26 July 2023

Written by Don-Jitsu

MUSIC

sonder the africanime DROPS NEW ALBUM, The Swamp Forest Siren.

" A siren, a fairy, a vampire, a concept", some of the many ways to describe indie alternative artist sonder the africanime. The Swamp Forest Siren finally dropped on the 15th of July and the album encapsulates sonder's entrancing world in 10 tracks. sonder's artistry and musical growth has been a 7 year long journey, a time frame in which they discovered their true voice.

We got a chance to chat to the siren to find out more about the project.

sonder the africanime's pronouns:They/them

1.What's the meaning behind the album's title?

The swamp forest siren literally means “ the siren who lives in a swamp forest” . A siren is a
creature that would use its beautiful singing to lure captain’s or pirate’s ships towards icebergs
to crash them. Their voices are hypnotic and put you into a trance-like state , I believe my voice
has done that in many instances but not to destroy of course, more like the opposite.

2.Mention Three words that best describe your project?

Dark, Entrancing, Beautiful.

3.What was the creative process like in terms of creating the project?

The creative process was all over the place to be honest, I started this album in 2020, kept
losing the devices I used to make the music, at some point I lost the entire album and had to
recover it and re-record some songs, I wrote in times when I felt like it and sometimes just made
a chord and wrote what my heart felt at the time. The songs were real experiences in my life,
ALL OF THEM, three years of my life and how my mindset had changed over time.

4.At what moment did you realize the album was complete, that it was time to put it out into the universe?

Literally 2 weeks ago , there was no profound feeling to when I wanted to release, I just decided
that the day of release made sense and I should just do it.

5.When listening to the project, your characteristics as a siren are evident through the hypnotic
sonic texture of the project, Has sonder the siren ever been lured in by another siren? If so,
did that experience influence your approach to making music?

I wouldn’t call them sirens, some might be but it was really just multiple artists, I listen to
everything and anything that makes sense to me, I was more inspired by Solange, Men I Trust,
King Krule, Willow Smith, some goth music, anime soundtracks, 80’s Japanese-pop and
sometimes older artists like Sade, Patti Labelle, Tamia, etc.

6.Was the length of the project pre-determined or something that happened organically?

Originally I wanted to make less songs but I wanted to create something more, and to give my
listeners more, a longer body of work but not too long that they can’t pay attention towards the
end, 10 songs made sense to me, so I had decided on 10.

7.When listening to your baby (your project) now, how does it make you feel?

I feel relieved and proud. I have always wanted to release an album since I was literally a
teenager, the trials I went through to finish this album had taken so much out of me, I was
depressed for the longest time, but seeing how polished, how beautiful and how this is a perfect
representation of my sound. I am so relieved that I could prove to myself that I can make a body
of work and one this beautiful and authentic to who I am.

8.After taking in this project, I've found refuge in your songs. Is it okay if I stay a while and invite
others over too?

Please do, I believe my music is spiritual, every harmony, every chord, every lyric, every
melody,, my voice is healing and it opens your heart. The more who experience this gift i have to
share, the better.