Somatics, a field within body work, originated as a product of a cultural movement in the 18th century that focused on physical activity and strength-building. The principal element of somatics, which has gained prominence in the past decades in wellness culture and therapeutic contexts, is soma. On a surface level, soma is the perceived experience of the body, as distinct from the intellectual re...
The article presents Sunn O))) as a case study in how art can transcend intellectual analysis by engaging the body directly—a concept rooted in somatics. The strongest version of this narrative highlights the band’s deliberate rejection of conventional music-making norms, from their lack of traditional rehearsals to their insistence on volume as an essential, almost sacred element of their work. Their approach challenges the commodification of music, prioritizing immersive, physical experiences ...