https://www.facebook.com/sonicvoltband
Sounds like: Grungy Punk
From: Texas
All questions answered by Hope Hendrix.
1. How did you get started with music and how did you develop your sound?
I have been a music lover for as long as I can remember. I received an organ as a gift when I was about nine, and I just loved using the book that came with it to learn to play simple songs. In middle school I started playing clarinet and continued until I graduated from high school. I learned the basics of music theory through being in the symphonic and marching bands, but I always wanted to play rock music. I finally bought a guitar in the early 2000s and learned enough to write some songs for my punk band Draven. With my current band, Sonic Volt, I pivoted to bass because we couldn't find a bass player and so far, I have written all the songs we currently perform. Evan Whitington, our guitar player, is a prolific writer, so we will have some stuff he's written ready to go soon.
I assume Sonic Volt's current sound is influenced by bands I listened to before I started writing songs, like Nirvana, Hole, Babes in Toyland, and The Distillers. We've been compared to L7 and the Pixies, so I think that tracks somewhat with the bands I listened to most in the past.
2. What do you want people to take away from your music?
Two key things I'd like people to take away are (1) truth and (2) joy. As to the first take away, I believe much of what we are taught is indoctrination to force us into an "us versus them" mentality. The question people should ask is: "Why?" Also, I'm unafraid to tackle difficult issues like child abuse and sexual assault. Regarding the second take away, one of my favorite bands now is Turnstile. I've seen them six times since late 2022, and I feel so lifted at their shows. That's the feeling I'd like people to get from our music, even if the underlying lyrics may be heavy at times. Music was one of the ways I was able to cope and survive through some rough periods in my life. Because I've experienced the encouraging and empowering effects of music, I believe even if the topic is heavy, a song can still offer comfort and healing. That same song can also be a total bop too.
3. How would you describe your sound to the average listener?
I think overall, our sound is hard to pin down. I usually describe it as grungy punk/alternative rock.
4. Who are three bands you’d like to tour with?
Turnstile, Amyl and the Sniffers, and Lambrini Girls.
5. What's your thoughts on AI generated music?
I think the best music comes from a place of deep human emotion and experience. I think even if a human feeds prompts to AI that the result will never be an authentic expression of human emotion and experience.
6. What’s your take on the current state of Grungy Punk?
I'm listening to some really exciting bands like Sap (Austin, TX) and Sun Puddle (Seattle, WA), so I think grunge is having a resurgence but maybe still underground. The punk part has always been there, mostly more underground, but sometimes mainstream as well.
7. What’s the current local music scene like there in Texas?
Sonic Volt just played a show on Valentine's 2026 with grungy/punk/alternative bands fronted by women in the local Dallas, TX scene (Rotten Cotton Candy, Dieabeatus Tex, and Channel Planet), and each was not only great musically but had engaging stage presence as well. There were lots of people out and about to enjoy the various clubs in the Deep Ellum area where we played, so it appears the music scene is thriving here.
8. What’s your take on the royalties that streaming services pay out to artists?
What royalties? They are nonexistent to minimal for all but superstars. It's the artists' music that is making the streaming services money, yet the artists are paid basically nothing. I'm considering only releasing physical copies (even if on thumb drives) and through Bandcamp and streaming services that pay higher percentages (Qobuz and Pandora) going forward.
9. What’s next for Sonic Volt?
Sonic Volt recorded our album in late June 2025 but a few months later the guitar player and drummer left the band due to family obligations, so I started over with two new members, Evan Whitington (guitar) and Andres Arce (drums). Because our sound has changed significantly due to the lineup change, we are going to California late February to re-record a couple of tracks, including our current single, "Breaking Out". We will be submitting "Breaking Out" for the SMR charts in March.
We will also be re-recording "Secrets", our second single, in California, and the music video will be shot in March. "Secrets" will be released in April to coincide with Childhood Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness month.
10. Any shoutouts?
Curtain Call Promotions (John Kunz and Gigi Ghibon-Elhenaway), Unsigned Hype Media (West Coast Bang'n and Kelly Nicki Steals Mobley), Russ Rockwood Rojas (The Phoenix on 128db Rock), Mick Griffin (Queens of Noize), MiddTown Music Radio, BandWagon Radio Network, On The Rail Radio, Doc Rock.
