SongVault Artist Profile

The Somnambulants are:
Joseph White: Bass, vocals, synths, programming
Channing Sargent: Synth, vocals

Contrary to their title, The Somnambulants are anything but sleepy. They have been making an energetic, dance-friendly, and unique brand of indie/electro-pop since 2000.

While recording Paper Trail, the girl/boy duo kept to their own rule: avoid writing of "electro" songs. With one or two exceptions, they worked with rock, blues, or pop compositions and arranged them using electronic instruments. The resulting album is a mix of songwriting styles wrapped in a single synthetic wrapper, with each track as unique and memorable as the next. The Somnambulants "are more indie-pop-influenced than most of their contemporaries, and that, I think, is a good thing." (Village Voice)

Stylistically, The Somnambulants are even more driven by cinematic influence, as evidenced in their lyrical imagery and spacious production. Joseph White built the first Somnambulants songs from music soundtrack pieces composed during his tenure as a film student. In fact, their name was taken from the somnambulist character - Cesare - in the 1920 German film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

Founded in Brooklyn, NYC, The Somnambulants are now based in Los Angeles.