(Photo Credit: Lisa Verberght)
We had the opportunity to interview lo-fi artist Vlad Holiday! His sound is low key, but it is sure to hook you with its complex melodies and great vocals. Check out what he had to say in our interview below!
1. How did you come to pursue music and how long have you been at it?
"I discovered my love for it when I moved to the States (from Romania) when I was a kid. Didn’t have any friends or speak English very well so I found an escape in music. That eventually turned into an obsession and I’ve been at it for more than half my life at this point."
2. Could you walk us through your process of writing music?
"It starts in my notepad with a lot of scattered lyric ideas that I jot down throughout the day. Then I’ll create some sort of musical piece at a later date and open up my notes to try and match a lyric or two to the mood of the song. From there I’ll spend anywhere from a few weeks to a few months sculpting it and trying my best to let the song flow out naturally without getting in its way."
3. What artists have inspired you in your career?
"So many. Recently some friends got me into The Cramps, Serge Gainsbourg, T Rex. Been also jamming some Mazzy Star and digging this new Weyes Blood album."
4. Do you have any favorite music gear (guitars, amps, effects pedals, keyboards, etc.) that you love to use? If so, what’s the story on them?
"I think the coolest piece of gear with a story that I own is a fuzz pedal given to me by Jack White. A friend of mine is close with him so we got a private tour of Third Man Records in Nashville - pretty surreal moment. The pedal has a mind of its own, hard to make it do the same thing twice in a row, which is pretty special. I also use a lot of tremolo and vibrato all over my recordings. The Strymon Flint has tremolo and verb covered as good as any pedal can and I’ve been using the ZVex Lofi Junkie for vibrato."
5. Can you describe the vibe at your live shows? Also, what do you enjoy most about a venue when you do a show?
"I try to replicate the vibe of the recordings live- which to me is something like a late night low lit hang, getting drunk with friends and listening to music. Venue wise, I like when the visuals compliment the sound, super hazy and psychedelic but intimate lights to set the mood for the music."
6. What is one thing that you want the public to know about your music?
"It’s better when you blast it. Even though it’s slow paced (always consciously 5 BPM slower than it should be), it’s intended to be heard loud. I make my ears bleed when I’m recording it."
7. Do you have any upcoming projects you would like fans to know about?
"Always working on new music. Excited for this next one, trying to have it out real soon."