Sona Koloyan

After releasing “Pity Party” in February 2019, Sona started writing a live set for a very delayed launch gig. Her EP, “Speaking Stones” was born out of the goal of creating pockets of live improvisation within the show; extended intros and outros, interludes, elongations, drones and meditations on themes played by her and her band.

Supported by the Arts Council lottery grant and Help Musicians Do It Differently Fund, “Speaking Stones” is a 5-track EP exploring the excruciating growing pains of the early 20s coming-of-age, and a yearning of belonging as a Armenian Diasporan. Sona’s life and underlying drive beneath her work has been greatly influenced by the unbreakable bond she has with her culture, and a desire to inform about this endangered and overlooked but abundant part of the world. The EP ebbs and flows amidst delicate orchestral arrangements of the first single, “In the Air”, and the louder sonic confessions of “Under My Own Gaze”, culminating in a re-harmonised explosion of a cover of “Girls Just Want To Have Fun”, turning the song on its head and shining a new light on the original lyrics. The three aforementioned tracks have already been released as singles, along with a live video for “In the Air” and music video for “Girls” directed by Cassidy Hansen. A contrast to her earlier DIY and minimal works, “Speaking Stones” is her first professionally recorded body of work, with the instrumental ensemble reflecting her classical background.

Photos by Abi Sinclair