Some music is subtle – it simply draws you in, similar to a little conversation you ought to have but can not escape. That is the pull of Raleigh-based Late Stage Crush, singer Rebecca Sunnybrook and lyricist Susan Mahlburg.

Sunnybrook has a distinctively clear voice for classical singing, though she avoids precision for this project and settles into restraint. We wanted the songs to be raw but controlled, “she says. “You know you are in the middle of something which ends though you can breathe.” Mahlburg writes her lyrics like a published poet – every word deliberate, every picture weighty.

The two created Late Stage Crush in 2023 out of a love for quiet storytelling and emotional truth. Their sound, which they call “country noir,” falls between standard Americana and contemporary indie. It is country without gloss, with realism as its poetry. With High Noon Divorce, their debut EP, they have developed a place to sit with heartbreak, face what is left, and look for stillness in simplicity.

A Song that Breathes Between the Notes

High Noon Divorce opens in stillness. The arrangements are bare: steady guitars, soft percussion and Sunnybrook’s clear unhurried voice. The gap in between the notes is deliberate, as though the silence is an element of the story.

No one is racing to resolve tension here. Rather, the music lets it unfold naturally. Sunnybrook sings quietly, letting the emotion dictate her voice rise only when it is needed. Lyrics are direct, motivated by Mahlburg’s poet’s need for truth over ornament. Together they capture the unusual quiet after something breaks – the place of clarity and sorrow.

The title track High Noon Divorce is like a never sent letter. It moves slowly, grounded in honesty instead of drama. The production continues to be true to the duo’s purpose – unfiltered, self-directed and unsupported. There’s no excess, no over-polish. What you hear is what they wanted you to feel.

You hear echoes of classic country storytelling, but their interpretation feels current. Each lyric falls gently but remains with you long after the song ends.

The Weight of Letting Go

What makes High Noon Divorce resonate is it understands endings. Rather than portraying loss as collapse, Late Stage Crush finds clarity within it. Their songs suggest that heartbreak doesn’t erase that which was before – it changes it.

That gives this EP its emotional weight. “These are songs about not wanting revenge or regret,” Sunnybrook adds. “They’re about what you have left after you just stop fighting the end.” It is a rare perspective that makes vulnerability develop strength.

That quiet resilience is felt by listeners of all tracks. The minimalist approach of the duo isn’t just sounding intentional – it reflects the theme itself. The songs, stripped of excess production, speak emotion. The result is intimate – like an invitation to a personal reckoning.

High Noon Divorce demonstrates an emotional maturity which sadly is lacking in contemporary country music. It confronts the aftermath of love with acceptance instead of bitterness. It is about rebuilding gently, about concentrating on reflection instead of noise.

Late Stage Crush will bring that intimacy to their live shows all through North Carolina and Tennessee in late 2025. They are also working on their upcoming EP, due out early 2026, that will feature upright bass and pedal steel alongside truthful, lyric-led storytelling.

Where to Find Late Stage Crush

To truly understand Late Stage Crush is to listen closely—to the silences, the careful turns of phrase, and the moments when Sunnybrook’s voice nearly breaks but never does. High Noon Divorce is more than a debut; it’s a statement about honesty, restraint, and emotional craftsmanship.

Experience the full EP on Spotify and follow their journey on Instagram.

Late Stage Crush invites listeners into the quiet aftermath of love—where endings soften, and new beginnings wait in the calm that follows.