SINE is an alternative rock/electronic band created and led by singer and drummer, Rona Rougeheart. She has stepped from behind the kit to create her own strong, sexy female fronted project that weaves dance beats with industrial noise and layers of booming bass, synths and guitars into a mix of jagged textures and dark, lush fusions.
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
SINE is:
Rona Rougeheart - lead vocals/programming/drums
Sonny Sanchez - drums/programming
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to SINE? How long has the band been around?
I haven’t really played in a ton of bands. I played drums for Austin band, Dead Love Club, for about 2 years before I created SINE. Dead Love Club was almost like a mini version of My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, which we opened for a few times in Texas. Sonny has been a drummer in the Austin scene for years, notably in the bands Sounds Under Radio and Dirty Wormz.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
When I was thinking about a band name, I wanted something short, easy to remember and easy to spell. Two of my major influences are Curve and Garbage, so tried to think of something in that realm. I had a hard time thinking of something that I liked, then, one day I woke up and the first thing I saw in my head was the word “SINE” in all capital letters. It literally showed up in my vision like a negative image. I thought it was perfect! Divine intervention, I suppose. Haha!
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
I write all of the lyrics and most of the music. The producers of our debut album, INSOMNIÆ, Charles Godfrey and Kfir Gov, also contributed to the music. The lead song off of the album entitled, Communion, was written by my drummer, Sonny Sanchez, and I. The topics range anywhere from sex, love, drugs, taboo, temptation, excess, shame, exposure - it’s all real life and things that we all experience. I tend to have a darker or sinister feel to all of my lyrics, along with some sarcastic, ironic humor. I think as SINE continues to grow as a band, the lyrics will also grow. I draw all of my lyrics from my own life experiences and observing the experiences of others. I write from the victims standpoint and the perpetrator.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
There are a ton of bands making great music now! Sometimes it’s not necessarily a band that inspires me, it’s a song. I’ve been listening to a band called Raime lately - the album Tooth, mostly. Most of their songs are minimal, atmospheric and have really great low end. I’m really loving sub bass right now. Some songs I’ve been grooving on lately are Destiny by Zero 7, Afterlife by Public Memory, Ana by Lorelle Meets The Obsolete, Last Girl on Earth by Supreme Beings of Leisure, MK Future - Reds RMX by The Black Dog, She’s Falling In Love by Clan of Xymox and several others. Of course, there are always the staples: Nine Inch Nails, Cocteau Twins, Curve, Deftones…and on…
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
I owe my music career to Depeche Mode. I grew up playing music, but never thought about having my own band until I saw Depeche Mode live. As soon as the guys hit the stage, I saw the grand production, heard the music and I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I hope to tell them about it in person one day when we open for them (wink)!
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …
Well, I do flex and stretch my imagination, but I don’t like lifting weights much….because…well, they’re heavy. Haha! Kidding. On show days, I try to do mostly nothing. I try to have a relaxed leisurely day. I usually don’t eat a lot or drink alcohol before I go on stage. I’m too to nervous that I would fall over or forget some words…although, I don’t need alcohol or drugs to do that. If I finish a show with at least one leg bruise, that’s success. Haha!
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
We’ve had a lot of great highlights over the last couple of years. We opened for She Wants Revenge, 3Teeth, Kanga and several others. Our latest big highlight is we will be opening for My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult this spring on some Texas dates.
I’m also very excited to be currently working on a collaboration with composer, Julian Beeston, who has played with Nitzer Ebb, Die Krupps, Cubanate and CTec. I’m also working on a collaboration with with the Canadian band, Stvngers. It’s been a lot of fun! We’ve got a few more collabs possibly on the horizon.
Other than that, we’re pretty focused on new music and the next chapter of SINE - writing new music and getting ready to film new music videos.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Depeche Mode - Because they are the ones that started it all for me! And what better way to celebrate your career than to open for the band that inspired you to do it! BRILLIANT BAND!
Nine Inch Nails – because they’re Nine Inch Nails!!! Really, because I truly admire Trent as a musician and I love everything about the band – the music, the art, the stage show...plus, they rip so hard on stage and I would love to be a part of that!! DREAM GIG.
Deftones - I have to say that I was late to the Deftones train. I had been working with Live Nation as a graphic designer and worked on art for Deftones shows, but I never went to see them. It wasn’t until maybe six years ago that a little voice in my head told me to listen to them. I immediately loved the music and listened to all of their albums on repeat and nothing else for probably a month or more. I totally cracked out on them! My poor neighbor had to listen to them, too! Haha! I really love how dark the lyrics are and the versatility of the music - plus we’re influenced by similar bands. I had the opportunity to meet Chino Moreno and told him how Depeche Mode sparked my interest do music as a career and he said that he had a similar experience. I am greatly influenced by their music and would love to tour with them one day!
Chelsea Wolfe - I saw her for the first time when she opened for Queens of the Stone Age and again when she opened for Ministry. She is a bonafide bad ass! I would love to pair up with her because I love her strength, vision, music, style, and show. Amazing!
The Horrors, IAMX, Massive Attack, Garbage, Crosses, The Black Queen, The Cure…I could go on and on - there are so many killer bands out there. Bands from the past, absolutely Curve and Love and Rockets!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Last thing I want to say is thanks for including us on Kill The Music! It means a lot! We love our fans and the support they give us. We couldn’t do it without them and without interviews and features such as this! Being a musician can give you so much love and heartbreak, but we wouldn’t want to do anything else. We’re very optimistic about SINE’s future. As Josh Homme said once, “someone has to make it, why not me?”