Interview: sdoku on Music, Meaning, and Making It All Himself
Sdoku is an independent artist, producer, and songwriter from Southern Italy. With one album and a single already released at 16 years old, sdoku is already carving out a space for himself with his genre-bending sound and DIY approach.
His latest single, “gambling,” dropped this past June and is available now on all streaming platforms. We got the chance to ask sdoku a few questions about his journey so far and what the future looks like for the rising artist. Check it out below.
SOUND STAGE: Who is sdoku as an artist?
SDOKU: It's basically me, it represents my goal to turn my feelings into music. That's why I do everything myself, from the writing to the production to the visuals, because I love when every part of the project speaks the same language.
SOUND STAGE: Your music blends indie rock, synthpop, funk, and modern pop. What draws you to genre-fluid music?
SDOKU: I've never seen genres as borders. I grew up listening to everything from classical to funk to ambient to alt-pop, and it all stayed with me. I let each song become what it needs to be. sometimes that means guitars, sometimes synths, sometimes both. it keeps everything honest and makes it feel alive.
SOUND STAGE: How do you balance emotional storytelling with danceable, upbeat production?
SDOKU: I love contrast. sometimes the heaviest emotions are easier to understand when they're expressed through music. i want people to dance, but also think or feel something they didn't expect. I think it's all about making space for both.
SOUND STAGE: You are only 16 years old and have already released a full length album. What motivated you to take on such a big creative project at such a young age, and how did you stay focused through it all?
SDOKU: The album came from my need to express whatever is in my head and in my heart. I had a lot to say, and music was the only way it could come out clearly. I didn't really plan to make "an album" at first. The songs just kept coming, and at some point, they all felt part of the same universe. what kept me focused was knowing that I was building something that was real and fully mine.
SOUND STAGE: You cite artists such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and The 1975 as influences. What have you taken from each of them creatively?
SDOKU: The Beatles taught me how to write a song, how to build a melody, how to experiment with music, how to love what I do (basically everything I do now, it's all thanks to Paul, John, George and Ringo). Pink Floyd showed me how to turn a song into a cinematic, real, conscious space and how to tell a story when you write music. The 1975 made me realize you can be personal, vibey, deep, and self-aware, all in the same track. I try to borrow their fearlessness more than anything else.
SOUND STAGE: Is there an artist you’d love to collaborate with one day?
SDOKU: I think Cody Fry would be a dream. I love how he can write cinematic pop (with a lot of references to classical music and orchestral compositions) and vibey upbeat funk pop with so much heart, it feels close to how I see the world musically. Also, JVKE or Fly By Midnight, who are great at blending emotional songwriting and production with pop sensibility.
SOUND STAGE: What are your future goals for your music career?
SDOKU: to keep building a world around the music, not just sound, but also live performances, visuals, meaning, and space. I want to create something people can walk into, even if it's just for a few minutes. Also, to find a balance between evolving and staying emotionally raw.
SOUND STAGE: Can we expect another album soon?
SDOKU: Absolutely yes, right now I'm working on a new project that expands the universe I started with infinite moments. It will come in 2026, but in the meantime, there's more music on the way.
