Introduction: Due to time constraints as regular individuals running Witching Buzz and focusing primarily on writing reviews, we are limited to publishing only one (occasionally two) review(s) per day. However, we strongly believe in providing greater exposure to deserving bands and musicians who have put in immense effort. As a result, we have launched a new section called “Witching Riffs: Behind the Sound.” In this section, we have crafted a series of intriguing questions that we pose to every band or musician who wishes to share more about their unique projects. While the questions remain the same for each participant, the diversity among bands ensures that the answers will be fascinating and diverse. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy this captivating journey as we delve into the minds and stories of these talented artists.
Sonic Moon / Denmark
What drew you to the immersive and hypnotic sounds? How do you aim to captivate your listeners with this genre?
The genre is so interesting because there are so many different approaches to it, be it crushing and heavy riff-worship or blues-driven psychedelia – it never gets trivial! We like playing with contrasts ourselves, so when listening to our latest record you’ll get fuzz-driven stoner-doom and laid back, hypnotic psych, sometimes in a single track.
Can you share the story behind your band name? How does it reflect the essence of your music?
I’m not sure how much thought we actually put into the name Sonic Moon, besides wanting it to be painfully obvious that we’re a stoner/psych band. I’m pretty sure the “Sonic” part is stolen from Earthless’ “Sonic Prayer”.
What are some unconventional or unexpected influences that have shaped your unique blend?
Besides a common love for slow and heavy music We don’t necessarily listen to the same music, so it really comes naturally to draw inspiration from almost everywhere. I don’t think we notice it when writing together, but we all bring something to the mix that way!
How do you approach creating expansive and atmospheric soundscapes? What techniques or methods do you employ to achieve that signature vibe?
Slow jams. Although we mostly start out riff a rough idea or a riff we jam a lot when writing songs; writing lead parts and variations and of course spaced out segments of a song. This is probably why quite a few of the songs from Return Without Any Memory ends in a slow, hypnotic outro!
Are there specific themes or emotions you seek to convey through your music? How do alternative music help you express those concepts effectively?
The themes and emotions that our songs mostly consist of are ones of sorrow, anger and nihilism. Throughout the album we manifest these feelings both within the lyrics, as well as the music itself.
The heavy, sludgy sound is the force carrying the lyrics, message and meaning. The music’s foundation mainly inspires the narratives of the lyrics, as well as the general themes of the album. Through the sound comes the meaning.
Share a remarkable moment or incident from your journey as a band that exemplifies the spirit of your music.
We ended up only having a single weekend to record Return Without Any Memory at our rehearsal space, and spending the first day setting everything up and running into one technical issue after the other we had to record all instrumental parts in only one day. We went into it without much technical knowledge on recording, but we usually do so with an open mind and see where it takes us – luckily it all turned out pretty good!
In what ways do you envision your music progressing or evolving in the future? Are there any new elements or experimental approaches you’d like to incorporate?
We always like to experiment in the studio trying out different instruments, effects etc. One of the advantages of doing all the recording ourselves is that it gives us the time to really try out different ideas and see how it impacts the song and the sound. For instance, on our debut, we experimented quite a lot with different vocal effects and ended up using a rotor effect in several songs.
Is there a particular song in your discography that perfectly encapsulates the essence of your music? Please elaborate on its creation and significance.
To some extent, the closing track on the album “Hear Me Now” captures the essence of our sound quite well. The song is composed of four different pieces, some of them heavier and others more psychedelic and hypnotic. That mix is sort of what we are aiming for on our debut. But who knows? We might just do something very different on our next album.
Are there any emerging or lesser-known artists within your music genre realm that you find inspiring or deserving of more recognition? Feel free to share their names and what you appreciate about their work.
We’ve been digging some fellow Scandinavian bands like Bogwife, Vokonis, Trippelgänger lately!
What do you hope listeners experience or feel when they immerse themselves in your compositions? Is there a specific mood or sensation you aim to evoke?
We hope that the listeners can find their own individual meaning and a sense of comfort in our songs.
Turbo Regime:
– Fuzz or distortion? – Fuzz.
– Analog or digital effects? – We’re not very religious when it comes to effects. We’re mostly using analog, but really if it sounds good it sounds good!
– Sabbath or Zeppelin? – This is the question that break up bands and friendships.
– Heavy riff or mind-bending solo? – Heavy riff!
– Vintage gear or modern equipment? – Vintage gear (but we can’t afford it) – so modern equipment… Apart from our drummer, who plays vintage Ludwig.
Sonic Moon Facebook.
You can order Return Without Any Memory HERE.
Label: Olde Magick Records
