There have already been a few teasers for Sonic Hug around. Now, they are about to mark their arrival with their debut album, set to be released on April 5th via W.E.R.F. Records.
Quartet Sonic Hug is led by Dutch bass player Louise van den Heuvel, who has already collaborated with numerous artists such as Zwangere Guy & Lander Gyselinck Bruno Vansina, Stéphane Gallands and STACE. She is also the Co-founder of the electronic jazz band Dishwasher.
If you’ve ever chanced upon Den Heuvel, it’s quite apparent she has an extraordinary talent for creating irresistible grooves. As Sonic Hug, she draws influence from the sounds of Scandinavia and artists such as ADHD, Y Otis and Joni Mitchell.
Alongside her, Sonic Hug features a pantheon of some of the leading figures in the Benelux jazz scene: Hendrik Lasure on keys, Daniel Jonkers on drums and Sam Comerford on reeds.
The first song to be released is ‘Hold Me’. Opening with mellowed singing harmonised with a chord melody played on a bass. One by one, we get a glimpse of a piano and a saxophone harmonising Louise’s singing.
With the cue from the drums, the track transits to a fast-paced groove. In the verse section, the drums and the bass maintain a tight groove, over which we hear Louise singing, incorporating microtonal embellishments into her vocals.
In the instrumental midsection, the saxophone takes the stage with other members. Listeners will be presented with an enthralling gnarly sax solo.
Polyrhythmic arpeggiation of piano chords and flawless cymbal work drive the track to a long and half-time-like outro section where all instruments play together as everything fades gradually.
The vibe of Sonic Hug is etheric, elegant, melodically narrative, and always searching for a grasping groove, all of which is evident in their first single.
With the single dropping tomorrow, we chatted with Louise about all things Sonic Hug!
Can you share the story of how Sonic Hug came to be? What led to all of you coming together?
I believe Mik from Jazzlab called me in November 2022 with the proposition for me to have a ‘Carte Blanche’. It had been ages where I had really focussed on myself. It is easy to get lost in amounts of work as a bass player sometimes. There is Dishwasher_, a band in which each member is equal in terms of creating, and I have had the privilege to work with amazing musicians such as Stéphane Galland, Zwangere Guy, Lander Gyselinck, STACE, Bram de Looze, Antoine Pierre, Tutu Puoane, among others. That being said, it had been some years without having led a project. When the opportunity presented itself I had to open myself to a whole new vulnerability. I imagined creating music with a certain nostalgic feel to it, colorful and safe. I knew I needed players that could capture this feeling. Daniel I had known since I was 17, we grew up in the same area (Limburg) in the Netherlands. We had played together before I had started my conservatory years in Maastricht even. I knew Sam Comerford from working with Zwangere Guy x Lander Gyselinck. With Hendrik Lasure I remember having had a great connection playing together for a free improvised record made on a boat, led by Teun Verbruggen. I knew all these musicians knew each other very well, and then it all kind of clicked together for me. Now Werend van den Bossche has replaced Sam after the recording, as he became a father.
What about your work in Sonic Hug sets it apart from your previous work, such as in Dishwasher?
I think, musically speaking, it is very, very different. First of all, as I mentioned, the process is completely different. In Dishwasher, we find common ground through improvising, recording these moments and working from there. With Sonic Hug, I wrote everything before myself. The creativity of my band members comes in after that process, where we make changes where it feels good to us.
The music itself is way softer than my previous work. I have tried to open myself up in a way I had not done before; singing, for example, though it is raw and imperfect, felt like a good way to express these vulnerabilities. Previously, I had known how to function where music was loud and had a kind of power in its groove, loudness, or virtuosity. Now, I really tried to find fire in simplicity and vulnerability.
For Sonic Hug, you composed the whole repertoire by yourself. Could you share with us the themes that you delve into on the album? Also, can you tell us a bit about your writing process?
I wrote almost the whole album in December and January of 2023. I had more time on my hands and was able to dive back into the past and embrace my long-term memory by digging up the past. I had these flashes of memories at our old house from around the time I was 2 or 3 years old. Seeing fields of blue flowers and white and red window panels. There were times I would go on Google Maps to find those window panels, but I never found them. This kind of led me to believe that the memories you hold from the time you are a child are something very special, often surreal, imaginative and colourful. Nostalgia is a big theme in the album. I also tried to delve into the more complex themes of violence, heartbreak and the feeling of wanting to be loved, to show the contrast of that shattered perfection of a child’s dream; the feeling of a longing to go back to a time where none of us understood those more complex emotions.
Let’s talk about the lead single ‘Hold Me’. Tell us about the story behind the track?
Just a longing for love, really, I think. The actual story behind it I prefer to keep for myself, but let’s say it refers to a period after a moment where I had to find myself after a very emotionally draining experience. Again I tried to tackle this from a very naive point of view, somewhat over dramatic and simplistic, but musically and visually also showing the struggle of overcoming said experience, while accepting love and comfort from people that are dear to you and old memories.
What has been the most rewarding/ most enjoyable highlight since forming Sonic Hug?
Personal and musical growth, I guess, haha! Playing with lovely people that understand your music, having fun sharing the stage with them.
Your known as a bass player but on this project you also get behind the microphone. What was it like to step outside your comfort zone, and embrace the unknown?
Horribly uncomfortable, still, trying to find my way with this, though it gets a little bit easier every time. I used to sing more as a child, which is why it felt natural to do so, but funnily enough fears often creep in later in life.
Lastly, you have some shows coming up in April what can fans expect from a Sonic Hug gig?
Only one way to find out! 🙂
