We first heard from Vundane a year ago, upon the release of his EP Elgans Monstrum. That record introduced The Static Dive readers to an eclectic genre-bending electronic music producer and composer based in Charlotte, North Carolina. His sound is an experimental mix of modern and classic electronic music styles.
In less than two years since his debut, VunDane has produced an impressive volume of work, including sixteen singles, an EP, and now his debut LP. Developed as a concept Album, the record chronicles a difficult year for the artist. Each of the seven tracks represents a different phase of a mentally taxing period in the artist’s life.
Vagari is the brand new album from VunDane, released worldwide via all major streaming services on December 15, 2023. The album’s title is the Latin word meaning “to wander”. Each Song follows that theme, with a one-word Latin title representing the confusion and despair of a journey with no destination.
From the gothic pipe organ intro and dark house groove of “Affictus” (affected) to the mesmerizing rhythmic vocal sampling and minor-key moods of “Destrum” (the desert), VunDane paints a complex emotional scene. He uses elements of house, trip-hop, synthwave, and electronica to create a soundscape that is both beautiful and desolate. Techno vibes (“Solus”) meet classic house beats, analog synths, and jungle grooves (“Vagari”).
Throughout the album, sampled and edited vocals create an intentionally broken narrative. The organized chaos of occasionally decipherable but mostly incomprehensible lyrics places us in real time amid the confused thoughts of our protagonist. VunDane knows how to create a mood without sacrificing musicality, and layers his compositions with intricately woven chord structures and melodic themes.
Check out Vagari title track video below. You can also hear that song on the Deep Dive : Dance & Electronic playlist, or listen to the entire LP on your favorite streaming service. We had the chance to chat with VunDane about the new record. Check out his answers to our 8 questions below. And follow the links at the end of this article to connect with the artist.
8 Questions with VunDane
Where are you from?
I live in Charlotte, NC, I am originally from NJ
How long have you been making music?
I’ve been producing electronic music for about two years now “professionally”, but I’ve dabbled in it for years. I’ve been a drummer most of my life.
Who are the musicians involved in your project?
I’m the only artist on the album. I have not done any collaborations just yet. I like my songs to sound a certain way, and that’s something I’ve been quite protective over. All of my songs to date have just been me, with provided vocals.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
My biggest influences would be deadmau5, Keys N Krates, Daft Punk, and various electronic artists. Deadmau5 has always been an inspiration for me, I try to take some of the methods he used and put my own spin on them. I have a few friends who have been in the space for years, I definitely have taken thoughts and ideas from them as well.
What is your greatest non-musical influence?
My greatest non-musical influence would probably be my close friends and family. I have a wonderful group of people around me who are always excited for whatever hobby I’m currently doing. It’s really nice to have people close to me who will support me.
What inspired you to create this project?
Vagari was something I started over a year ago. This project to me tells a story for a profoundly difficult year I went through personally, and mentally. The word, “Vagari,” means, “to wander,” in Latin, a language I look to for a lot of my naming scheme. The songs tell a story of self reflection, pain, acceptance, and understanding of my life. I do believe music is interpreted by the listener, so how I hear a song and what it means to me is different for you. But for me creating my first album I like to think of it as if you were watching a movie, and my movie depicts a character completely lost wandering the desert, all hope lost, finding his way.
What are your plans for the future (musically)?
Well I’m definitely taking some time off, this album was an immense amount of work. My current plans for 2024 would be focusing on singles, maybe every other month releasing and then maybe another full scale project in 2025. I want to refine and continue shaping my soundscape, and continue delivering songs that sound like a VunDane song. I also have plans to do a few performances in 2024.
Is there anything else you would like to say?
I’m super proud of this album. The amount of work I put into it I really hope is reflected in all the tracks. I’ve put out a lot of stuff over the last two years, and I really do feel that every track on this album is my best yet. I do music on the side while working full time, so those hours spent crafting this album were lots of late nights, weekends, and any inch of free time I had. It means the world to me every time someone gives anything of mine a listen. I know my music isn’t for everyone, but I’m so happy to be sharing this journey and it’s been a really neat experience with this album release and seeing the positive feedback from it. -VD
Connect with VunDane
YouTube
Spotify
Linktr.ee
The post VunDane – 8 Questions & A New LP appeared first on The Static Dive.
