INTERVIEW: INTRODUCING STORM AS HE TALKS DEBUT ALBUM
Copyright: Elisabeth Jakobsen
Over the past few years, STORM - Leo Davadi Sundli - has crafted a boundary-pushing sound that blends pop-punk, metalcore, rock, EDM, rap, and electronic influences, all delivered with a boldness and intensity that's hard to ignore. At only sixteen, with millions of views on TikTok and a fast-growing, devoted fanbase, the alt-prodigy has carved out a space in both the alternative and mainstream music scenes. With his debut album Join the Storm dropping 22 August through Indie Recordings, we chatted with him over email to hear the story behind it.
First of all, congratulations on releasing your debut album later this month! How does it feel?
Thank you! Honestly, it feels unreal. Like everything I’ve been building since I was a kid is finally exploding all at once. It’s this wild mix of relief, chaos, and pure excitement.
What story or message are you trying to tell with this record?
That you don’t have to fit in. Join the Storm is about finding power in the dark, in being different, in the chaos. It’s a middle finger to the idea that you have to be “normal” to belong.
“It’s a middle finger to the idea that you have to be “normal” to belong.”
How would you describe the overall sound or vibe of the album in your own words?
It’s like metalcore, rap, and pop-punk crashed into a nightmare - in the best possible way. Catchy, dark, raw, glitchy, and unpredictable. Just like my brain.
What do you want people to feel or think when they hear Join the Storm for the first time?
I want them to feel - anything. Rage, heartbreak, energy, confusion. Whatever hits them. This album isn’t just for headbangers. It’s for the overthinkers, the outsiders, the ones who’ve ever been told they’re too much.
“This album isn’t just for headbangers. It’s for the overthinkers, the outsiders, the ones who’ve ever been told they’re too much.”
What was the first song you wrote for this project, and how did it shape the rest of the album?
’Moonlight.’ I wrote it back in 2021, and that was where I really started experimenting with genre-blending. That track kind of set the tone for everything else. It says: join me in the chaos.
Who or what inspired this album the most - musically or otherwise?
Falling in Reverse, for sure. But also Billie Eilish, Jutes, BMTH... Artists who aren’t afraid to break rules and just make what they feel. That energy really pushed me to go all in.
Is there a particular song on the album that feels especially personal to you? Why?
’Walking Dead.’ I wrote it right after school one day, just out of pure frustration. That song hits close because it’s how I’ve felt for most of my life. Like if you don’t fit the mold, people treat you like shit. I know a lot of others feel that too.
Were there any unexpected challenges during the creation of the album?
Oh yeah. Some days I was writing breakdowns in my bedroom while doing homework. The final days were brutal - I was finishing the album while dealing with exam stress. Total chaos, but somehow it worked.
What’s something you’re excited to explore next, musically or artistically? Any exciting projects you’d like to share with us, maybe a tour?
I really wanna explore rap more. I haven’t trained that side of me as much, but I’ve always loved it. Right now I’m working on a ton of new songs - I think I’ve written like 50 this summer. I’m building something big, that’s all I can say. And yeah, a proper tour is the dream. A real storm on every stage.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts and stories on the album - we're looking forward to listening to it and seeing what the future holds for you!
Thank YOU. I can’t wait for people to hear what we’ve made. Let’s take it even further. 🖤
Join the Storm out 22 August via Indie Recordings, pre-save here.
