Song of the Day: “As You Are But Not As You Were” by Snarky Puppy and Metropole Orkest

Bigger, Louder, Dreamier

Dec 23, 2025

Ten years after the Grammy-winning masterpiece Sylva, the jazz-fusion titans of Snarky Puppy have reunited with the Metropole Orkest for their new album, Somni (released November 21, 2025).

Recorded live over three nights at the TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht, the album captures this 74-person ensemble live (using 256 microphone lines) in the physical space of the room… You can literally hear the room sing along. Here is the “fun” part (for me, at least): they didn’t just bring the orchestra; they brought four drummers (Larnell Lewis, Jamison Ross, Nikki Glaspie, and Jason “JT” Thomas) monsters all.

But, Somni isn’t just a sequel to Sylva; it’s a masterclass in sonic architecture. While the band is known for its “groove-first” mentality, this collaboration with the Metropole Orkest leans heavily into the color of the music. We’re talking about the space between the notes—the way a sub-bass synth frequency interacts with a cello section to make your chest rattle in the best way possible (headphones on for the ideal listening experience).

Conductor Jules Buckley working with Michael League’s arrangements treat the woodwinds like a secondary synthesizer managing to keep the orchestra from sounding like a “backing track,” instead turning them into a living, breathing extension of the band’s groove alongside the synth/clavinette parts. The blending of flutes and oboes with the band’s synth patches creates a sound that is half-organic, half-android, in much the same way a pro art photographer would shoot on film, but then utilize digital tools to create the final image. It’s definitely doing things the harder way, but that’s part of the artistry here.

“As You Are But Not As You Were” is the track that truly defines this 2025 collaboration. The title sounds like something a very expensive therapist or a woo-woo yoga instructor would say to you while you’re struggling in a downward dog. Usually, in these collaborations, the orchestra follows the band, but here, they are sparring. The Snarky brass section throws out a punchy, aggressive line, and the Metropole strings respond with a lush, sarcastic “Hold my beer…” Musically, it’s a brilliant nod to Snarky Puppy’s own journey… a track that acknowledges their scrappy, Texas-funk roots while fully embracing their current status as the “Symphonic Lords of Groove.” (The video below is a must-watch to get the feel of this record)