Melodic Machinations -Lyrically Speaking : ON

Lucy Di Santo on vox and bass guitar, Steve Falls on guitar and Dan Cornelius on drums make up Canadian based band ON. For Lucy, a Western Australian with Italian immigrant parents she describes music as “a way to self-soothe, escape, change my mood for years and then I started hearing melodies in my brain - and always identified with the bassline in songs - so I knew bass guitar and myself would click… I rented a bass, played along with Bela Lugosi’s Dead by Bauhaus - and here we are!” Lucy cites some of her musical influences as Psychedelic Rock, Funk, Disco, Punk; My Bloody Valentine, the Stone Roses, the Pixies Led Zeppelin, Tool, Chic, Nirvana, the Clash, Sex pistols, Level 42, and Stevie Wonder.

Steve, a native born Canadian from Chatham, New Brunswick says “I used to visit my grandparents on the weekends and my uncle would be playing old 70’s Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin albums; this was preceded with trips to the liquor store with my grandfather where kids were not allowed (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada). While I waited outside, there would be a traditional bag- piper and he would perform for me - and that was a subconscious influence on my guitar sound - hearing that drone turned into something I tend to incorporate into my own playing.” Steve credits mostly guitar based performers such as Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Tony Iommi, The Clash, The Police, Randy Rhodes and Jake E. Lee as having the greatest influence on his music.

Dan who is from Epsom, England but resides in New York City, had his first experience with music listening to his father playing drums. “He says At the height of the British invasion before my time in the 60’s, dad jammed with Tal Talcum and Jimmy Page - prior to what would become Yardbirds - as a mod back in England. I followed suit and continue to do so”. Dan was musically influenced by musicians such as John Bonham, Neil Peart, Genesis, and Yes.

The band chose the name ON because they feel it describes how they feel, saying ON is “how we feel when we play and write - we are inspired, enlightened, and alive. Music is power - and powerful. It’s Our Noise.”

ON‘s style is very organic with the band describing it as “our influences seem to naturally coalesce in the rehearsal space - and manifest into what is our sound. I think it happens organically, instinctively and originates from a mood or experience one or all of us is feeling.”

The song writing process for ON usually begins with what the band describes as “Steve usually brings in a riff - I will grab on to it and create a vocal melody - and Dan will be driving a groove. We all bring in ideas, we all arrange and compose and that is the cathartic element for us. We get to vent musically - with whatever is happening in our lives at that moment in time. Themes include - the human experience; frustration; spirituality; hidden meanings and life lessons - and sometimes, just an observation.”

All members of ON are involved with the bands aesthetic. Lucy as the lead singer says that she “takes a particularly specific interest in the zeitgeist of fashion in both attire and sound.”

To stay inspired as a band and to continue growing artistically ON explains “We tour - we just completed a western and southern US tour - new experiences, culture shocks, desert, Dealey Plaza in Dallas, snow in LA - just living life. I find that after a tour, I need to step back and let the experience coalesce within me - and in time - it manifests as a new lyric, melody or groove. This band is one where we are all open to create – and just be and become, freely.”

To stay connected to their fans ON uses social media. The band says “We post and regularly share to our ON-band community on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter (X); We set up a merch table at our shows and engage our fans there in person; we regularly comment on our posts and our fans are free to engage us on our socials - we answer all curiosities!”

Enjoying live performances Lucy admits “there is nothing that compares to playing live; nothing. The way I get to express everything I am feeling at that moment on a platform - even when it's a temper tantrum - and it is all cool. I get to be genuine. Live performances for Steve are an opportunity when he loves looking at Dan as he smashes the cymbals to a count of ‘four’ and we launch into ‘Break You”.

In the next few months ON hope to release their new single “Gator” from their self titled album ON. The band also says “we are also planning a vinyl and digital release of remixes for the song ‘FLA’ and one remix has just been completed by producer/singer/songwriter Mark Gardner (UK band RIDE/OX4Sound). We are also currently recording our next release with notable producer Martin Bisi in Brooklyn, NY (Sonic Youth, Helmet, Iggy Pop, Brian Eno), which we are thrilled about. We will be touring in the eastern US states and Canada in September and October this year as well.”

For new listeners to ON the band describes their music as “Taking a trip with us through our sonic experience of angst, solemness, musical prowess, power, soul and authenticity.”