We got an exclusive interview with Pere Ibañez from the electro-rock band Sonic Panda who just released Lucky Seven – an industrial track that hit the top of the charts in Spain.
Q: For the last 15 years you’ve made your name known in the art world with books, exhibitions around the world and multiple awards. What prompted such a career switch?
P: I’ve never called myself a photographer, because the role felt quite limited. I knew I wanted to do more than that. I need that spark that makes me wake up in the morning and go on. The moment photography wasn’t doing it for me anymore I knew it was time to stop.
Q: You have a background on film, how come you have chosen music instead?
P: Music has always been my true love, my dream since childhood, plus music incorporates all the elements that I need to express myself, I write my own songs which means I get to write lyrics and melody. Plus I design the artwork and work on the creation of the music videos. Is a full package of expression, much more than photography could offer.
Q: You just announced NEOMELODRAMA, your first album coming out in 2026. What can you tell us about it? Are ‘King Cobra’ and ‘Lucky Seven’ representative of what’s to come?
P: Well, there’s much more to come, yes there are more songs in that line Seni, Carlsed (our producer) and I are trying to create a balanced work that blends different genres. Generally it’s gonna aim more towards industrial rock in the line of Lucky Seven, but there’s gonna be plenty of electronica and a few mid tempos and pop moments in it.
Q: Is there a release date set up?
P: We have one in mind yes, but we really want to explore all the tracks we have selected for this album and we are gonna be releasing music videos for all of them so we have no rush, we don’t want to spoil the little surprises we have here and there haha.
Q: Lucky Seven reached the top1 in your home country, which is now the talk of the town thanks to the global success of Rosalia. What are your thoughts on her?.
P: On Rosalia? Well, believe it or not, in China I live in a bit of a bubble, so even through I heard of her before (by name) I’ve never listened to her music before. We are both from Barcelona and her new single is the first song I was exposed to and I was kinda blown away, how big it sounds and the collaboration with Björk, the stunning music video. It is always wonderful when someone from Barcelona is making it big out there.
Q: To finish, what will 2026 look like for Sonic Panda.
I don’t want to jinx anything so we shall see, but it looks like quite busy in a very good way, we are preparing plenty of surprises for the year to come.
