In the vibrant Connecticut music scene, one name stands out - Seb Bernal. This talented singer-songwriter and guitarist has made a significant mark by performing with multiple groups. His story is a testament to the passion and support within the local music community.

Unveiling Seb Bernal's Musical Odyssey in Connecticut

Early Musical Beginnings

Seb Bernal first picked up a guitar at the tender age of 13. However, his musical journey actually began with the bass. At 15, he joined Justin Esmer, a Hamden-based singer-songwriter, as his bass player and started performing shows in Connecticut. Esmer became a major influence on him, inspiring him to keep growing as a musician."He's such a talented singer, musician and writer. I felt so inspired to keep up with him and I really feel like the bulk of my musical development was there," Bernal shared.During this time, he also played in Brooke Dougan's backing band, considering himself a bassist-for-hire and learning the ropes of being a local Connecticut musician.

The Birth of Death Valley Sun Troopers

Though initially a bassist, Bernal soon started writing his own songs. He began jamming with his childhood friend and drummer Dan Lindberg, and these sessions evolved into the start of Death Valley Sun Troopers.As they played more together, Bernal's songwriting became more collaborative, feeding off Lindberg's input. "When I started, it was just me writing songs, piecing together riffs and trying to figure out how to play the guitar. Eventually I found out that [Lindberg] was also a drummer. And ever since then, it's gotten more and more collaborative," Bernal explained.

Recording the Debut Album

By 2021, Bernal and Lindberg started writing the songs that would become their debut album "BREAKFAST" in May 2023. It was a challenging process as it was their first time recording and Bernal was still finding his musical voice."I was still figuring out my style on the guitar, how I wanted to sound singing and my lyrics or however the songs were going to be structured. It took a really, really long time to get everything together," he recalled.

The Impact of the Connecticut Music Scene

Connecticut's music scene is known for its passion and kindness. Bernal emphasized how supportive the people in the scene are."When the album came out, I was immediately pessimistic, as I was worried people would think that the release was 'so unfished, so unraw or so unpolished.' But the reception ended up being the opposite. I felt more and more accomplished as time went on. I think I've gotten to a point where I'm at peace with how the songs turned out and I'm happy with that being our debut album," he said.Since then, Bernal and Lindberg have been performing across Connecticut, making friends with many bands along the way. They have a rotating "army of musicians" who join them during shows, giving the songs their own interpretations."I've always wanted Death Valley Sun Troopers to become kind of like a collective where everyone comes and helps out. It's still me and Dan at the core, but people's inputs matter to me and I think it's really cool to see that live," Bernal added.Recently, Bernal performed in Storrs for the first time at The Dog Pound. The show was a huge success, with an energetic crowd moshing and dancing along."It was way better than I ever could have imagined. Pretty much all my UConn friends were there, the mosh pit was crazy, the basement was packed. There was so much joy and that's great when you look out into the crowd and you see everyone having a great time," he said.