Camilla Sparksss Runs Wild on New Album icu run
Camilla Sparksss. Photo Credit: Roger Weiss
Camilla Sparksss is the fearless alter ego of Swiss-Canadian artist Barbara Lehnhoff, a project born out of her post-punk roots with Peter Kernel and reimagined through the raw immediacy of electronic experimentation. Though steeped in drum machines, synths, and vinyl dub plates, her approach has always remained firmly punk — physical, visceral, and unafraid of extremes. Describing her sound is no easy feat: it’s a collision of noise and melody, irony and sincerity, harshness and playfulness like being transported to Berghain for the party of a lifetime.
With her latest record ICU RUN, Sparksss channels grief and humour into an unruly, tragicomic narrative that refuses to separate pain from joy. Recorded in collaboration with longtime Peter Kernel bandmate Aris Bassetti, the album stands as both a deeply personal reckoning and a bold continuation of her journey. Touring widely across Europe and preparing to release an accompanying short film, Camilla Sparksss continues to carve out her own space in the electronic underground—always with the heart of a punk.
REVERIE: What are the origins of Camilla Sparksss and how would you describe your sound?
CAMILLA SPARKSSS: I originally come from a post-punk background, so I don’t really consider myself an electronic musician. My roots are in sweaty stages, heavy drums, and loud amplifiers. I started Camilla Sparksss after touring a lot with my band Peter Kernel, which is in the vein of Sonic Youth. After years of carrying heavy backline, hauling my 12x10 Ampeg up and down venue stages, I thought it was a good time to start an electronic project.
So even though it’s electronic, my approach with Camilla Sparksss has always been very punk. I work in a very linear way when I record. Describing my sound is tricky because the beauty of an electronic project for me is that I can mix all kinds of genres, instruments and sample anything, which gives me a lot of freedom.
So for me, Camilla Sparksss is like the little sister of Peter Kernel. I also collaborate closely with Aris Bassetti, the guitar player from Peter Kernel, who produces the project. So, even though it’s a solo project, we’re always working together and it’s really an electronic version of our post punk band.
REVERIE: What is the music scene like in Switzerland? Has moving from Ontario to Switzerland inspired your sound and direction as an artist?
CAMILLA SPARKSSS: Switzerland is lively, but the scene is quite divided, there’s the German part, the French part, and the Italian part. I live in the Italian part, which is a small region south of the Alps. I do play a lot in Switzerland, but it’s not really my main territory. I tour much more in France, Belgium, and Italy. Switzerland does have a lot of great venues, and bands, but for me it’s more like home. It’s the place I return to after touring. I have a small house in the mountains, which is very peaceful, and being in Switzerland makes touring Europe easier since it’s so central, you can drive three hours and already be in another country. Compared to touring Canada or the States, it’s just more accessible.
I moved here from Ontario when I was 17, originally to study film. Becoming a musician happened by accident. I was working at the TV as a director and made a short film; I wanted to create the music for it, so I started Peter Kernel. From there, we began touring, and things just took off. It was never really intentional to become a musician in Switzerland. That said, living here has definitely influenced me. I don’t think I would have imagined becoming a musician had I not been in Switzerland, especially because of how easy it is to tour in Europe. Geographically, it’s very convenient. But in terms of sound, I feel my Canadian origins have influenced me more. I often play with strong contrasts in my music, and I think that comes more from my childhood up north in Canada rather than from my time in Switzerland.
REVERIE: Tell us about ICU Run - what inspired you to name your album this and what themes do you explore on the record?
CAMILLA SPARKSSS: I wrote this album over the past two years while going through a very difficult period in my life. My father fell ill and eventually passed away. He was my greatest mentor, a crazy free soul, a dreamer, a true life artist. During the last year of his life, he was in the ICU, and even there he always had an escape plan ready. Every time I visited him, he would tell me about a new scheme, he even managed to steal the janitor’s keys, just absolutely crazy situations that in all the sadness crack a smile.
So it was an incredibly painful time, but also strangely tragicomic. That’s where the title ICU RUN comes from. The record explores those deep, raw feelings of loss and grief, but always with a touch of irony or humor. For me, when I’m sad, I can’t just be sad, I have to find some way to smile through it.
The album feels like a renegade story, where I’m running away from the same thing I’m chasing. With extreme emotions, there’s always an opposite extreme you’re forced to confront. That tension between pain and humor, heaviness and lightness, melody and noise, is at the heart of the record.
REVERIE: What artists or music influence your sound? What have you been listening to lately?
CAMILLA SPARKSSS: I wouldn’t say there’s one specific artist who influences my sound. I really listen to all kinds of music, anything from mainstream to Italian music, noisy electronics, Aphex Twin, Marie Davidson. It’s a real mix. Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Fountain DC, and I’m a big SUNNS fan. So it’s hard to pinpoint just one influence.
REVERIE: What gear and kinds of instruments did you use in the making of this record or that in particular you can't live without whether that be in the making of the album or when you play live?
CAMILLA SPARKSSS: I used all kinds of things to record the album, guitars, real drums, drum machines. One of the main instruments was the Yamaha SY-22 synth, which I also use live. To performance, I take all the samples I’ve recorded and press them onto vinyl dub plates, which are single copy vinyl records. I run those through effects like reverbs and delays, and it’s a wonderful way for me to perform samples on stage. I’ve tried using samplers, and I don’t think I could ever perform with just a computer. But with turntables, the process is much more physical, I can shake them to create tremolo effects, slam my hand down to stop them, and the audience can hear and see that physical interaction. So for me, my turntables are the most essential instrument. If I had to pick just one instrument I couldn’t perform without, it would definitely be the turntables.
REVERIE: ICU RUN has been described as unraveling the past and stitching it into something new. What parts of your own past did you find yourself reckoning with while making this record?
CAMILLA SPARKSSS: That’s a hard question. I think we’re always reckoning with our past, so I can’t say I’ve completely come to peace with anything. But the process has definitely helped me unravel emotions and recognize that there can be joy in sadness. Finding a kind of peace in noise.
REVERIE: What's next for Camilla Sparksss?
CAMILLA SPARKSSS: I’ll be touring a lot throughout the fall in Europe, France, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Portugal. Next year, I hope to also tour the UK and Canada. I’m really looking forward to the upcoming shows. Also, I’ll be releasing a short film ICU RUN THE MOVIE this winter. Instead of making individual video clips for the singles, I decided to create a 20-minute film that includes all the songs. I’m still finishing the editing now, but I’m really excited to release it.
