New York’s Silent Mass has a knack for creating an atmospheric and dreamy world all their own. The band is led by singer-songwriter and creator Ammo Bankoff who uses her ethereal yet haunting vocals to entice the listener, drawing them into her unique world.
Silent Mass just shared their debut album, an eight track collection entitled The Great Chaos. Fusing dreampop, goth rock, post-punk, shoegaze and more, the LP is described as a “melancholic loaded reverie”, and my is it. Standouts include the moody single “Land of Heart’s Desire”, a contemplation on escapism and unfulfilled desires that not only plague us but those around us. Then there is “Nest of Flowers”, a song all about the unknown and how sometimes going into somewhere new and undiscovered can be healing and cathartic. With the title track, Silent Mass shows their musical diversity with mystical soundscapes, touching more into indie pop territory. The highlight is “Rose + Crown”, where Ammo’s angelic vocals are perfectly aligned with the colliding guitars and noir beats for an intriguing listen.
The Great Chaos is not just an album, but an experience, a journey through soundscapes of chaos and beauty that leave an indelible mark on the listener’s soul. We talked with Ammo of the band on this new release, her musical journey and what she hopes listeners take away from her music.
Question, when did music first enter your life and when did you start writing and releasing your own music?
I’ve been interested in music for as long as I can remember. I taught myself guitar when I was 14. When I was 18, I took guitar lessons at a community college, but it was boring, so I dropped out after a few weeks and started a band. It evolved from there…
Your project Silent Mass is deeply enthralling and combines a variety of genres. How would you describe your sound?
Goth Enya…?! But really, our sound is a mix of my drummer’s influences and mine. Alex is jazz trained and was a drum and bass DJ. We’re both really interested in percussion. I am heavily influenced by an array of genres and love anything that will elicit an emotional response. A short list of bands off the top of my head: Dead Can Dance, The Cranberries, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, Roxy Music, Rudimentary Peni, The Cure, Rowland S. Howard, Natacha Atlas, and so many others.
Congratulations on the release of your album The Great Chaos. What are some central themes on the album?
Thank you! The album is a collection of vignettes encompassing various emotional themes. I think of these songs as brief flashes of memories that evoke forgotten emotions and realizations of those moments. Sometimes, it’s like living in a dream… Did I actually experience them? Are these feelings real?
You decided to release the album on the summer solstice. What does this signify to you?
We released the first single on the Spring Equinox and intermittently released a few singles on prominent astrological dates leading up to the summer solstice album release. I felt it was time to close one chapter and make space for the beginning of something new.
This record was a long time coming, with many emotional, financial, and logistical hurdles. These songs were written at different times over the last decade. In 2019, I finally made time to work on the demos and flesh them out with Alex. Of course, there were more hurdles to overcome after, but it feels good to finally complete something that I have spent quite a bit of time on.
What do you hope listeners take away from The Great Chaos?
I hope it conjures similar feelings and breakthroughs that I experienced when writing the music. It’s meant to be a reflective journey and create a deeper connection to the self.
What do you personally love most about the album?
The songs are all fairly unique, yet they have a common thread that keeps the record cohesive. This record was very experimental. Alex and I explored a lot of samples and percussion, which I believe led to the mood and cinematic landscape that shows through in many of the songs.
Who or what are some of your inspirations creatively?
I’m mostly inspired by films, books, and the emotions they evoke in me.
Finally, what is next for Silent Mass?
Writing, touring, and maybe printing some vinyl for “The Great Chaos.” The idea is to keep creating.
Connect with Silent Mass: INSTAGRAM
