segunda-feira, 7 de março de 2016

Prescriptions with Violet Age - An Interview


Apenas um EP, mas simplesmente o EP, lançado no já longínquo 2011, Prescriptions é até o momento o filho único dos canadenses sônicos do Violet Age, infelizmente, diga-se de passagem.

Um poderoso mix de noise e shoegaze, talvez uma junção barulhenta em MBV e Bailterspace, mas poderia ser muitas coisas, a guitarras gritam, berram enquanto os vocais buscam refugio.

Mas uma boa notícia vem quase ao final da entrevista, e alguma surpresa também poderá acontecer, somente o futuro responderá sobre os próximos capítulos da saga do Violet Age, só nos resta aguardar e cruzar os dedos.

Ouça alto.

***** Interview with Violet Age *****


Q. When did Violet Age start? Tell us about the history...
I was broke, unemployed, and single. And I ended up meeting with my future bandmates to discuss writing the music we wished other bands made. Next thing you know, we own offset guitars and dozens of pedals…now I’m just broke…

Q: Who are your influences?
Most of the obvious: Ride, MBV, Primal Scream, Johnny Marr, Robin Guthrie, Kevin Shields. But there’s a lot on the production side of things we get excited about, like Flood & Moulder, Jorge Elbrecht, Andy Stott, and various record labels that put forth a distinct aesthetic. It’s more often about getting excited over sounds, clever songwriting and combining otherwise disparate elements, than any one particular band. Sounding retro is off the table.

Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time…
If we all picked one each, maybe…
Cocteau Twins - Heaven or Las Vegas
Queens of the Stone Age – Rated R
Junior Boys – So This Is Goodbye
Pixies – Trompe le Monde
Portishead - Third

Q. How do you feel playing live?
It's been so long I've forgotten…

Q. How do you describe Violet Age sounds?
It’s the sound of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles playing a skewed version of technicolour pop. But seriously, our dynamic is basically that of the Ninja Turtles. Donatello on drums, Raphael on guitar, Michelangelo on bass, and Leonardo on vocals/guitar. Still need a sensei like Splinter…


Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs ?
All I remember is a lot of Subway and a lot of pulled pork pancakes. Aside from that, the “Prescriptions” EP itself was done pretty quickly at a place called Otic Sound in Vancouver. 90% of the guitar was tracked on a Jazzmaster through a Fender Super Reverb, even though we had several other rigs to choose from. A lot of the really over the top noises and tones were pretty spontaneous and off the cuff. Those songs were the first we ever wrote together.

Q. Which new bands do you recommend?
Not sure how many “new” bands we’re into…over recent years we’ve been into Oneohtrix Point Never, Wild Nothing, Lower Dens, Moderat, Metz, Jessy Lanza, and pretty much anything the record label Modern Love puts out.

Q: Which band would you love to make a cover version of?
Fleetwood Mac?

Q: What are your plans for the future?
We’ve been sitting on a second EP for 2+ years, which was recorded afterhours at our old practice space when the surrounding businesses closed for the day. We’d go in around 1am and setup amps and mics in odd spots throughout the building. We tracked with a lot of different gear. It’s probably a bit “spacier” than the songs people have heard, but still loads of guitar. So if we get off our asses, that should be out this year, as well as some other tracks. Our new drummer actually started off as the engineer for these sessions and then decided to stick with us afterwards (our original drummer left to make the big bucks in the big city). All of the songs we are currently writing incorporate a hybrid setup with a lot of synths, sequenced parts, with Ableton running in the background. They definitely have a different vibe than our old songs.

Q: Any parting words?
Thanks for taking the time to read and listen. And remember, there are good ships and wood ships, ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships, may they always be!
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Thanks

https://www.facebook.com/violetageband/
https://violetage.bandcamp.com/