Field Medic

Prolific singer/songwriter Kevin Patrick Sullivan took on the name Field Medic in 2013 as a moniker for his lo-fi folk songs. Taking inspiration from self-imposed recording limitations, Sullivan got more exciting results documenting his songs at home than he did working in more professional studio settings. He applied this intimate approach to a string of lesser releases before it solidified on albums like 2020′s Floral Prince, and he moved into more traditional studio recording for 2022′s Grow Your Hair Long if You're Wanting to See Something You Can Change. A fascination with trap music led Sullivan to experimentation with electronic drum programming and synthesizers on his 2023 effort Light Is Gone 2. Sullivan was active in music from a young age, forming the group Westwood & Willow with his brother Sean when he was just 18. He had various projects before Field Medic emerged in 2013 as an outlet for his four-track-recorded solo folk songs. Sullivan’s lo-fi approach included rudimentary recording apparatus and a self-imposed limitation of never laying down more than three takes of a song. Early on, his output was prolific, with multiple self-released EPs and largely improvised collections including 2013′s Crushed Pennies and 2014′s Fuck You Grim Reaper. A proper album arrived in 2015 with Light Is Gone, and Sullivan soon gained traction with his hyperactive release schedule and consistent touring. He signed with indie label Run for Cover, which first released Songs from the Sunroom in 2017, a collection of lo-fi songs tracked in the sunroom of Sullivan’s rented home, some of which had previously been released on cassette or limited-scope EPs. Already deep into a colorful discography, 2019′s Fade into the Dawn marked Field Medic’s most fleshed-out album up until that point, including live drums and additional guitar overdubs rather than Sullivan’s usual minimal drum machine backing. The next year, Floral Prince continued Sullivan’s collage approach to production, combining new songs, previously released tracks, and other various documents of his songwriting for a pleasantly disjointed, mixtape-like listening experience. For his next album, Sullivan worked with producer and multi-instrumentalist Gabe Goodman, moving away from the home-recorded bedroom pop sound he’d worked on before and trying studio recording for the first time. With the help of Goodman and a host of various collaborators, Sullivan translated his songwriting style into higher fidelity for the album Grow Your Hair Long if You're Wanting to See Something You Can Change, which was released in October 2022. He shifted gears once again on his next record. Completed not even a full year after his last, Field Medic’s September 2023-released album Light Is Gone 2 found Sullivan adding electronic elements to his folk-inspired songwriting. He named the album after his 2015 debut to mark it as a stylistic turning point, one where he finally had control over the synths and drum machines he’d tried to work into his music in his early, lo-fi days with only marginal success. Light Is Gone 2 was mixed remotely by onetime Death Cab for Cutie member Chris Walla, who brought definition and sparkle to the production. ~ Fred Thomas