For an artist known for the strong melodic elements running through his productions, Pathways from Somna represents much more than a natural evolution.
The album reflects an artist deliberately expanding his creative identity and exploring new directions.
Over the past year, Somna has introduced these ideas through three EPs.
Each release took him beyond the harmonic sound that originally established his name.
Those explorations have led him into melodic bass, hard dance, progressive house and trance.
Rather than abandoning his established sound, Somna treats these styles as different pathways that eventually connect to create a broader artistic identity.
With Pathways, released on May 22, he brings those explorations together in his most expansive album statement to date.
Exploring the Melodic Bass Path
The first side of the album explores Somna’s modern interpretation of melodic bass.
Early in the tracklist, “Touch The Sky,” created with Alan Fullmer and RUNN, delivers an energetic melodic approach.
His collaboration with SABAI, “I Miss You,” takes a more cinematic and melancholic direction, creating a slower and more emotional atmosphere.
“I Wish You Could See,” made with Kaidro and featuring vocals from ellie d., brings shimmering textures together with vulnerable songwriting.
Meanwhile, “Turn Off The World,” his collaboration with Kepik and Casey Cook, builds gradually before delivering a powerful payoff.
Together, these tracks take Pathways beyond the boundaries traditionally associated with Somna’s sound.
Somna Embraces His Rodi Style Identity
Somna describes the album’s different directions as a reflection of both his personal and artistic evolution.
He also sees Pathways as the result of reconnecting with music in its purest form and rediscovering his passion for DJing across multiple genres.
That process also brought back Rodi Style, the alias that marked the beginning of his electronic music journey.
The three EPs released before the album — Path To Light, Path To Shadows and Path To Echoes — each represented a different influence and side of his artistic identity.
Rather than remaining within one particular sound, Somna used those releases to explore different styles and allow creativity to determine the direction.
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A Darker Side of the Album
The second part of Pathways moves into darker territory, featuring a significant selection of material connected to Rodi Style.
The project originally served as Somna’s first musical outlet.
Its return adds another dimension to the album and exposes a more uncompromising side of his artistic identity.
“System Failure,” made with Ramsey Westwood, drives forward with industrial energy.
“Wildfire” takes a more explosive approach, bringing the intensity of a peak-time festival into the album.
“Keepsake” offers a different perspective, pairing its hard dance foundation with a nostalgic emotional layer.
“Connected” strips the sound back further, relying on a hypnotic and relentless groove to maintain its momentum.
Returning to His Melodic Roots
The album’s final direction comes closest to Somna’s melodic foundation, although the sound continues to push beyond its traditional boundaries.
“Oxygen,” featuring H4lo and Jordan Grace, balances atmospheric elements with forward momentum.
“Somewhere Dreams Come True,” created with Adara, moves between piano-led progressive sounds and trance-inspired electronica.
“Destiny,” featuring Monika Santucci, continues the album’s emotional openness, while “Side Road” with LTN adds another layer of melancholic progression.
The album closes with “Love Hurts,” featuring Linnea Schossow.
Its wounded yet compelling melodic character brings the different emotional threads of Pathways together.
Somna Brings the Pathways Together
Ultimately, Pathways is shaped by movement, experimentation and reinvention.
Instead of limiting himself to a single musical identity, Somna uses the album to explore different corners of his creativity.
The three directions introduced through his preceding EPs now converge into one broader statement.
Pathways presents Somna as an artist willing to move between styles while maintaining the melodic sensibility that has long defined his music.
Somna’s Pathways was released on May 22.
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