Sometimes, the scariest evil lurks within.
Raised in the scorching hot sun of Phoenix, Arizona, rock and metal outfit Traumatone has delivered a gritty, cinematic brand of rock that feels like a “soundtrack to the broken world.”
The brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Jesse Broniste, Traumatone have made a name for themselves in a crowded scene by marrying the brooding, moody post-punk textures with industrial metal’s relentless edge. Fueled by their unrelenting passion, Traumatone plays with the love and fury of a spirit unleashed, shattering expectations wherever they go.
Traumatone was created as the manifestation of Jesse Broniste’s grand musical vision. A highly skilled multi-instrumentalist himself, Traumatone’s live presence is bolstered by a bevy of seasoned Phoenix musicians: Tony Robles (In Bloom, Sweet Summer) drives the pulse on drums, DJ Eickhoff (In Bloom, Tell All Your Friends) brings depth to rhythm guitar, and Alex Magewick (Jules) lays down heavy basslines that add a visceral low end.
In the end, Broniste’s creation—a fusion of ambient soundscapes, hard-hitting riffs, and searing synths—transcends typical genre boundaries, blending the melancholy of alternative rock with powerful, resonant vocals that linger long after the last note.
Traumatone’s latest release, “Monster,” is a beautiful and dark release that will appeal to fans of dark, passionate rock with a cinematic twist. To that end, “Monster” is accompanied by a striking music video where bathed in red light, Broniste delivers a cathartic, profoundly resonant experience.
Dropping lines like “I am the bad guy that no one can see,” Traumatone looks inwards to the “Monster” inside, putting on a performance that captivates with their twisted yet breathtaking portrayal of the anguish of inner conflict.
With every performance, release, and note sung, Traumatone continues to advance its mission—to meet listeners in life’s darker spaces, captivating them all the while.
Whenever you’re ready, tap in and stream Traumatone’s latest release, “Monster,” on all major streaming platforms.
We couldn’t get enough of “Monster,” what a crazy release! We wanted to ask you what the inspiration for this song was. Could you take us through your creative process a little bit?
Thank you! Great to speak with you again! As with any Traumatone song, it always starts with the music. In this case, the subtle drums that started the song were the first thing to happen, and it was just luck that I was sitting behind the drums playing music with some friends.
Just started playing that pattern and recorded it on my phone. From there, I amped it up and played a heavier version of the pattern, which demanded a heavy riff! At the time, I was dealing with some heavy emotions, so it came about quite easily! I knew from the force of that opening riff that the whole song would have to carry on the feel and not really let up.
Staying true to the sound, I found some haunting melody to underlie the heaviness, and everything came together pretty quickly. Typically, when I’m going through something, songs just fall out of me without having to think about it much.
Lyrically, the song plays at a split personality brought on by a buildup of hurt and giving control over that side of one’s self.
What inspired you to take that initial step to pursue music seriously, and what motivates you to make music now?
Well, “seriously” is a tricky term for me. In one sense, I take my craft very seriously and want to try to put my best into everything. It’s a creative outlet that I love and am gifted to do. I’ve never taken lessons for anything and it just comes naturally.
So I know this is my lane. Being that it’s an outlet, as any artist would say, I often find that songs fall out of me when emotions are stirred up one way or another. I rarely write something so much as just hearing it in my head and then figuring out how to play it.
So I’m confident in knowing this is what I’m meant to do. But I’ve never been one to want to give up life for music or life on the road if you will.
I’m content being able to create and play shows. Wherever that goes is wherever it goes. If some people are touched by it in some way, I’m happy with that.
You’re headlining a show at the Rebel Lounge in Phoenix next year (January 12th; tickets are on sale now!), right? How does it feel to bring your new releases to the stage, and what kind of energy will you be coming with?
Playing new music live is always great! Having this new, amazing band that is bringing the music to the stage and sharing it with people is an incredible privilege! We’ve built a good reputation with the energy and content of our live shows.
We’re always aiming to bring a solid set of music that will take people on a journey and impact them so they remember us!
We also pull some of the older Traumatone material in for a good mix and flow to the show. But taking new material to the stage and getting that instant reaction has been amazing! Seeing people get excited about new music exclusively at live shows means a lot!
If your fans could take one thing away from your music, what would you want it to be?
I’d say feeling. There’s nothing better than when you connect with the music and you feel it. It gets in your bones. But more so, I’d hope it’s in the soul. I know the music of Traumatone tends to have a darker sound, and the world and life can be dark for some people. So, I would want the music to find those darker corners of someone’s soul and connect in that place. But connect in order to bring them out of that.
What’s next for Traumatone, and is there anything you’d like to say to your fans?
There is a new EP in the works! “Monster” will be a part of that, but for now, it’s just a single to hopefully hold people over until that gets here in 2025. So there’s more coming!
Meanwhile, we just continue to play shows all around the Phoenix area. As you mentioned, we are headlining the Rebel Lounge on January 12th! Just continuing to get out there and get more exposure. Hopefully, we’ll be able to expand and play some shows in the surrounding states if the opportunity arises.
For everyone who has supported Traumatone, a very big thank you! Follow us, spread the word, buy some merch, and support local music wherever you are. If you catch us live, come say hi!
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