Name: Jonas Fisher aka Sanoi
Nationality: German, New Zealand based
Occupation: Producer
Current release: Sanoi's sophomore full-length album Echoes Of Home is out via Loop. Stream here. Buy physical copies here.
Recommendations: There is a Swedish film called Sound of Noise that is about a group of guerrilla percussionists who are inundating the city with their anarchic concerts. Worth a watch.

If you enjoyed this Sanoi interview and would like to stay up to date with his music, visit him on Instagram, Facebook, and Soundcloud.
 


When I listen to music, I see shapes, objects, and colours. What happens in your body when you're listening? Do you listen with your eyes open or closed?
 
I always listen to music with my eyes open, but my brain zones out.
 
How do listening with headphones and listening through a stereo system change your experience of sound and music?
 
Noise cancelling headphones all the way. You can hear great detail and still be out and about.
 
Sound, song, and rhythm are all around us, from animal noises to the waves of the ocean. What, if any, are some of the most moving experiences you've had with these non-human-made sounds?
 
I remember as a child watching TV and hearing whale song for the first time, that was a really cool experience. Then learning how far they communicate with each other, and that there are dialects and sounds specific to individual families is something that is still amazing to me.
 
Many animals communicate through sound. Based either on experience or intuition, do you feel as though interspecies communication is possible and important? Is there a creative element to it, would you say?
 
That is a good question. I think it could be very insightful to be able to communicate with animals, and could maybe even teach us more about our humanity.

We have already managed to teach large primates basic levels of sign language and have created a dialog with these animals. But to really be able to communicate ... I don‘t think we are there yet.
 
Do you experience strong emotional responses towards certain sounds? If so, what are examples for this – and do you feel there is a systematic or logic behind these?
 
I am obsessed with drums and rhythm. Everything in nature follows rhythmical patterns and I enjoy focusing my ears and isolating the natural rhythms of life.

Drum sounds to me feel like they tap into this subconscious awareness of the natural rhythms, and that‘s a reason why we feel the groove when we hear drum beats.
 
There can be sounds which feel highly irritating to us and then there are others we could gladly listen to for hours. Do you have examples for either one or both of these?
 
The noise of other people eating drives me up the wall for sure!
 
Are there everyday places, spaces, or devices which intrigue you by the way they sound? Which are these?
 
It‘s not an everyday device, but I had to get an MRI once and the sounds that machine makes are really interesting. It sounds like some alien breathing or knocking around, alongside the mechanical noises.
 
Tell me about some of the albums or artists that you love specifically for their sound, please. What makes their approach distinct and how have they influenced your perspective on and way of working with sound?
 
I would say Stimming is one of my biggest idols, his approach and philosophy when it comes to making music is something I resonate with a lot.

Acts like Max Cooper or Christian Löffler create textural worlds that are also very inspiring.

[Read our Stimming interview]
[Read our Max Cooper interview]
 
Have you ever been in spaces with extreme sonic characteristics, such as anechoic chambers or caves? What was the experience like?
 
Whilst I was at University, we once went to an anechoic chamber and that was a very, very strange experience! The absence of room sound makes even the quietest noise sound very intense and clear.

When I could hear my blood flow through my head I knew I had to get out of there.
 
What are among your favourite spaces to record and play your music?
 
That always depends on the mood.
 
Do music and sound feel “material” to you? Does working with sound feel like you're sculpting or shaping something?
 
It is definitely a form of sculpting and creating something within the framework of the frequency spectrum.

Each time it’s a great challenge to try to create a unique sonic landscape that is both well balanced and sounds good from a technical perspective.
 
How important is sound for our overall well-being and in how far do you feel the "acoustic health" of a society or environment is reflective of its overall health?
 
I think the ambient noise that surrounds a person on a daily basis makes a huge impact on the metal state. Loud cities are not an environment that promotes relaxation and calmness.
 
Tinnitus and developing hyperacusis are very real risks for anyone working with sound. Do you take precautions in this regard and if you're suffering from these or similar issues – how do you cope with them?
 
I used to play the drums very loud as a kid, and I remember thinking a couple of times ``Oh, you maybe played a bit too loud and now your ears feel funny“, but overall, I still have pretty good hearing.

I perform with custom in-ear monitors because the sound isolation is so good that I don't have to rely on whatever foldback or booth situation a venue or club has. I also don‘t have to turn it up super loud and that makes a huge difference leaving a show and not having ringing ears.
 
We can surround us with sound every second of the day. The great pianist Glenn Gould even considered this the ultimate delight. How do you see that yourself and what importance does silence hold?
 
Everyday sound to me is very important because it gives me a sense of my environment.

I don‘t like silence. It amplifies thoughts I‘m trying not to have or to figure out why I have them.
 
Seth S. Horowitz called hearing the “universal sense” and emphasised that it was more precise and faster than any of our other senses, including vision. How would our world be different if we paid less attention to looks and listened more instead?
 
That would be great. Even just listening to a person speak, if you really listen, you can hear so much more than just the words if you can listen to the tone and rhythm.

I think we could communicate way better and get a better understanding of what a person actually means when they speak and feel the subtext that is behind every word.