(Photo Credit - Nick Scheetz)
We have an interview for you with Vacation Manor who just released their self-titled debut! They're a fantastic indie pop/rock duo that is sure to get you moving with their upbeat sound. Check out their album and our interview!
1. How did you come to pursue music and how long have you been at it?
“Like a lot of people it’s been a sort of lifelong dream since we were kids. When we first met and started the band in 2014, we were really just a garage band trying to write songs for the first time.”
2. Could you walk us through your process of writing music?
"It varies from song to song. Sometimes it’s an idea that we jam on that turns into a song and then sometimes it’s me (Nathan) writing a song or co-writing with a friend, then we’ll bring the song in and figure out where to take it. For the last year we’ve had a studio to work out of that has allowed us to go a lot further with ideas before they turn into the final song.”
3. What artists have inspired you in your career?
“There’s been a lot and there are constantly new influences too - but a few have been Big Star, James Taylor, John Mayer, Phoenix, The Killers, Night Beds, Wilco, Coldplay, Crowded House, The Cure and so many others.”
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?
“In the middle of writing the record, I got a ‘68 Gibson B25 that I did the majority of the writing on and is the main acoustic on the record. Cole has a 60’s blue sparkle Ludwig kit that was on a lot of the record as well as a 70’s Ludwig kit that our producer had. Sometimes vintage gear lives up to the hype and sometimes not, but I would say overall we both get pretty sentimental with gear, especially when it’s got some stories attached.”
5. Can you describe the vibe at your live shows? Also, what do you enjoy most about a venue when you do a show?
“We always try to strike a good balance of the slow and intimate and the bigger
more high energy songs when we play live. It feels like a really positive, communal environment at our shows and I think we both are really grateful that our sound attracts that type of audience. I love when a venue has really good hospitality and when the vibe is great! One of our favorites that sadly shutdown over COVID was Rock and Roll Hotel in DC.”
6. What is one thing that you want the public to know about your music?
“I think our music has an immediacy to it and often an upbeat, easy listening feel, but I really love when a fan notices the details musically and lyrically. We really do put a lot of thought into it, and when someone digs in and enjoys it on a deeper level that feels really complimentary.”
7. Tell us about the writing, recording, and promotion process for your self-titled debut.
“The recording was done on a lot of trips back and forth to Nashville for the bulk of it, a few songs were done in Joshua Tree, and one we self-produced at our studio in Virginia. It really was quite the ride and learning experience trying to intentionally chase down the sound we imagined. I already feel nostalgic about the process. In a really great way it feels like we learned so much and are a million miles from where we started when we began the process.”
8. What’s next for you?
“We just started to put out some live videos we recorded in an old theater in our hometown, we’ve got some new arrangements of a few songs on the album that will start coming out soon, and we’re announcing a tour soon. Until then we’re getting to work writing the next record!”
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