(Photo Credit - Chris Greenwell, @xgreenwell)
TRANSVIOLET have been making waves on the alt scene and we had the pleasure of interviewing the band. Check out our Artist Spotlight with the alt-pop stars!
1. How did you come to pursue music and how long have you been at it?
"I found solace in music as a teen, because we moved frequently, and it was the only constant. Songs became a home for me, and when it seemed like no one understood how I felt, there was always a song to prove me wrong. I started writing my own songs as a creative outlet. It felt good to take an abstract feeling and turn it into something with words and structure. I’ve been writing since I was a kid. The first time I ever performed an original song was at 17 at an open mic night in San Diego at a place called Queen B’s."
2. Could you walk us through your process of writing music?
"I collect words, phrases, thoughts, melodies and feelings inside notebooks, voice notes and notes in my phone. Sometimes I’ll sit down at the piano and pull up one of the ideas and flesh it out."
"Other times I’ll sit down with the heaviness of a feeling I haven’t managed to put into words yet and just start singing over chords that match that feeling and let it all pour out. There’s been times I’ve felt like I’m singing a song I’ve always known."
"When I’m collaborating, I’ll start with a track from my band or a producer and I’ll write to the feeling the track evokes in me, often just singing/recording the first thing that pops into my head melody wise, and I’ll listen back and transcribe what it sounds like I’m saying."
3. What artists have inspired you in your career?
"Sia, Karen O, Rhianna, SZA, Freddie Mercury, Lykke Li."
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’m not really a gearhead, but I love certain plug ins to play with while I’m writing. I love Valhalla’s reverbs, and iZotope’s vocal synth especially."
5. Can you describe the vibe at your live shows? Also, what do you enjoy most about a venue when you do a show?
"Ethereal and wild. We put a lot of work into creating visuals that match the music.
I enjoy a nice green room and a big stage so I have lots of room to get in the right head space and thrash around on stage."
6. What is one thing that you want the public to know about your music?
"That every song is a story from my life."
7. Can you tell us about the writing, recording, and promotion process of Born to Rule?
"Born to Rule was a labor of love. There were many obstacles in getting it out there, and many times I thought these songs might never see the light of day. A lot of them were written in my living room, or in friend’s studios around LA. We’ve been very lucky to collaborate with such talented producers, and I’m very lucky to be in a band with such multi talented people. We put out this record independently, so it’s been really cool to see all this growth that’s purely organic, just fans sharing it with their friends."
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