"Sonic Asylum" is an original jazz composition by pianist and composer Arcoiris Sandoval, serving as the title track and namesake of her Sonic Asylum Trio project. The piece first appeared on the trio's debut album First Voyage, released on MEII Enterprises in 2018, featuring Sandoval on piano alongside Marty Kenney on bass and Allan Mednard on drums. Conceived as an immersive, atmospheric work, the composition aims to create what Sandoval describes as an aural environment that connects listeners through piano-led melodies, supportive bass lines, and dynamic drumming. The tune embodies the aesthetic vision of the Sonic Asylum project as a whole, prioritizing original modern jazz writing within the piano trio format. Sandoval, originally from Tucson, Arizona and based in New York City, is a two-time ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award recipient whose work draws on a range of influences including science fiction and environmental themes. First Voyage won a Global Music Award, and the Sonic Asylum Trio has since performed at prominent venues and festivals including Lincoln Center, the Tucson Jazz Festival, and Winter Jazzfest. The composition remains closely associated with Sandoval's own performances and has not entered wide circulation as a covered standard, functioning instead as the flagship piece of her principal creative ensemble.
