Did you know that the only word that translates the same in Hebrew, Spanish, Arabic and English is tango? By no coincidence, “Tango” is also the name of the latest album by indie folk-rock artist SONiA.
The Baltimore native, who will perform at Sam Bond’s Garage this week, has a special connection to the Eugene area: Her video
for “Metzotzim Anaquim (Big Giant Planes)” was shot at the Oregon Country Fair this summer.
SONiA and her band, disappear fear, have been on tour in support of “Tango” for more than four weeks.
She is a road veteran, having toured nationally for 15 years and internationally for 10 years.

“I’m very well traveled,” she laughed.
SONiA said that music is in her blood.
“I was exposed to a lot of different music as a kid, so it was natural for me to want to do it myself.”
With record titles like “Deep Soul Diver” and “No Bomb is Smart,” it is not hard to imagine the message that SONiA tries to convey through her music.
“I think of my music as a big hug,” she said. “I named the band disappear fear because when you disappear the fear between people, you have love.”
The Latin and Middle Eastern influences as well as the multi-language platform are a definite asset to the sound of “Tango.” Each CD is equipped with a 24-page booklet that includes translations of each song into Hebrew, Spanish, Arabic and English.
The best lyric on the album is from the track Mica Mocha: “The bombs are falling/I’m eating frozen ice cream cake.”
SONiA said it is a rare opportunity to experience music in so many languages at one show.
“Love out loud sounds cliché, but people are people and love is love,” she said. “If we can communicate better, then we have a better chance of getting along.”
SONiA’s record label, disappear records, donates 18 percent of every song download to the United Nations World Food Programme, which strives to end world hunger and poverty.
On a recent trip to Israel, SONiA performed at a camp for Palestinian girls.
“They asked if they could keep my guitar,” she said. “I promised to get them a guitar of their own and I did.”
SONiA was so inspired by the experience that she launched a foundation called Guitars for Peace, an organization that gives acoustic guitars to children in war-torn countries.
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