VANGOE
by Zoroarkfilms
Hello everyone, and welcome to an interview with Vaporwave 0 artist and jungle master, VANGOE. VANGOE just released his first album, LOSER’S LANDSLIDE, with Pacific Plaza Records on February 4th 2022. Let’s begin the interview.
Zoro - What was it that made you start creating vaporwave?
VANGOE - Well my introduction into the scene comes from Chuck Person and Eccojams, which hooked me instantly. I have Vapor Memory to thank for this as that's where I originally discovered it. Then as I continued to delve into the lovely luxury elite and Nmesh catalogs it spiraled from there. And of course ESPRIT 空想 became one of my favorites and became a huge inspiration for me.
Speaking of that, who are your biggest inspirations?
My biggest influences right now have to be Alex G, Gavriel, Satin Sheets, ESPRIT 空想
/George Clanton, and Clams Casino.
How would you best describe Vaporwave 0 as a genre?
It's funny because it all started as a joke from the homeboy Ahero to make fun of vaporwave 2 and then we were just like you know it actually kinda works. So I'd say it's a new approach to vaporwave using trip-hop type drum patterns and loops matched with ethereal sparkly synths with or without samples. Simple Syrup's Make Me Float is a prime example!
Getting into talk about the new album, What would you say is the main meaning/message behind LOSER’S LANDSLIDE?
LOSER’S LANDSLIDE to me was kind of therapeutic in a way. While I was writing the project my life wasn't the best and I was learning how to overcome trauma and grief. I'd say the main message to the project is that there's always a way to move on.
Wow, that’s very inspiring. I definitely hear that in the music as well. You use your voice a lot in your new album, what made you want to start singing in your music?
I was honestly really scared to release any songs with vocals. I've been making instrumentals since middle school and have always wanted to use vocals but didn't really have enough confidence. With this project, I really wanted to use vocals and express the wide range of emotions I felt at the time. It was a leap of faith for me really and I've definitely improved from that project now to the present day.
And my final question, What’s next for VANGOE?
Bigger and better music that's for sure. I have a bunch of content planned for the near future so stick around!
You can pick up LOSER’S LANDSLIDE at Pacific Plaza’s bandcamp page. At the time of this interview, there were still cassettes available.
