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.
Houdini
SONOIO Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sit down and make yourself at ease
Relax
There's nothing that can hurt you here
Your face
Speaking for you, telling me the things
You want me to do
The one you think, the one you see
What's wrong?
No reason to freak out you see
There is
A meaning to denying you're afraid
What you believe
Lay down
Pretend it's time to go to sleep
Be strong
I'm right here by your side at least
I'm not
Leaving you alone in this
Just wait
Still
Right now
I'm gonna make you disappear
Alone
Wishing that you weren't near
I've found
A reason not to have you here
This sound is all I hear
Right now
I'm gonna make you disappear
Alone
Wishing that you weren't near
I've found
A reason not to have you here
I've found
A reason to deny my fears
This sound
Is all I hear
Today
Abandoning
Bad dreams
Once used to be
Magic
I don't believe
You are
Listening
To me
To anything
I say
Tell me
Regrets, I have
Many
Is this
Happening
Right now
I'm gonna make you disappear
Alone
Wishing that you weren't near
I've found
A reason to deny my fears
And now you disappear
Right now
I'm gonna make you disappear
Alone
Wishing that you weren't near
I've found
A reason not to have you here
I've found
A reason to deny my fears
This sound is all I hear
This sound is all I hear
This sound is all I hear
Right now, you disappear
Right now, you disappear
Right now, you disappear
Right now, I disappear
The lyrics to SONOIO's song "Houdini" are deeply introspective and convey themes of inner turmoil, fear, and a desire to disconnect from reality. The song talks about the singer's desire to escape the world around them - not necessarily by physically disappearing, but by mentally disconnecting from their surroundings. They encourage themselves to relax and not be afraid, even though they know that's not necessarily possible. They also address another person who they want to make disappear, perhaps indicating a desire to be alone with their thoughts.
The lyrics also hint at the idea of denial, with the singer mentioning "a reason to denying you're afraid" and "a reason to deny my fears". The repeated chorus of "this sound is all I hear" reinforces the idea of being lost in one's own headspace and struggling to connect with external reality. The reference to Houdini, a famous escape artist, may symbolize the singer's desire to break free from their own mental limitations and escape the feeling that they are trapped.
Line by Line Meaning
Right now
The artist is in the present moment, talking to the listener.
Sit down and make yourself at ease
The artist is asking the listener to calm down and relax.
Relax
The artist is instructing the listener to let go of any stress or tension.
There's nothing that can hurt you here
The artist is reassuring the listener that they are safe.
Your face
The artist is observing the listener's look and reading into their emotions.
Speaking for you, telling me the things
The artist is interpreting the listener's expressions and trying to discern their desires.
You want me to do
The artist is submitting to the listener's silent wishes.
I'm not
The artist is distancing themselves from the previous image the listener had in their mind about them.
The one you think, the one you see
The artist is explaining their true identity that is different from what the listener assumed.
What's wrong?
The artist is curious about the listener's thoughts and feelings.
No reason to freak out you see
The artist is encouraging the listener to stay calm and not panic.
There is
The artist is introducing a subtle notion to the conversation.
A meaning to denying you're afraid
The artist is suggesting that the listener feels scared and is hiding their fear.
What you believe
The artist is surrendering to the listener's dominant belief and acknowledging their convictions.
Lay down
The artist is asking the listener to lie down as if it's time to go to bed.
Pretend it's time to go to sleep
The artist is encouraging the listener to play along in a pretend game.
Be strong
The artist is uplifting the listener's spirits and challenging them to withstand the following task.
I'm right here by your side at least
The artist is letting the listener know that they are not alone, and the artist will be present.
Leaving you alone in this
The artist is assuring the listener that they will not abandon them.
Just wait
The artist is asking the listener to hold on for a moment.
Still
The artist wants the listener to remain passive and not make any sudden moves.
I'm gonna make you disappear
The artist is going to do something to cause the listener's presence to be removed.
Wishing that you weren't near
The artist does not want the listener to be present as they prepare to make them disappear.
I've found a reason not to have you here
The artist believes that it's better to not have the listener around.
This sound is all I hear
The artist is focused on the sounds happening at the moment.
A reason to deny my fears
The artist has a justification for ignoring their concerns.
Today
The artist is now talking about what's happening in the present day.
Abandoning
The artist is leaving something behind or discarding it.
Bad dreams
The artist is mentioning an unpleasant dream experience.
Once used to be
The artist is referencing a distant past situation.
Magic
The artist is speaking metaphorically about something that is no longer enchanting or mysterious.
I don't believe
The artist is admitting that they have lost faith.
You are
The artist is addressing the listener.
Listening
The artist is hopeful that the listener is paying attention to what they're saying.
To me
The artist is emphasizing themselves as the point of interest in the conversation.
To anything
The artist is conveying that it doesn't matter what the listener is listening to because the artist's opinion holds more weight.
I say
The artist is emphasizing their words as the most important thing that the listener should pay attention to.
Tell me
The artist is introducing a request for the listener to share something with them.
Regrets, I have
The artist is confessing to having remorse about something.
Many
The artist is emphasizing the magnitude and quantity of their regrets.
Is this happening
The artist is questioning reality and if their current situation is real or not.
Right now, you disappear
The artist repeats their intention to make the listener vanish.
And now you disappear
The artist confirms that the listener has vanished.
This sound is all I hear
The artist is left alone in silence after the listener has disappeared.
Right now, I disappear
The artist is communicating that they are going to disappear as well.
Contributed by Miles H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.