After teasing the album with its three compelling singles, Vexillary finally releases its third full-length effort, Horror in Dub. The compelling electronic output seamlessly blends dub-tinged techno, dark wave and bass, to present a deep dive into the realm of creepy horror while maintaining haunting beauty.
We have had the pleasure of interviewing him and this has been the result.
Can you tell us a bit about your background? Where did you come from/how did you get into music? Did you acquire your craft with the help of the Internet?
My initiation into electronic music production happened during my college years, resulting in an early cassette long before my first EP release. But the main inspiration and education shaping my musical journey stemmed from the myriad of parties and concerts across NY over the past two decades.
Much like the city itself, my project is a melting pot, influenced significantly by attending DJ events often on the same nights as band concerts. Think that explains my fascination with mashing up song structures and club beats of various styles.
On the production side, it’s been generally self-thought. There wasn’t a ton of online tutorials when I first began, so had to learn things the hard way through experimentation.
But internet is a big influence now for sure. Though some element of mystery behind music creation is completely gone, new producers can pick up exactly what they need from videos which is a huge help. The only downside is that a lot of the techniques have become homogenized, leaving less room for creative approaches.
Who have been your main inspirations (both musically and in life)? How have they affected your sound?
I draw mostly from visual influences and the darker aesthetics in art. I have to also list sci-fi and horror movies (and their soundtracks) as an influence as well. I think my first album in particular, ‘Full Frontal Lunacy’, was a direct descendant of cyber horror movies and styles.
My music is almost always conceptual, and I try to create my own world within it. Dark poetry influences are the engine behind the lyrics. Funny, it just occurred to me that there are 2 Baudelaire references on the new album, ‘Horror in Dub’.
On a purely musical note, gotta list techno and industrial/EBM, and even IDM as genres that gave me my footing. There’s other sides to my sound too, but when I first got into industrial, it felt like I was discovering music for the first time again.
It changed my programming.
How would you define your sound? And how has your sound evolved so far?
Defining my sound can be a bit elusive since it pulls from a diverse range of influences. However, there’s a definite infusion of EBM and Techno, coupled with song-structured vocal approaches of dark wave.
A term that might come close is TBM, short for Techno Body Music, which seems fitting. I believe I’ve honed in on a robust sound that manages to be both brutal and allow for beauty and emotive exploration.
Perhaps ‘Hard and beautiful’ encapsulates it perfectly.
What can you tell us about your latest work? What inspired you? What do you want to transmit through it?
The latest release, ‘Horror in Dub,’ expands on the mentioned styles and introduces a dub-influenced bass element into the mix.
While previous LPs touched on horror themes, ‘Horror in Dub’ plunges headfirst into the realms of body horror, cosmic horror, and various fantastical inspirations, constructing a dark and surreal universe.
Yet, this album is firmly grounded in reality, stemming from a reaction to real-world horrors that transpired just before its creation. The process was profoundly cathartic, compelling me to discover beauty in seemingly grim places—a contrast that resonates through the sounds of the record.
What can you tell us about each track that makes up your latest work? What concept do you want to convey?
‘Horror in dub’ covers a full spectrum of all things dark and horror. Think one of my main fascinations in the genre has always been body horror and films of David Cronenberg and that comes through on tracks like ‘My Vertigo’, ‘a New Body’ and ‘Under My Skin’.
The cosmic horror elements are all over the cover art of the album and its three singles, a creative direction that visually encapsulated the vibe of the music perfectly. ‘Animalic’, ‘Insurrection’ and the instrumentals on the album touch on this aesthetic from a musical angle.
More classic horror vibes are evident on the title track of the album and songs like ‘The Smoke’. Overall, no stone was left unturned while making this album from a creative perspective.
What projects are you working on right now?
I dive into creating a new record right after wrapping up an album or project. So, I’m currently immersed in the process of making the next record. Additionally, there’s a vinyl-only split EP in the works, highlighting the more industrial facet of the project.
I’m also planning several more videos for the ‘Horror in Dub’ album, going beyond what was created for the singles. The ‘Insurrection’ video is set to be released around the album launch, and I’m eagerly looking forward to sharing that.
After completing three consecutive albums, I’m starting to get an itch for playing live. I’m contemplating finishing a fourth before transitioning to live mode. We’ll see how it unfolds.
Pre-Order Link: https://vexillary.bandcamp.com/album/horror-in-dub-album
Socials:
https://soundcloud.com/vexillary
https://www.facebook.com/Vexillarymusic/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5WB2yWlxqqKqFpJTbQsQWm
