Who is Sonja?
She's the voice and lyrics composer of Oblique.
How would you describe yourself as a person?
I’m very shy so it’s difficult for me to talk about myself. I’d like to think that I’m a very positive person and tolerant with all the people.
To what Music did you listen in your childhood?
The first album that I remember I bought was Wish (The Cure).
Some say the first album they ever bought is the album that makes the biggest impression, is this the same for you and what does the album mean for you these days?
Yes, I’m agree with that. I still love this album and I think that it has become a classic for the music that everybody has to listen sometime.
What made you decide to become a singer, did you have training to become a singer?
Since I was a child I wanted to be a singer. I love music. I was always drawing girls singing in the school and making performances with my friends, hehe! And yes, I had some training.
Is Oblique your first band or did you sing in bands before?
Oblique is my only band.
Can you give a brief introduction to Oblique?
Oblique are Gonzalez (synth & programming), Linn (bass & synths), Hector (drums) and Sonja (vocals & lyrics).
How would you describe the music of Oblique?
Well, we're lovers of electronic music and 80's sounds influenced for the sound of bands like The human league or Ladytron with our unmistakable personal look.
Are you just the singer of Oblique or do you take part in songwriting as well?
I also take part on the songwriting. I compose the lyrics.
What inspires you in writing lyrics, do they reflect on you as a person as well?
The lyrics reflect feelings and things that happens to us in daily life.
What daily events and feelings can inspire you and how do you transform this into lyrics?
I have a look inside of me and I start to right ideas about how I feel today and sometimes this is transformed in some strange lyrics or sometimes I have an idea wherever I am about a title and then I develop the song.
You have just recorded your debut album, without making noise, what can you tell about the album and it’s recording process?
Sorry but this is our third album, we have five releases. Our first album (Acapulco) is from 2003. The second one is called Wonderful Opulence. We always record the albums in Greenland Productions and it's easy to work with Carlos Xavier, our producer, that is a great professional. In this last album, we find 12 songs with the most characteristic electropop of Oblique and where we explore new musical horizons like electro-industrial (Over) or glam-rock (My Medicine or #One). You can also find a song in catalan (Contagi) and our first ballad (Synthetic Brightness).
What can you tell us about the other releases. When you compare them to the new album, what have changed, what progress did you make over the years?
In every new release, we notice a personal and musical evolution that makes that our releases increase in quality and it also makes that we touch different styles. We believe that since our first album until now there is a little rift but each release reflects the musical moment when they were made going since an electroclash first moment or a rock more danceable until arrive to Without Making Noise in which we have wanted to touch our more personal and dark side but not leaving our characteristic sound.
The album is a nice mixture of electroclash and synthpop, which artists do you admire today and can we hear that back in the music of Oblique or in your way of singing?
Nowadays, we are listening lots of different bands like La Roux, White Lies, Ladytron, Client, Soulwax, Tiga...
Do you have a favorite song on the album that you love to play live?
When the guitar fell in love with my synth.
Why is that your favorite song?
In this last tour, we play that song after the intro and we have seen that people starts to dance and we think it’s a good one for starting a concert for the energy and the electricity that transmit to the people and to us.
Oblique is playing many concerts these days, how do you prepare for each concert, do you have strange rituals?
The boys of the band have the strange ritual of tune the analogs because with the trips they are always out of tune, hehe!
Do you have special memories on a certain show?
In the last show in Tenerife (Eolica Festival), a boy climbed to the stage because he wanted to dance with us.
What is the difference for you in singing in a studio or doing a live show and what do you prefer?
I prefer to sing in a live show because we are in contact with the crowd and their energy. I always have a lot of fun.
What are your dreams for the future, both personal as musicwise?
I love my job, I love music and I want to be on the stage for a long time.
Do you have a favorite quote, what is it?
It's one that we wrote on our last cd: "You are here to create the world that you have chosen, simultaneously that you allowed that the world exists in the way that others choose that it should be" (Esther & Jerry Hicks).
What will be next for Oblique?
We are working on a release where we review some of our songs. We cover five of our songs in an electro-acoustic version where analogs and harmonies from church are the most important thing. It will be a present for the fans.
Any last words for the readers?
We wish to play in Netherlands very soon. kisses!
www.oblique-music.com