Photo Story: Sarah and the Sundays' Tattoos

Sarah and the Sundays is an indie rock band composed of five former college students based in Austin, Texas. The band includes Miles McCarthy-Reynolds, Quinn Lane, Liam Yorgensen, Brendan Whyburn, and Declan Chill, who have over 50 tattoos collectively.

Written and photographed by Tiffany Chung

Since their recent move to Austin, the band has made a name for themselves in the local music scene. These college dropouts took a bold step by moving away from their education and pursuing their passion for music, which has paid off with their growing popularity. With new music on the way this year, Sarah and the Sundays is a band to keep an eye on.

Afterglow had the opportunity to speak with the group about their collection of tattoos and some meanings behind the artwork. Their tattoos give a peek into their unique and creative nature, which is reflected in their music.

Afterglow: What brought y’all together to form Sarah and the Sundays?

Miles: Well, initially it was three of us: Me, Declan, and Liam. We met in a guitar class in high school. Declan and I had been talking about forming a band, and we've been playing stuff together a little bit. Then we met Liam, and he played bass, and we needed a bassist. So we added him and then started writing. We wrote some songs, made an EP, then met Quinn senior year of high school. He joined, so we had a four piece going. And then Liam and Brendan were roommates in college. That's how we all kind of came together. Then we all dropped out of college and converged two years ago in Connecticut and moved down here.

Sarah and the Sundays band logo tattooed on their left arms.

Brendan’s dorm room number tattooed on his right wrist.

Brendan and Liam’s matching lava lamp tattoo along with their dorm room number on Brendan’s wrist.

What inspired each of you to get your first tattoo, and what was it of?

Miles: I got my first tattoo with these guys, because we were talking about getting the band logo. It was right before we left for college. We all went and got the band logo, so that's my first [tattoo].

Quinn: My first was also the band logo, but other than the band logo, the one I got immediately following that is this little ghost on my arm. It kind of looks like the Snapchat logo, and I got it for my dog, whose name is Boo.

Liam: I got my first tattoo when I was 16. It's of a sun rising over mountains, and there's a wave connected to it, and they're both in hexagons. It's for two quotes: "The sun will rise and we will try again," and "We are just now setting sail on seas of what we fear." Which I liked at the time, so I thought I would design something and get it tattooed.

Brendan: I got my first tattoo at 13 at Kerrville Folk Festival from my sibling Monroe. That's right when they started getting into tattooing. And me, my godsister, and Monroe all got matching little three dots on our middle fingers. Turned out to be slightly a gang sign... but I’m not in a gang.

Declan: My first tattoo I got, it's not really like a tattoo per se, but it's a natural music sign connected, so it looks like a parallelogram with a square inside it. But I wouldn't really consider that my first tattoo. My first tattoo is just the band logo.

Miles’ first tattoo, of the band logo.

One of Quinn’s first tattoos, of a ghost, for his dog Boo.

Liam’s right arm, with his first tattoo of the sun rising over mountains connected to waves in hexagons.

One of Declan’s first tattoos, of the natural music sign connected.

How many tattoos do you each have, and what are the meanings behind some of them?

Miles: I have three. I mean, one of them is just mountains because I like mountains a lot. And I have one for Harry Potter, which is my favorite books series. It means a lot to me.

Quinn: I've got I think about 14, but they're all fairly small. I think I gotta say my favorite one is the one that I have on my left arm. It's a sage leaf that I got for my niece, Sage.

Liam: I have roughly 25 tattoos, plus or minus. Not all of them have meanings. Some of them are just decorative. Recently, I got a lavender sprig on my wrist and hand. When I was younger, I couldn't really sleep very well and my mom bought this little cat, this stuffed cat that smelled like lavender. You would microwave it, and it would smell really good. It was the only thing that would make me sleep, so I got that because it was a good memory.

Brendan: I’ve got nine, and they’re all pretty small. I feel like they all either represent something that I really love, that I know I won't stop loving or something that is a part of who I am. Even if at the time I didn't realize it was, the second one was just me being a little stupid, and I definitely learn from it. It's just a little guy on my foot that I have no idea what it means, and I think that lack of meaning is kind of important to me at this point. But other ones are from Monroe, that I talked about, who is now a full handpoke tattoo artist and has given Liam one and me a couple. I have Texas on my foot.

Declan: I have three, and I don't really like any of them more than any of the other ones. They all reference meaningful things in my life. They also just have to do with music. I like music.

Miles’ mountain tattoo, on this left arm.

Miles’ Harry Potter tattoo, on his right foot.

Quinn’s sage tattoo for his niece, on his left arm.

Liam’s lavender sprig tattoo, on his right hand.

Brendan’s tattoo for his cat, Bug, on his left arm.

Brendan’s little man and Texas tattoos.

Declan’s music inspired tattoo, on his right thigh.

Declan’s band logo tattoo.

Do you have any plans for future tattoos?

Miles: I'd say my next tattoo is going to be a band around my forearm. Just because I think it's like an energy center for me. So the direction I'm going with tattoos is energy based.

Quinn: I don't really have any solid tattoo plans for my future, but I mostly just go with it if I see something I like. Usually something that Liam draws, I'll get it tattooed, usually by him.

Liam: I have a lot of plans. I have a list in my phone with a bunch of tattoos I want to get. Most of my tattoos are referencing lyrics, only a few of them aren't, and so mostly interpretations of lyrics that I hear that I really like. I have a milk carton on my right forearm from my song "Ghost."

Brendan: I've been thinking for a while that I want to get the cover of "Don't Be Scared" by Daniel Johnston tattooed. And other than that, I just want to get something else from Monroe, whatever they want to put on me, beautiful art.

Declan: I don't really have any plans specifically, I'll probably get something tattooed for this upcoming album. We're probably all gonna get something done.

Miles: We’re talking about getting a certain animal with our manager.