INTERVIEW: Sonic Dopamine discuss origins and influences alongside new single ‘Looks Betray’
After recently returning with their much-loved studio album ‘This Was Now’ earlier this year, US outfit Sonic Dopamine are back at it once again to deliver their driven new single ‘Looks Betray’.
Bringing back more of that bold and euphoric alt-rock energy they are known for, ‘Looks Betray’ continues to cement them as one of the more exciting names on the rise right now. So we caught up with them to find out more about their origins and influences over the years.
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What was the first rock song or artist that made an impact on you?
Funny enough it’s John Denver. My grandparents raised me on his Wildlife Concert DVD and I was obsessed with him for the longest time. If I had to pick one of his songs, it’s gotta be Annie’s Song. It still moves me to tears.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences within the rock genre?
If it’s alright I’m gonna give you my top 10 because this question is always changing, but here goes: Green Day, Oasis, The Strokes, Aerosmith, AC/DC, The Replacements, White Reaper, KISS, The Kinks and The Dirty Nil.
Are there any non-rock musicians or genres that have also influenced your music?
I love 90s rap like OutKast and Tribe, and their influence is probably why I ever even attempted to make a rap-rock song like we did on a number called Brown Leather Boots. Gotta give respect to the great pop artists like ABBA and Clairo, too. They’ve got some incredible melodies.
What is your main inspiration when looking to write new music?
Hmm… inspiration is a funny thing. I usually can make songs most quickly when I feel a particularly strong emotion about something. There’s never any warning, and to quote Tom Petty, it’s a bit like a lightning strike to your brain when you get a song. I don’t know how to explain it but there’s definitely some magic involved.
What do you enjoy most about performing live and do you have any memorable live performance experiences you’d like to share?
I love winning over a crowd. We’ve been able to do that on a few occasions and nothing feels better than going from three people clapping to getting the whole room on their feet. As for stories, at our very first show it was just Gavin (our drummer) and me because we hadn’t met Castelli (bass, harmonies) yet, and we didn’t know what we were doing. 80 people showed up for our first gig, which was a daunting amount, and we agreed to use the house drum kit, not realising how bad of an idea that was. So, Gavin gets up to the kit to start our soundcheck, and midway through the first song the snare comes loose from its stand, so I had to ask the room if there was a pair of pliers or something we could use to snap it back in place. We waited a minute, and someone brought up some pliers, so Gavin’s back there warping the metal arm that keeps the snare in place while I’m trying to keep the crowd entertained (not very well I might add). Thankfully Gavin got it working but I’m not sure how long that snare lasted after we played.
What has been a particularly rewarding moment in your musical journey so far?
Getting the band together hahaha. Seriously, though, it’s been a trip just to assemble a three-man band. I was lucky enough to find Gavin freshman year through his roommate, who I quarantined with, and it was just us for the majority of college. By some miracle, I met Castelli spring of our senior year, and he just fit in perfectly. We’d auditioned a few different bass players and none of them felt permanent, but as soon as Castelli played with us, we knew he was the guy.
How would you define success as a musician?
I really wanna make good albums. All the best bands have five or six great albums in a row, and my goal is to do exactly that. Create songs that connect with people, tour, and make a career out of it. This is the only job I’ve ever wanted, and I think we’re getting close to the tipping point where people start to notice.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting out?
The more you do it, the better you’ll get. Just keep going, and if you want it badly enough, you’ll get there.
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Watch the video for Sonic Dopamine’s new single ‘Looks Betray’ below.