Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Sonny Siminski
Sonny’s humble approach to the song writing process is taken and incorporated within day to day life. Used as a tool to escape the often mundane and remedial daily tasks but also as a first aid kit to life’s trials and tribulations. With over half a life time of writing, noodling and doodling and performing it is time to share.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
The earliest memory I have of music really captivating me was around 4 or 5 years old. I used to listen to my mums cassette tape of Prince, I think it was the Love Symbol album! I would play it full blast and dance and sing my little heart out. I would also close my eyes and imagine myself performing the tracks infront of my class at school, I had just started at.
I remember sitting in the car listening on a cassette walkman and singing the track “Sexy MF” loudly! If you know the song then you will understand why it wasn’t a great look for a 5 year old.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
I think it has always been there, that part of me that latches onto music. But when I started applying this conciously would be when I got my first guitar! It was a very basic Hohner starter classical guitar for a Christmas present. I was taught a few chords and then just went from there, coming up with different ideas which became tunes and then songs. Id often work out what I wanted to come next and not be able to play it, so this was and still is a way of me improving my playing ability.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
I spent many years playing with other musicians, mainly a bass player and drummer backing my song ideas. I think I was fearful of being “myself” for a long while even though the song are written by myself and a nylon strung guitar.
I came to realisation that I had to stop thinking this way and the E.P. “Giveth” is a result of this. I have also released another E.P. this year called “Expert Introvert” which is a set of ful band recordings, which I feel showcases a more collaborative effort.
I am currently working on my new tracks which I hope will showcase a blend of all of these.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Quirky, catchy and honest would be the most apt description I can think of. What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
Don’t be afraid to be yourself! Just do your thing and don’t ponder too much on what others may or may not think.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
I would say having an acoustic guitar knocking around is essential as things just happen in the spur of the moment. So it is great to be able to pick one up and try things out! Also a voice recorder on a phone or similar to capture these things.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
It may come across as a little self indulgent, possibly arrogant to some but I only really listen to my own voice recordings and songs I am currently working on. I have such a backlog to get through and they are often varied in genre and style that it keeps me busy pretty much constantly. I try to keep outside influences out as much as I can.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
Music has always been something I have used to process emotional responses to outside influences or traumas in life. I think this is why I don’t stick to any given genre, it is more about the subconcious feeling I am getting at any given moment.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
When I am songwriting and in the moment or when I have finished a fresh track, it fills me with great excitement and a buzz. I want other people to feel that way too as it is such a great place to be!
Lyrically I don’t overthink these or have a real meaning behind them! I will just piece together words that make sense and work melodically, they are generally left open to the interpretation of the listener. Although I may interpret them in my own way later on down the line.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
There is much more to life and who we are as individuals.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
It would be great to perform on a BBC Introducing show or stage at some point, that would be great. Also performing anywhere outside the UK would be great experience. Festival wise I think most musicians and bands would love to perform at Glastonbury festival, I am not immune to this dream so fingers crossed.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
That is a tough one being a bit of a hermit with the song writing, but I think Paul Mccartney would be a great person to collaborate with. Obviously you have all the history with The Beatles but then you have Wings and everything in between. I can’t fault him when it comes to writing a good song and melody, so it would be such good fun to be able to write and share melodies with someone like him.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ix7dATsLl05KjzvhLhNAP
https://www.instagram.com/sonny.siminski/?hl=en
https://sonnysiminski.bandcamp.com
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
I am currently working on my next E.P. with a great engineer/producer called Simon Willey (Alex James, Brian Ferry, Prince) and am now able to fully realise the vision I have always had with them. With this I will begin preparing the live show side of things and get back out performing sometime next year.
Obviously the dream is to be able to write music and play full time. But it is all just one step at a time whilst enjoying the process of it all.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way? That we are all just people and I am no different. The songs I write are for other people to enjoy aswell.
