In 2019, Patricia and Nicolas Vernhes set up a sound studio near Joshua Tree, CA, to break away from conventional living and experiment with new forms and sounds, made possible by intentional seclusion. Their daily communion with wilderness slowly translated into sound, and SUMMA was born. As their senses sharpened, the project’s intention was revealed; thus began a diligent, multi-year long research into the effects of audio frequencies, harmonics, and binaural acoustics, for them both as subjects and composers.

"Center Zero", their first album as a duo and slated for an early June release on PLATOON, was recorded both at Gatos Trail in Joshua Tree, CA, and at Sand To Snow Studio in Pioneertown, CA. The primary instrument featured in the recording is a meticulously curated set of 24 quartz bowls. Each bowl was carefully chosen for its specific frequency, resulting in thousands of possible combinations known as binaural intervals. These combinations create drones and pulses with varying speeds and harmonics, with bowl sizes ranging from 8” to 24” in circumference. In addition to the quartz bowls, a Moog Matriarch analog synthesizer was employed to produce lower octave drones, subharmonic frequencies, and accompanying layers to the bowls. The synthesizer's flexible controls over pulse width, shape, and speed added depth and versatility to the composition. A shruti box, originating from India and traditionally operated with bellows similar to a harmonium, contributed to the overall drone effect, complementing the sound palette. Read More