Blurring the lines between continents and consciousness, international electronic trio under:tones are stepping into a bold new era with their upcoming debut album 'Encounters', due March 2026. At the forefront of this journey is 'Dreaming (Wide Awake)', a luminous first single that also inaugurates Through The Void Records, a brand-new imprint built to champion emotionally rich, genre-fluid electronic music.
Crafted between California, the UK, and Italy, 'Dreaming (Wide Awake)' captures the essence of under:tones’ sound: cinematic in scope, intimate in feeling, and rooted in a delicate balance between analogue warmth and digital finesse. The track’s shimmering synthscapes, euphoric pulse, and Reeves’ ethereal vocals conjure a dreamstate grounded in real emotion, a golden-hour reverie that speaks to both memory and movement.
So with the new single available now, we caught up with them to talk about crafting across borders, building emotional architecture through sound, and what has been their biggest inspirations over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Matteo: Surprisingly, the first instrument I fell in love with was the violin. There was something deeply emotional and expressive about its sound that drew me in. But as a kid, I quickly found the structure of solfeggio a bit limiting and not very creative for the way my mind worked. That led me to the drums, where I could express energy and rhythm more freely. Later, I picked up the guitar — partly to jam with friends, partly to write songs, and I’ll admit, partly to impress girls. That was the beginning of a journey where instruments became not just tools, but extensions of different sides of myself.
Sonny: The first instrument I picked up was a half size nylon string guitar, I played it till all but two strings broke but kept writing songs on it. My parents bought me an electric guitar and I played that every day till I knew what I was doing.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Matteo: Music has been part of my life since day one—literally. As a newborn, I would fall asleep to "Woman" by John Lennon, which became one of my earliest emotional connections to sound. As a teenager, I dove deep into rock and psychedelic rock, which shaped my early playing style and opened my mind to musical storytelling. Over time, my curiosity led me toward more experimental genres and eventually into the vast, creative world of electronic music, where I truly felt I could explore without limits.
Sonny: Anything loud and rebellious. Punk, Metal, Hip-Hop, DNB.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Matteo: The first album I ever bought with my own money was Storia di un minuto by PFM. I was 15 and had just discovered progressive rock—it felt like opening a door to a completely new dimension. That record taught me how music could be complex, emotional, and cinematic all at once. It definitely left a mark on how I listen and create to this day.
Sonny: I listened to my dad’s vinyl and cd collection mostly; Michael Jackson, Thin Lizzy, Queen but when I eventually bought my first album I picked it solely because it had the parental advisory sign on the front, but I’d never heard the band before- It was Limp Bizkit.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Matteo: There are far too many songs I wish I had written—but if I had to choose one, it would be Imagine by John Lennon. That song is everything: timeless, poetic, universal.
Sonny: Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen. Lyrically it’s my idea of perfection.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Matteo: Yes—my main rule is to approach the process with no limitations. Be brave. Be weird. Follow the frequencies of your mind and let creativity lead the way, not logic.
Sonny: I like to write late at night while everyone else is sleeping. Something happens to me then, I feel alone and free; the songs seem to write themselves.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Matteo: Right now, my listening is quite diverse. Bon Iver is one of my all time favorites. I’m also inspired by the emotional depth of Julien Baker and the energy and production of Fred Again. All of them reflect a very modern, raw, and fearless approach to music making.
Sonny: Sault and Tame Impala
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Matteo: Elvis Presley. Just to meet the legend and feel his presence and energy in real time. That would be something truly unforgettable.
Sonny: Daft Punk. It would be a big ask but it’s one the greatest things I’ve ever seen.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Matteo: When we’re lucky enough to be touched by a moment of inspiration, we’re able to translate raw emotion into a sequence of frequencies that we call music. That kind of alchemy is the most sacred and rewarding thing about being a musician.
Sonny: I suppose it’s when a song is eventually released, people react, message you to tell you it’s special to them, maybe it’s helped them in some way during a difficult time - if you’re especially lucky one of your close friends might tell you that and that feels incredibly rewarding.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Matteo: When you can’t reach that state of inspiration—when the emotions are there but you can't transform them into music. That disconnection can feel incredibly frustrating.
Sonny: Writers block. Nothing makes you feel like a fraud more than being unable to do your job. It can really become a mental obstacle as well and make you question if you were ever good at writing music!
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Matteo: Be good at recognizing what you’re really great at, and once you do—focus on that. Elevate your strengths and let them define your voice.
Sonny: Release your music. Don’t wait; time doesn’t.
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under:tones' new single 'Dreaming (Wide Awake)' is out now. Watch the new video for it in the player below.