biography

Cellist Joanna Quail is the core of London-based instrumental group SonVer. The music of SonVer, whether performed on solo cello or with a full band, presents a complex path from meditative ambience to dark brooding urgency; live looping and layers combine atonality with rich orchestration, deft percussion and several unusual instruments often added to create the majestic soundscapes.

Joanna formed SonVer formed in November 2003, writing 'Until The Stones Melt', a 9-minute cinematic soundscape with guitarist Ben McLees.

The duo continued writing, and recorded SonVer's eponymous debut during the first half of 2005, which would be released on Disconnected Music in the November of that year.

SonVer's live shows at the time incorporated visuals by Simon Bryant, the largely monochrome, slow-motion films perfectly complementing SonVer's evocative music.

During 2006, SonVer's presence on the live scene grew. In addition to several shows at London's legendary The Spitz venue, SonVer also performed at WGT Festival in Germany, Ashton Court Festival in Bristol and a year-ending headline set at Teviot Underground in Edinburgh.

2007 began with the release of the 4-track 'Vigil' EP, which showcased the elegaic side of SonVer alongside an incendary live version of 'Khat Show Host', still a live favourite to this day.

During the summer of 2007. SonVer expanded to a 4-piece, with the addition of drummer Alistair Ricardson and guitarist Ruban Byrne.

Following the live debut of the new line-up at The Luminaire, SonVer closed 2007 with a memorable show at The Union Chapel in London.

2008 began with a gig in Lisbon [Portugal], co-inciding with the release of the limited edition 'Music Box' EP [also featuring Rose McDowall and Naevus], which included two otherwise-unavailable SonVer tracks.

May 2008 saw the release of a new SonVer EP. Entitled '3 Songs', the new release came in the form of a collaboration with Belgian group Elephant Leaf. Named 'single of the week' by influencial music magazine Organ, the EP was launched at a second show at The Union Chapel, which saw Elephant Leaf vocalist Lucie Dehli join SonVer for a finale of 'Safety In Numbness', the closing track on '3 Songs'.

During the summer, SonVer teamed up with Ed Simpson of Lautrec to perform an AV/live soundtrack set during the festival season. Entitled '2001: A Space Dub Odyssey', the set was performed to packed film/cinema tents at both Latitude and Green Man Festivals in the UK.

In November 2008, SonVer released second album 'Luz del Abyss', supported by a live show in Leige [Belgium] and a third appearance at The Union Chapel in London.

During 2009, the group conceived and produced an AV show entitled 'Alchemy Of Man', which involved seven film makers from across Europe, each producing bespoke films to which SonVer tracks were performed. (More details of this show can be found on the AoM Project page).

Live dates for 2009 included a well-received return to the WGT Festival in Leipzig and Latitude Festival in the UK, and closed with two AoM sets at Dunk! Festival in Belgium and Bath Film Festival featuring Will Connor on percussion.

Jo toured Australia, New Zealand and Japan in January and February 2010 with a solo SonVer show featuring new compositions and an experimental element to each set, taking inspiration from the surroundings, landscapes and experience to improvise new music. These pieces will form the basis of the third SonVer album, currently being recorded in London and Melbourne. In July 2010 StringCaesar, a film starring Derek Jacobi and Alice Krige, with music scored and performed by SonVer, premiered in South Africa in Cape Town and Joburg.