Soma

Combining elements of pop songwriting, British post-punk, shoegazer, IDM, and classic funk, and soul, Soma's music is a rush of lush, expansive instrumentation and passionate vocals with melody pushed to the forefront. Reverb-drenched guitars, grooved-based rhythms, and expressive vocals make up the expansive Soma sound.
The band's eclectic sound can partly be attributed to the members' diverse backgrounds - musically and geographically. Singer Skye Nicolas was born and raised in the Philippines and moved to NYC after some time in Seattle and LA; guitarist Eric Zuehlke moved around extensively growing up, moving from Michigan to Switzerland, to Hong Kong, to Thailand and back to the US; bassist Jeremy Foti hails from Atlanta and after stints in various bands in the area, decided to move to NYC; and drummer Mike Weyhing, originally from Grosse Point, Michigan, moved to NYC to study jazz drumming at the New School.

Soma formed in early 2001 when Eric Zuehlke moved to NYC after university and met Skye Nicolas, who had been toiling away in a search for like-minded collaborators. They struck an immediate musical connection. Both had been drawn to 90s British music in their teens to bands such as the Stone Roses, Oasis, The Verve, and Radiohead, among others and both were new to New York. The two began writing at a frantic pace. Gigs soon followed for the duo at coffee shops and small clubs around the city and later as a full band with the addition of a rhythm section.

But with every band, it is a matter of fit; the right personalities and talents to make something magical. Eric and Skye shuffled through a host of support, looking to build on their successes. In the meantime, the two with a little help from some friends, were able to produce their first EP by recording a batch of demos on their own with some mics and a Powerbook in their rented rehearsal studio in the shadow of the Manhattan Bridge. When Jeremy Foti and Mike Weyhing joined in mid-2003, the band rediscovered something inimitable and they bounded back to the NYC live circuit with electrifying shows at Sin-E, Pianos, Lit, Knitting Factory and TisWas at Don Hills.

In December, 2003, Soma recorded their New Life EP at Grisly Labs studios in New Jersey over a couple of weekends. Soma begins 2004 continuing to widen and grow their fan base with shows throughout NYC and the east coast. With momentum and swagger, Soma stands on the threshold of breakthrough.

Soma's sound and personality exude confidence, transcendence and passion. In a climate of disaffection, irony, and regurgitation of old styles, Soma stand apart from passing fads and novelty. These are songs for the masses and not just for those in "the scene". They distill the timeless essence of classic rock n' roll and pop sensibility and inject it with a personality and melodic sound of their own, making music that is deeply rooted in influences ranging from the 60s through the 90s yet sounding completely fresh, vibrant, and vital.