Heavy Psych Band Fomies

Fomies released their new album, "Liminality", on April 11th 2025, via Taxi Gauche Records. I had the chance to talk to the band that claims to expand our psychedelic horizons. Read my chat with Fadil and Jacob to get to know the Swiss quintet with roots in punk that serves up a genre-bending mix of krautrock, heavy psych, and experimental sounds of all sorts.

Anne: Thanks for taking the time! How are you doing?

Fomies: We're doing great, thanks!

Anne: "Liminality" is your sixth studio album. How do you feel your sound has evolved since your debut?

Fomies: We're always trying to evolve while keeping our punk base; our influences evolve, too, and it's cool to do new things every time! We've gradually been trying to do some heavier stuff, too.

Anne: You've drawn inspiration from bands like Osees and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. How have these influences shaped the direction of "Liminality"?

Fomies: Let's face it, we're big fans of Osees. I think they're the band I've seen live the most times, and they're amazing every time. They're still one of Fomies' main influences, but on "Liminality", we had others like Sleep, Orb, Neu, Upchuck, RMFC, Slift, Ty Segall and, of course, as always, Black Sabbath.

Anne: The opening track, "The Onion Man," is described as "a whirlwind of fuzzed-out guitars and hypnotic rhythms". Can you delve into the story or concept behind this song?

Fomies: There isn't really a concept. We never write songs following a concept. It's just ideas that come to us as we jam. For this one, we had fun with a big, simple riff, and we liked the way it turned out! I then wrote the lyrics to suit my flatmate, who likes stoner/doom and onions lol.

Anne: "Colossus II," your latest single, has been characterised as a "sonic beast" with relentless energy. What was the creative process behind this track?

"Jams turn into songs"

Fomies: It's always the same thing: jams that turn into songs in the end. For "Colossus II", we had lots of other ideas that led to Part I and Part III. This is the first time we've done a sequel like this, so perhaps there will be more! We're happy with this one because, for us, it's the first time we've taken on a more classic-rock Iron Maiden feel.

Anne: With your music, you're blending heavy psych with elements of krautrock. What's so fascinating about this slightly psychedelic world? How did you come to this, and why did you want to delve into it?

Fomies: What's cool is that it feels like you can go into any genre after that. Psyche has a lot of elements of pop, punk, and even jazz. Who knows, maybe we'll release a jazz album in a few years lol. But right now, I have to admit that we're a bit upset by what's going on in the world, so we're maybe going to write an album that's a bit more aggressive for the next one.

Anne: You're known for explosive live performances, having graced stages like the Montreux Jazz and Paléo Festival. How does your live energy translate into the studio recordings?

Fomies: In fact, we record most of our material live in the studio, which is what we've been doing up until now. Each one is in a room, and off we go. The studio doesn't differ much from the live setting, in fact. After that, of course, live, we like to lengthen songs and change two to three things, but the idea remains the same.

Anne: So would you say that you are, first and foremost, a live band?

Fomies: We have fun live, that's for sure. But we like recording too, so I'd say both if you agree (laughs). Both have pros and cons, but as long as you listen to it loud, you'll get the real Fomies experience.

Anne: The album title "Liminality" suggests themes of transformation and transition. How do these concepts manifest in the music and lyrics of the album?

Fomies: As we mentioned, the concepts typically emerge after we write the album, so the term "Liminality" didn't necessarily influence what we wrote, but it just so happens to fit nicely. The album differs a bit from the others because of different and new influences in our taste of music as well as changes within the band.

Anne: With "Liminality" being your sixth album, what challenges have you faced in keeping your music fresh and engaging for both yourselves and your audience?

"We make music for ourselves"

Fomies: I don't think we like to try to be as relevant as possible in today's music world. We really make music for ourselves and try to stay true to what we want without thinking about how it will be received. And as for ourselves, it always comes naturally because our tastes change over time, so there's always something new to bring to the table when we start writing.

Anne: The track "Pause Cigarette" offers a hypnotic, kraut/shoegaze atmosphere. How do you balance such introspective moments with the more intense tracks on the album?

Fomies: Don't get us wrong, we love to play loud and aggressive tracks, but we also love the hypnotic feel of krautrock; it reflects some of the songs we play live, which can last up to ten minutes. It also adds more dynamics to the album. It gives the listener a moment to breathe before things get chaotic once more. It's all in the name, really.

Anne: Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for the future, both in terms of musical exploration and reaching new audiences?

Fomies: We always throw around ideas for future albums. Sometimes, we want to try to sound more doom, more hardcore punk or more psychedelic. The exploration always comes naturally depending on the day, our moods, etc. When it comes to new audiences, our goal is to tour more extensively around Europe and possibly elsewhere someday. It's always such a pleasure to be able to travel around and meet with people with similar tastes and ideas.

Anne: Thanks for answering my questions! It's been a pleasure!

Fomies – "Liminality"