definitely not the classic definition such as Dick Dale etc. Some of our biggest influences include The Police, Smashing Pumpkins, Sticky Fingers, The Ramones, Blink 182, Green Day, Big Country, The Beatles, Mom Jeans, The Kooks, Bob Marley. The "surf" vibe or "indie surf" descriptor really comes from Roland's relationship with the ocean and growing up surfing in a surf town, that lifestyle kind of permeates and inspires much of the music.”
And now, the question we ask all of the artists we interview:
What are three albums everyone should listen to at least once in their life?
Dune Blue:
“Siamese Dream - Smashing Pumpkins
Caress Your Soul - Sticky Fingers
The Crossing - Big Country”
Photographer: Cherry Mac
How has your creative process changed from the beginning of your career? Has the process changed since you’ve gained a following?
Dune Blue:
“Dune Blue started as a solo project in Roland's dorm room, kind of a Tame Impala situation with Roland doing all of the instrumentation. So you can say the creative process evolved the moment Jensen and Connor got involved in 2021/2022, when we started playing shows in NYC and began recording together. Now, the songs usually start as an acoustic outline from Roland and take shape as we all come together. We record all of our tracks live at the studio, where Jensen goes to town on the kit and lays the foundation. And then we build up vocal and guitar layers in our studio in Williamsburg.”
Because Dune Blue started as a solo project, Roland has been the sole writer credited on their Album and EP. This pattern was broken on their latest single.
I noticed that Connor has a songwriting credit on your latest single “Always Sunny.” Roland and Connor, what was the process of writing a song together?
Dune Blue:
Connor:"We are so proud of “Always Sunny”. Whenever Roland and I bounce ideas off one another, they always very quickly solidify into a song. Typically it starts with Roland sharing some chord changes and humming a melody, and then me adding whatever I can on top of it. Roland always does such a great job of making the process constructive and always allows other ideas to add to the song. Any time we work on something together it's always so enjoyable. I think that’s why Dune Blue has such a unique sound to it. “Always Sunny” is different because it just started as a riff that I had recorded in my voice memos for a while and Roland really helped transform it into what it is now. I’ve always had Midwest emo roots and it feels good to have a Dune Blue song with that style."
Do you enjoy being an independent band? Or is signing to a record label a goal for the group? Please tell us why!
Dune Blue:
“Yes we enjoy it! We've navigated interest from a few labels the past couple of years but it's never made sense at the time. We are so inspired by some of the big independent Aussie bands who are still crushing it and maybe we're just a bit stubborn and want to do this thing ourselves as long as we can.”
Since Dune Blue just wrapped up their tour, I wanted to ask them about life on the road and live performance.
What is your favorite song to perform live?
Dune Blue:
Roland: "”Freaks”, because it always feels like we nailed the balance between all of our influences as musicians and there’s this push and pull between us all as a band. It just gets me going on stage.”
Connor: “"Freaks”. So much energy and is the most dune blue song that Dune Blue has ever Dune Blue’d.”
How has your most recent tour changed your relationship with your music and your fans?
Dune Blue:
“Well we were just blown away by the crowds in the Carolinas! They came with so much energy and enthusiasm, especially for our first time in all of those cities, we were so touched by the response. It really adds fuel to our fire. And then to come home to Stephen Talkhouse on Long Island and have it be the best one yet (we've played the last 3 summers) absolutely packed and buzzing, the hometown fans and friends, we left that show refreshed and ready to make some new music.”
Photographer: Cherry Mac
Although the tour is finished, Dune Blue is more energized than ever before.
What should audiences expect from Dune Blue going forward?
Dune Blue:
“We are just getting started. We can't tell you what new music will sound like, we never know. We just want to continue to be honest and authentic and make what excites and moves us and tour and meet you all and party and just have a blast doing it.”
You can find Dune Blue on all streaming platforms.
Visit DuneBlueMusic.com to track new music, merchandise, and join their email list so aptly named “The Lagoon.”
