Q&A: Philine Sonny Crafts Authentic, Emotionally Resonant Music with Upcoming Album 'Invader'
PHILINE SONNY IS CREATING WAVES WITH HER LATEST SINGLE “DRUGS”. Just signing to Nettwerk, the German artist has an exciting rest of the year ahead. As she looks ahead to the release of her upcoming EP, Invader, slated for next spring, Philine Sonny takes us on a journey through her music.
Philine shares her experiences, from the recent release of "Drugs" to her origins as a DIY musician, in this interview that unveils her authentic persona and her fervor for producing emotionally resonant music.
Read below for insights into Philine Sonny's musical evolution, the influences that shape her sound, and her hopes for the future.
LUNA: Congratulations on your new single 'Drugs' and your signing with Nettwerk! Can you share what this moment means to you as an artist, and what listeners can expect from your upcoming EP Invader?
PHILINE SONNY: Thank you! Honestly I’m just so relieved it’s out because I feel like this time the period in which I worked towards this release without getting any feedback was a bit too long and quite intense. It’s normal and important for me to be left alone with my songs for a moment but at some point everything started to feel so meaningless and just exhausting. Of course you bring meaning to the song before it’s out in the world and that’s always gonna be there for you, but the listeners’ reactions add another layer to that for sure.
So I’m happy to be able to breathe for a moment and finally get excited for everyone to hear the new songs now that there’s no hard deadlines I have to meet anymore.
LUNA: The music video for “Drugs” is visually stunning. Can you tell us more about the creative process behind it and what you wanted to convey through the visuals?
PHILINE SONNY: When I put out my EP Lose Yourself last year it was my first time ever releasing music, so the whole process was very new and I didn’t think about many things until they needed to be done you know? Now I know what to expect so I can think about the visuals in a bigger context which is so much fun. So for the video I chose a technique that I think is called “mixed media animation“ which means that you print out each frame, scrap each one with a small knife, draw on it, burn the edges, whatever you like basically and then scan it. The scans I knew would be great for merchandise and vinyl design, cover artwork and so on, plus the analog style works great for press pictures too. The first time around I wouldn’t have considered all these things from the get go, so I feel like now the whole project makes much more sense and I can be so much more creative in every aspect of making the EP, now everything feels like one cohesive piece of art.
LUNA: In “Drugs” you mentioned it being the soundtrack to a bold and reckless life. Could you delve deeper into the inspiration behind the song and the story it tells?
PHILINE SONNY: I always feel like I’m too much and squeezing myself into others' lives, which is kind of the central idea of all of the songs on the EP. The main character in “Drugs” is doing just that, he’d sacrifice anything for her, which he thinks is a way of showing love and showing that you care. In reality, you can’t just do that. You can’t just attach yourself to someone, love bomb them, offer yourself to them over and over again even after they’ve made clear they don’t need or want your help because you think that’s a nice thing to do. You need to take responsibility for your own emotions, that’s what I feel like I’ve learned in therapy and what I think in hindsight is what “Drugs” is about.
LUNA: Your music has been described as having an alternative, guitar-driven pop catharsis. How would you describe your musical style, and what influences have shaped it?
PHILINE SONNY: I was always influenced by rock artists, classic ones like Springsteen and Bryan Adams or the ones that I feel like got influenced by them. I love the latest releases of Wunderhorse, Paolo Nutini, and Dijon. The latter inspired me to try all this raw and roomy stuff. I loved cranking up the gain and screaming into the mic from across the room. I wouldn’t say my sound is experimental or something like that, it’s still warm and emotional but I’ve definitely arrived on my new path of learning how not to give a fuck. The EP feels like the first steps in the right direction. But yeah, I would describe my style as indie alternative rock although I’m also aware of the fact that the rock part gets a bit lost in my (inevitably) more modern approach to production sometimes.
LUNA: Your journey as a musician began with teaching yourself to write and produce music in your bedroom. How has this DIY approach influenced your sound and creative process?
PHILINE SONNY: It definitely gave me the opportunity to make very honest music and to understand that for me that’s very crucial, I wouldn’t want to write songs that aren’t full of truth, that don’t move me or expose me or tell stories that I want to remember. I think I created a good basis for myself because I know that this is what I want and need and being so sure of that really helps me decide which steps I want to take next.
LUNA: Lyrically, your music often delves into personal and emotional themes. Can you share some insights into your songwriting process and what inspires your lyrics?
PHILINE SONNY: It really excites me being raw and vulnerable. That’s what I’m usually looking for when I’m writing, that spot that you hit and suddenly you *really* feel things. And that can be anything, my stories, my friends’ stories, relationships between me and the people closest to me, lives of strangers, imaginary stories like “Drugs“. I recently wrote a song and one line is “My words are meant for breaking me,” that pretty much sums it up actually, I wanna feel things.
LUNA: You've already garnered attention as an emerging talent, with notable performances at SXSW and Reeperbahn Festival. How has your journey been since your debut EP 'Lose Yourself,' and what do you hope to achieve with your music in the coming years?
PHILINE SONNY: We, meaning my live band and me, have played quite a few shows in the last two years and it makes me so happy to see us making progress since our first show in March 2022, musically and personally. Playing live is a huge part of my music and I feel like that’s where people really connect with me and vice versa. So one of my goals is to constantly improve our live show, to make it a moving experience for everyone and build a community.
LUNA: Your upcoming tour includes dates supporting Ian Hooper and Medium Build. What excites you the most about performing live, and what can fans expect from your live shows?
PHILINE SONNY: Just like in my lyrics, I’m very open and honest on stage. I like connecting with people and I found that it doesn’t really matter if that happens because everyone’s having the best night ever or we are all feeling kind of down, it works both ways. Having big feelings in a company makes anything special.
LUNA: As you continue to grow as an artist, are there any dream collaborations or specific musical directions you'd like to explore in the future?
PHILINE SONNY: I’m in my rage era and just bought a Fuzz pedal, so it’s gonna get dirtier for sure! I really want to explore more in that direction and become bolder in my production. It’s been very inspiring to see more women making loud and angry music. Miya Folick would be a dream to collaborate with! Also my friends Uche Yara, Brockhoff, Shelter Boy.
LUNA: What intentions do you have for the rest of the fall season?
PHILINE SONNY: I’m leaving for a tour in two weeks, playing in the UK for the first time! I’m opening for Medium Build and two other amazing artists. I can’t wait to watch their shows every night, that’s basically all I’m gonna do for the rest of the year. I might also release some more music this year before the EP comes out in March.
