.png){kind=small}
Member Spotlight: Sunset Crave Turns Coastal Tension Into ‘Don’t Fear’
For Sunset Crave, the space between Paris and Southern California is more than geography. It is the foundation of the band’s identity. French-American songwriter Mark Verbz has built a sound around that contrast, pairing romantic atmosphere with the restless energy of the Pacific coast.
The result is cinematic alternative rock with a New Wave pulse, bass-forward grooves, funk-rock guitars and deep vocals. It is music designed to feel just as alive on a late-night drive as it does in a room full of people.
A Sound Built Between Paris and California
Verbz started playing bass at 13 and spent his early years performing in cover bands before writing and releasing his own music in Paris. In 2013, he released the EP Seven Ways under his solo artist identity. After moving to Los Angeles, that songwriting evolved into Sunset Crave, a project shaped by brighter grooves, richer textures and the live energy of Southern California.
Sunset Crave’s first six-song EP, The Coast, established the band’s foundation. Since 2025, the project has moved toward a more consistent single-release cadence, with songs like “Live It Up” showing the groove-driven side and “If I Dream” leaning deeper into its cinematic atmosphere.
The project carries a French-American duality: Paris romance and Los Angeles hype, European atmosphere and California vibe.
Why ‘Don’t Fear’ Matters
The newest chapter is “Don’t Fear,” released August 21. The song centres on a simple but difficult idea: loving fully in the present instead of letting fear of the future control the relationship. Musically, Sunset Crave builds that tension through driving bass, funky guitars, organ, saxophone and a large cinematic chorus.
Verbz points to David Bowie’s Let’s Dance era as a major influence, alongside U2, Duran Duran and Red Hot Chili Peppers. On “Don’t Fear,” those influences sit beside a modern indie-rock edge, but the goal is not imitation. The band is trying to make the combination feel unmistakably like Sunset Crave.
The visual world is being developed alongside the music. Sunset Crave is working with a local videographer around Southern California surf culture, morning twilight and sunset light, imagery that naturally extends the coastal world already present in the songs.
Building More Than Songs
Like many independent artists, Verbz is balancing several jobs at once. He is writing, producing, booking, managing and trying to protect the emotional truth of the music while still building the business around it. That process has pushed him to improve both his production and his voice, including ongoing singing lessons, regular practice and more live performance.
One milestone was the release of The Coast. Another was performing at Harvelle’s Santa Monica. But one of the clearest examples of what Sunset Crave wants from live music came at a recent show when two friends in the audience grew closer throughout the set and later became a couple. It is a small story, but it captures the goal: create music that moves people physically and emotionally.
Finding Community at Beatcave
Sunset Crave joined the Beatcave membership less than three months ago after first connecting through Instagram. For Verbz, the early value has come from serious artist-development conversations, including one-on-one conversations with Jerome, calls with Aidan and the ability to share questions, feedback and achievements with other independent artists.
Independent music gets stronger when you’re not doing it alone.
What Comes Next
The next phase is about turning the world around Sunset Crave into something recognizable. Verbz wants “Don’t Fear” to reach new listeners through sustainable playlist growth, strengthen the band’s local fan community, complete the next five cohesive songs and move into higher-profile shows and festival opportunities.
After experiencing burnout, Verbz came back to a simple realization: music is a lifelong passion and an essential source of balance. That has changed the way he approaches releasing. Instead of endlessly getting lost in the creation process, the goal now is to close the loop more often, release the music and keep the momentum moving forward.
Comments