Cortini debuted the project in the summer of 2010 with four tracks online, which would appear on his debut LP, Blue, released later that fall. Explaining that the project name stems from the Italian phrase "sono io" ("it's me"), Cortini also announced that the effort was recorded entirely with one of his favorite instruments, the Buchla modular synthesizer. He put out a remix album of the record in December of 2010 titled Non (Blue), which featured reinterpretations of Blue's tracks from the likes of Big Black Delta and Ladytron. Sonoio's sophomore effort, Red, arrived six months later and featured one of the project's definitive tracks, "Enough," as its lead single. Another companion remix album arrived later that December and, in keeping with the theme of previous efforts, was titled Non (Blue). The release featured remixes from Telefon Tel Aviv, Drumcell, and erstwhile Jane's Addiction bassist Eric Avery.
Several years of inactivity followed while Cortini focused on working and touring with Nine Inch Nails and creating a string of instrumental records under his own name. He returned with new Sonoio material in late 2014, a song titled "Thanks for Calling," which he had made available online. The project remained quiet for the next three and a half years while he returned to his duties in Nine Inch Nails and worked with Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Mariqueen Maandig Reznor in a new band called How to Destroy Angels in addition to other creative endeavors. Sonoio's third record, Fine, was released in July 2018. "Thanks for Calling" appeared on the LP as its lead single, and Cortini announced that the record would be the last under the Sonoio moniker.
Can You Hear Me
SONOIO Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Time to think again
News fading
Falling off the cliff
Time to grieve again
I cannot fall asleep
And I cannot fall asleep
I'm overgoing through the silence
(Can you hear me?)
Sun don't get in the way
Thoughts are here to stay
We're just waiting
Once again, regrets
Time to think again
I cannot fall asleep
And I cannot fall asleep
And I cannot fall asleep
I'm overgoing through the silence
Can you hear me?
I'm overgoing through the silence
Can you hear me?
I'm overboard with all the nonsense
Can you see me?
I'm overgoing through the silence
Can you hear me?
I'm overboard with all the nonsense
Can you see me?
Come over
Somebody
Nobody
Silence
The lyrics to Sonoio's song "Can You Hear Me" are highly introspective and emotive, touching upon themes of regret, grief, and an intense sense of isolation or disconnectedness from others. The song begins with the singer expressing regret, realizing that they are once again alone with their thoughts after a night of restlessness. However, they seem to find some solace in their solitude, welcoming the silence as an opportunity to process their emotions: "Nights return regrets / Time to think again / News fading / Falling off the cliff / Time to grieve again."
Despite their willingness to confront their emotions head-on, the singer feels an overwhelming sense of isolation, unable to connect with others or even fall asleep: "I cannot fall asleep / And I cannot fall asleep / And I cannot fall asleep." This lack of human connection is further emphasized as the singer feels like they are "overgoing through the silence" and asks, "Can you hear me?" multiple times throughout the song. The repetition of this question highlights the singer's deep desire for validation, for someone to acknowledge and understand their struggles.
The final lines of the song are ambiguous and open to interpretation - "Come over / Somebody / Nobody / Silence." This could be interpreted as a plea to others to come and comfort the singer, or it could be a resignation to the fact that no one will come and they will remain alone with their thoughts and their pain. Overall, "Can You Hear Me" is a poignant exploration of loneliness and the desire for connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Nights return regrets
The night brings back memories and thoughts of past regrets.
Time to think again
It's time to reflect and ponder on the past and present.
News fading
The news or information about what's happening is starting to disappear or become irrelevant.
Falling off the cliff
The situation is quickly escalating to a point of no return.
Time to grieve again
It's time to mourn for what has been lost, again.
I cannot fall asleep
The person is unable to sleep due to their thoughts and worries.
I'm overgoing through the silence
The person is overwhelmed by their own thoughts and feelings, and feels alone in their struggles.
(Can you hear me?)
The person is asking if anyone can hear their cries for help and support.
Sun don't get in the way
The brightness of the day is not enough to distract from the person's thoughts and worries.
Thoughts are here to stay
The person's thoughts are staying with them, no matter how hard they try to ignore them.
We're just waiting
The person is waiting for something to change or for someone to help them.
Once again, regrets
The person is reminded of their past mistakes and decisions they wish they could change.
I'm overboard with all the nonsense
The person is overwhelmed by their own negative thoughts and emotions, and can't seem to shake them off.
Can you see me?
The person is asking if anyone can see the pain they are going through.
Come over
The person is reaching out for someone to come and help them through their struggles.
Somebody
The person is searching for anyone who can provide support and comfort.
Nobody
Despite their efforts to reach out, the person feels like no one is there to help them.
Silence
The person is surrounded by silence and feels unheard and unnoticed.
Contributed by Jasmine K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Doug Shook
Love this. Alessandro is a musical genius.
jasonbrazen
Great! Is this new?
stasarty
It is very tasty!
Andrea Mori Marchetti
0:46: yes, i do ;P