Sonic Boom

Peter Kember is by no means an unknown quantity – quite the opposite, in fact. The British singer–songwriter, composer, and producer played a key role in launching neo-psychedelia in the 1980s with his band Spacemen 3, created otherworldly soundscapes in the 1990s with his collective Experimental Audio Research (E.A.R.), and has taken his place in the producer’s chair throughout the 2010s for acts including MGMT, Panda Bear, and Beach House, amongst others. Phew! To call this multi-tasker “busy” would be an understatement. The fact that his solo project Sonic Boom – which has been active since 1989 – has faded somewhat into the background is thus entirely understandable. Nevertheless, albums such as “All Things Being Equal” (2020) and his collaboration with Panda Bear, “Reset” (2022), are brilliant examples of a modern evolution of everything Kember himself helped pioneer over three decades ago. In his music, neo-psychedelia meets Beach Boys–style sunshine pop, quirky indietronica meets surreal ambient and tropicalia – carefree and light-hearted like Alice in Wonderland. On his latest collaborations, “A Peace Of Us” (2024) with Dean & Britta and “Maps” (2024) with Sinner DC, the sound becomes a shimmering kaleidoscope of diverse ingredients. We are thus all the more excited to see what Sonic Boom will pull out of the hat for us on stage this year.