Interviews: Sonum Unum

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Electronic/Indie Rock band Sonum Unum from the USA. Check out this band and follow them on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you plan it or come out just like that?

Mike: We were texting back and forth about possible names that involved the word sound, oneness, and solitude. It started to seem like a lot of band names were taken that we were thinking of, so we started trying Latin words until Sonum Unum (One Sound) sort of rolled off the tongue.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Mike: We originally were planning to make ambient music, but thought it would be fun to make songs too. It took some back and forth to nail down a style. Eventually, we sort of went with this electronic sound. Though each song is different, it revolves around that electronic, synthpop vibe.

Craig: Yeah Mike and I have been in projects that range in style for so many years. I personally come from a thrash/prog background. I have a solo project that is more ethereal, tribal, and progressive but I’m also heavily immersed in the experimental improv scene... Mike has been in a ton of rock bands and has his own ambient project. I found that some of the tracks we were writing didn’t exactly have a cohesive identity. When Negative Gain showed interest in us they heard one track that was heavily electronic. We sort of decided to reconstruct our songs to cater more to that genre, while we are inspired by electronic music in many ways it’s not exactly something Mike and I have immersed ourselves in. We are really happy with the outcome though.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Mike: We met in December 2022 after Craig responded to my Craigslist ad. We began simply passing files back and forth building songs that way and within a month or two the concept for the project took shape.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Mike: My favorite bands/artists range anywhere from Cat Stevens to Bjork to Nine Inch Nails. The list is a lot longer but when I hear something that is really interesting and/or beautiful sounding, I tend to fall in love with it.

Craig: I grew up listening to progressive rock bands so for nostalgic reasons bands like Fates Warning, Voivod, and early Queensryche hold a special place in my heart but in my later years discovering bands like The Cure, Cocteau Twins, Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Sigur Ros, Godspeed You Black Emperor really changed everything I think about music.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Mike: Making music was always just fun to do since I was a kid, so I’m still doing it.

Craig: I have been multi-track recording since I was a little kid starting with my first Tascam 8 track. It became a passion to just improvise and construct songs that way. I didn’t start taking songwriting seriously until about 2014 when I really tried mastering my craft when it comes to composing and production.

6. Where was your last gig?

Easthampton MA at The Marigold Theater. A lovely room in a great town with a killer vibe.

7. Where would you like to act?

Craig: Anywhere that people want to hear us.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Larger acts can bring in a draw to help us get exposed more.

9. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

Mike: Just be sure that you hydrate and be yourself.

10. What bands have inspired you the most?

Mike: Bjork, Nine Inch Nails, Cat Stevens, Bright Eyes, Murder by Death, Depeche Mode, Peter Gabriel

Craig: Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Bjork, Sigur Ros, Voivod, Cocteau Twins