Ears Wide Open: Sun Rai

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Sun Rai

Yacht rock fans, there’s a new guy in town and his name is Rai Thistlethwayte – aka Sun Rai. Thistlethwayte may already be known to some for his success as the frontman and songwriter for Sydney, Australia-based pop rock band Thirsty Merc (they’ve been nominated for numerous ARIA Awards), but the easy-going ’70s AM era sound of Sun Rai beams with such warmth you’d think the multi-instrumentalist had been living in sunny California all along. Recently relocated to the City of Angels, Sun Rai tosses funk, pop and jazz all into one feel-good package on his debut EP, “Pocket Music.” Songs such as “San Francisco Street” will easily entice fans of Mayer Hawthorne and “Til the Lights Come On” will have dance mavens quickly strutting to the dance floor. File next to Steely Dan, Kenny Loggins and Bernhoft.

||| Stream: “San Francisco Street” and “Rose!”

||| Live: Sun Rai plays tonight at Bardot.