Sonoda

Sonoda (so-NO-duh) is a meditative pop ensemble based in Los Angeles, CA. The quartet approaches live music and dream pop with a delicate, spiritual, and therapeutic perspective. A gentle glow of crystals, salt lamps, candles and flowers adorn the stage as the band creates a welcoming wash of ambience with warbly guitars and oscillating synths. Each performance opens and closes with a soothing ‘Ohm’ sung by front woman Lisa Sonoda, who resounds deeply on stage with her singing bowl, tingshas and chimes. It is in this dream world where Sonoda’s lullaby-pop sensibility conjures the auras of influences like <a href="spotify:artist:0WtTGUjbur1R1cNzBvbsMU" data-name="Broadcast">Broadcast</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:56ZTgzPBDge0OvCGgMO3OY" data-name="Beach House">Beach House</a>. From these influences, Sonoda offers a new take on music and dream pop, bringing us a collective deep breath— a refreshment, a renewal: Meditative Pop.


The band started with Lisa Sonoda’s solo projects, <a href="spotify:album:0kUeSgEpj00kxovoBW1hA8" data-name="Clearing I">Clearing I</a> (2016) and <a href="spotify:album:1T5Fz8MRjCOt7YQ0ceLImh" data-name="Clearing II">Clearing II</a> (2017), which were later compiled and released on a small tape run on Never Anything Records. Lisa soon expanded to a full band with the help of musicians like Adrian Garcia on additional synth and guitar. Together they made their first full band demo album <a href="spotify:track:1nBuo1jrTSIG0600jEMAqe" data-name="Karaoke Life">Karaoke Life</a> (Never Content, 2018). With current members Eddie Ramos on drums and Jacob Maag on bass, they released singles <a href="spotify:album:190XiNRs7TOhfxTYVf9N5O" data-name="Half-Life / The Mark">Half-Life / The Mark</a> (Anniversary, 2019), <a href="spotify:track:3BAZa1WlbTZoWPoKcJRtE2" data-name="Point of View">Point of View</a> &amp; <a href="spotify:track:0LqzKh0IljbOTwKEG15q97" data-name="Purpose">Purpose</a> (Flexible/Terrible Records, 2021). They have also toured with <a href="spotify:artist:4idG41ELGGRKuiHLc3VLc5" data-name="Vanishing Twin">Vanishing Twin</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0AUwa5xmiy57qdGlOksvea" data-name="Mutual Benefit">Mutual Benefit</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4Xi4aFTZvoMChGDmSVgxTz" data-name="Hater">Hater</a>, and performed with bands <a href="spotify:artist:2kMzxA8edU05hvMFU493zJ" data-name="Good Morning">Good Morning</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5MaQlvNGOaTj39apHsXVq1" data-name="Claud">Claud</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1vxsourLLLfobrxyWAcuQH" data-name="Juniore">Juniore</a> and many more.