Backstory:

Unknown Cinema was born out of the embers of a once-thriving college film society in the small town of Roswell, New Mexico. The band’s members – singer/guitarist Leo Hayes, bassist Noah Mason, and drummer Violet King – were all film students with a shared love of music. They started out scoring music for their own short films, but the process quickly evolved into jam sessions and songwriting. Their music was so well received that they decided to form their own band, taking the name Unknown Cinema as a nod to their film-centric origins.

Their journey was not smooth as they juggled between their studies, part-time jobs, and their passion for music. After graduation, they moved to Los Angeles, aiming to make their mark in the city’s bustling music scene while still keeping their film dreams alive. The trio drew from their film knowledge to create a cinematic and atmospheric sound, enveloping listeners with immersive narratives and vivid imagery.

Genre:

Unknown Cinema falls under the genre of cinematic indie rock, with a strong emphasis on storytelling and atmospheric soundscapes that draw heavily from film scores.

Title:

Their most well-known song is titled “Requiem for a Lost Scene.”

Song Lyrics:

(Verse 1) [Em-C-G-D]
Em
In a forgotten reel, in a dusty room,
C
There’s a tale of love, painted under a silver moon,
G
An old film runs, flickering ghosts on the screen,
D
A story ends, a requiem for a lost scene.

(Chorus) [G-D-Em-C]
G
Requiem, requiem for a lost scene,
D
Caught in the frames, memories bittersweet,
Em
In the silence of black and white,
C
We find our hearts beating in the neon light.

(Verse 2) [Em-C-G-D]
Em
In the echoes of the past, we dance alone,
C
Searching for truth, in the shadows unknown,
G
The reel spins on, a silent symphony,
D
Weaving dreams, captured in celluloid memory.

(Chorus) [G-D-Em-C]
G
Requiem, requiem for a lost scene,
D
Caught in the frames, love’s old sweet serene,
Em
In the silence of black and white,
C
We find our souls lost in the neon night.

Fan Testimonial:

Their number one fan is a film student named Sam who found their music to be the perfect accompaniment to his late-night editing sessions. Sam loves how Unknown Cinema’s music feels like a movie for his ears. He says, “Their music is like a soundtrack to my life. It’s so rich in narrative and emotion, and the cinematic quality makes it feel like I’m living in a movie. I’ve never found another band that blends film and music so seamlessly. Unknown Cinema isn’t just my favorite band, it’s part of my creative process.”