Søren (band)
| Company type | Collective |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | Matteo Gagliardi |
| Headquarters | Italy |
| Products | Music albums, live EPs, singles |
Søren is an Italian collective known for merging dark folk and new wave styles, established in 2013 by Matteo Gagliardi and comprising musicians from various countries. Their first album, Stargazing, debuted in 2017, succeeded by the video single Houses and a live EP titled Stargazing Live! released in 2018. The ensemble's sophomore album, Bedtime Rituals, was launched in April 2020, with their concluding work, Ultima Necat, arriving in November 2021. The band's name pays tribute to the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard.
Style
Søren’s sound is frequently characterized as a fusion of Dark Folk and New Wave, often drawing parallels with Rome-based Neofolk groups such as Spiritual Front, though with a more pronounced new wave influence. Critics also associate their music with bands like My Bloody Valentine (band), Daughter (band), and The XX, labeling their genre as electro-folk. Their compositions consist of "dark ballads" featuring a blend of soft male whispers alongside powerful female vocal performances. The second album, Bedtime Rituals, evokes comparisons to gothic rock legends The Sisters of Mercy, integrating grandiose, symphonic, and fantastical musical elements.
Collaborations
Søren’s initial two albums, Stargazing and Bedtime Rituals, highlight broad collaborative efforts involving more than ten international artists spanning multiple genres—from singer-songwriters like Joni Fuller and Mike Wyatt to punk guitarist Matt LeFevers and metal drummer Siros Vaziri.
Album covers
The artwork for Stargazing was created digitally by Daniele Piscitello, who served as lead animator for the video game The Wardrobe. This cover was later modified by filmmaker Antonio La Camera for the Stargazing Live! EP; La Camera also directed the award-winning video for the single Houses. The cover art for Bedtime Rituals was designed by Martyna "Outstar" Zych, known for her animation work on The Witcher 3 and as lead designer of Cold Hearts. The creative process behind this artwork was broadcast live via Twitch and is accessible on the band’s official YouTube channel.
Current members
- Matteo Gagliardi – lead vocals, keyboards, drum programming (2013–2021)
- Diana D'Ascenzo – vocals, guitar (2013–2017, 2019–2021)
Past members
- Giulia Cianca – vocals (2013–2017)
- Flaminia Capitani – vocals, rhythm guitar (2017–2019)
- Danilo "ZooT" Marianelli – guitar (2018)
- Andrea Aloisi – percussion (2018–2019)
Official members timeline
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Recurring studio contributors
- Joni Fuller – violin, viola, cello (2013–2020)
- Fabio Fraschini – bass guitar (2020–2021)
- Lorenzo Tarquini – guitars, bass guitar (2019–2020)
- Danilo "ZooT" Marianelli – guitars (2019)
- Andrea Aloisi – percussion instruments (2019)
- Glenn Welman – drums (2018)
Studio albums
- Stargazing (2017)
- Bedtime Rituals (2020)
- Ultima Necat (2021)
Additional releases
- Stargazing Live! (Live EP, 2018)
- Mantra/Mantra RMX (Digital single, 2020)
- Pain of Love (Digital single, 2020)
- Unreal City (radio edit) (Digital single, 2020)
- La Stanza dell'Alchimia (featuring Lorenzo Tarquini, Fabio Fraschini) included in Suspended (Compilation album, 2020)
- La Stanza dell'Alchimia (featuring Lorenzo Tarquini, Fabio Fraschini) (Bandcamp digital single, 2020)
- Mantra - Max Varani RMX (featuring Nina Orlandi) (Bandcamp digital single, 2020)