The Sounds:
Independently Mainstream
Words: Becca Nelson

The Sounds have a busy summer ahead of them, and they like it that way. The Swedish indie rockers are set to release their third full-length album, Crossing the Rubicon, on June 2, followed immediately by a high-profile US tour as support for No Doubt and Paramore. The record has already received thorough praise, and the band performed the first single, “No One Sleeps When I’m Awake,” to positive response from over 4,000 fans at a recent Hollywood Palladium show.

I spoke with guitarist and founding member Felix Rodriguez, back Stateside after finishing a three-week tour European tour with Fall Out Boy. 

“That was a lot of fun,” he blithely remarks of their spring jaunt with the wildly popular pop-punk quartet. “The shows were amazing, but it’s really different playing for Fall Out Boy fans, they are very different than our own. You have to put on a really good show. And we did.”

Their success in Europe seems an auspicious start to their summer schedule, and one that signals a new direction for the band. Originally lauded as an indie “new New Wave” success, The Sounds now find themselves on the brink of mainstream popularity. While the bandmates don’t think of themselves as going mainstream, they welcome the chance to play to a new audience.

“I don’t know that we’re moving in that direction,” says Rodriguez. “We write what comes from our heart, and it’s not like we think about being more mainstream when we do that. In the United States, we have a more indie following, but I think if we play in front a broader audience, we’ll gain some new fans.”

Not that their fanbase isn’t impressive as is. The band has an eclectic group of celebrity admirers, including Quentin Tarantino, Pharrell, Britney Spears and Bam Margera. Dave Grohl proudly sported a Sounds t-shirt in the video for the Foo Fighters’ “Times Like These.” And while the band just keeps getting bigger and better, they maintain humble ideals about their place in pop culture.

“In the States, a lot of people like to discover bands by themselves,” Rodriguez says. “I think that’s how we got discovered really, by word of mouth. You do a little show, someone talks about you, and when we play the next time they come out, even if they haven’t really listened to us.”

In the current industry climate of failing major labels and dwindling record sales, having a loyal live following is integral to a band’s success, and The Sounds know it.

“It’s a live culture here in the states,” the guitarist acknowledges. “It’s good for us.  Shows have become very important, that’s the key to spreading your music. We’ve always toured a lot, and we’re gonna keep doing it.”

He isn’t kidding. Since the release of their ‘02 debut Living in America, the band has played over 800 shows in 25 countries. From small rooms across the U.S., to headlining slots on Warped and other summer tours, to stints with such indie-rock big dogs as The Strokes, Panic at the Disco, and aforementioned groupies Foo Fighters, The Sounds have gained an exceptional reputation for their energetic and compelling live show. But this summer will be their biggest tour yet.

“We’re very excited,” Rodriguez affirms. “No Doubt is a great band. And we’re gonna go to places and play for people that have never heard us before. It’s a really great tour, an amazing package.”

And hopefully the jump-off for a new echelon of success for the Swedes. Crossing the Rubicon was recorded in L.A, New York City, and Malma, Sweden, and boasts a swaggering list of production credits, including James Iha, Tim Anderson and Matt Mahaffey. While the record maintains what Rodriguez terms “The Sounds energetic vibe,” Crossing The Rubicon trades the simple and fun-loving electro-dance-pop of past releases for a more polished sound, one which takes its influence from a broader range of genres. Aforementioned single “No One Sleeps When You’re Awake” offers an easy introduction to the record, showcasing the signature fans expect. But the record quickly proves a deftly crafted experiment in different genres, including the ‘80s rap-influenced “Beatbox” and the intricately layered and darkly melodic title track.

“It’s an intermission,” Rodriguez explains of “Crossing the Rubicon,” which offers the most complete departure from earlier recordings. “It’s a little bit dark, mysterious and it reflects the whole album with the title. It’s about where we’ve been for the past year. We’ve made important decisions in our career, and we’ve crossed a point where we can’t turn back.”

Not that turning back is on any of their minds. Crossing the Rubicon is being released as a collaborative project by indie label Original Signal Recordings and Arnioki Records, the band’s own recently launched imprint.

“That’s what we’ve always wanted to do,” says Rodriguez of the collaboration, and the artistic freedom it allows. “We didn’t have that on the last album because we were on New Line, and once we were able to break free from that, the whole process came very naturally. It’s really good, it’s totally right for us to do. We have more fun when we are more involved and have more creative control. It’s extremely important to us.”

While no plans are in the works to sign other artists, Rodriguez says it’s definitely a possibility that they may pick up another act:

“It may be fun, if there’s a good band out there. But right now, we are focused on The Sounds.”

And if this ambitious band has its way, a lot of others may find themselves focused on The Sound, too.

The Sounds in Florida:
June 2 - Ford Amphitheatre, Tampa (supporting No Doubt)
June 3 - Cruzan Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach (supporting No Doubt)
June 4 - Club Firestone, Orlando (headlining)

myspace.com/thesounds