Snarky Puppy mark their return with a brand new album, Somni, set to be released on November 21 via GroundUP Music. The album is the follow-up to 2022’s Empire Central, which won the GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album in 2023. It also marks the second time the jazz-fluid collective has collaborated with the Netherlands-based Metropole Orkest for an album since 2015 with the GRAMMY award-winning Sylva. Recorded live over three nights between January 17–19, 2025 in Utrecht, Netherlands, Somni, the Catalan word for “dream,” explores the realm of dreams inspired by Snarky Puppy founder Michael League’s current life in Spain.
League began composing the material in rural Japan during a self-imposed writing retreat in an Airbnb. “I just kind of gave myself a month to write,” he recalls. “It was in the middle of nowhere … completely alone.” Later on, League built on what he wrote with the full Snarky Puppy lineup and the 50-plus-member Metropole Orkest.
Founded by League in Texas back in 2004, Snarky Puppy has played sold-out shows all over the world, released more than 13 albums, and have won five GRAMMY Awards. Notable members include Jamison Ross, Bill Laurance and Larnell Lewis. The collective’s keyboardist and celebrated producer, Shaun Martin, passed away in August 2024 due to complications from a stroke.
The world’s only full-time orchestra dedicated to jazz and pop music, Metropole Orkest have been blurring the lines between a symphony and a big band since its inception in 1945. The orchestra has collaborated with Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Brian Eno, Gregory Porter, and Jacob Collier.
“It’s by far the most ambitious project we’ve ever done … and it was one of the smoothest records we’ve ever made,” says League. “Every individual team did their job with so much care and love — from the camera operators to our production. The instant feedback was the warmest we’ve ever had. It was encouraging to know that after 22 years of doing what we do, the music is still reaching people.”
Somni comes out November 21 on GroundUp Music. Take a listen to the lead singles, “Waves Upon Waves” and Chimera.”
