VRDA Would Rather Grow Old
Mustard had the pleasure of speaking with Sydney synth-pop artist VRDA who recently released two singles; "I'd Rather Grow On" and "Sugar Water" in collaboration with Okayden!
Mustard had the pleasure of speaking with Sydney synth-pop artist VRDA who recently released two singles; "I'd Rather Grow On" and "Sugar Water" in collaboration with Okayden. Additionally we talked about making dream pop, Microsoft Excel, Australian slang, and so much more!
1. Mustard is grateful and appreciative to have you join them at On The Shelf. How are you doing today?
Thank you for having me, I’m very excited to be interviewed by a sentient condiment! I am doing well - currently sitting with my cat and drinking coffee.
2. Mustard has observed that you make dream pop for hopeless romantics. What types of dreams do hopeless romantics have? How does your music serve as a soundtrack for hopeless romantics?
I think they are very colourful and a little bit cinematic, a little bit weird and wonderful. I try to make music that makes you feel something but also has a lot of sparkly colourful textures in it.
3. Mustard is curious what your relationship was with music growing up?
There was always music playing in my house - I started learning violin at age 3, my mum was a primary school music teacher and my dad was always playing in a band with his mates. When I was a teenager, me and my best friend formed a folk-pop duo and played at different folk festivals around New South Wales in Australia. When I left school I started making my own electronic music, and I haven’t stopped since.
4. You recently declared on Threads that "if your email signature is 'Sent from my iPad' I am afraid of you." Could you elaborate more on this?
I’m sorry if this is your signature, but it evokes pure chaos. Somehow it is much worse than ’Sent from my iPhone’, which I will tolerate.
5. Additionally, how can DAWS smell fear?
Many have searched for the elusive nostrils of the DAW and none can find them. Nevertheless, they know when you are afraid.
6. Some of your red flags include issues within Microsoft Excel. What does the ideal Excel spreadsheet look like?
It’s all about a good colour scheme, and maybe some sweet as drop-downs.
7. Mustard wonders if "Fang" is still your current favorite Australian slang? What is some Australian slang that humans should work into their daily vocabulary?
Fang is still up there. Can be used as ‘send’ or ‘give’ eg ‘fang us those files’, but also used to describe going really fast, eg ‘fanging down the highway’. I also recommend:
Devo - short for devastated. eg “I was devo I couldn’t come to the gig last night”
Munted - very drunk and/or high “they were absolutely munted last night”
Not really slang but ‘heaps , used in place of ‘a lot’. Eg “there were heaps of them” or “I like them heaps”. I recently learned this is an Australian thing!
8. Who (or what) influences you?
Beach House, Tove Lo, Caroline Polachek, Sky Ferreira, Missy Higgins, Tove Lo, playing music with other people, watching films, going for walks, going to live music, talking to people I love.
9. In addition to being an independent musician you also do work for film and television. Is there a film or television soundtrack that made an impact on you? How did you get into doing music for film and television?
I think the first film soundtrack I fell in love with was The Piano, composed by Michael Nyman. I also really dig the score for Everything Everywhere All at Once by Son Lux. I started started working in film music as a studio assistant at a big scoring stage - where they record large orchestral scores.
10. Mustard wonders what is your creative process? Is there overlap between your work as a songwriter and your work for film?
My songs usually start from a piano and vocal version, or sometimes from an inspiring sound or texture as a basis. My film work is usually a lot more collaborative and structured but kind of starts the same way - trying to find a sound, chord progression, or melody to express a particular emotion.
11. Is there a favorite film you have worked on so far? Do you have any dream projects you wish to make music for?
When I was working at a studio, I was part of the team that recorded the Lego Ninjago score, by Mark Mothersbaugh (from Devo) so that was pretty exciting! I have only just started to get a few credits as an additional composer and composer's assistant - my dream would be to do my own feature or TV show one day! Or a really big dramatic theme song for the credits.
12. November 2021 saw the release of your debut EP "Honey Organza." Could you share what it was like to put this EP together?
This collection of songs was written over a few years, mostly in a tiny (& mouldy) apartment in Kings Cross. I was still working out my creative process - Merry Go Round grew out of a remix of an older version. A lot of them have strange violin samples in them (pitched and reversed and with heaps of delays). Sober was a last minute addition, with guitars added by a friend of mine. They were all created differently, but somehow belonged together in my head and sort of signalled the start of the VRDA sound.
13. Mustard is curious if you are still stuck on a Merry-Go-Round?
Aren’t we all?
14. On "Little Birdie" you mention that the Little Birdie's words will murder you. Has this birdie been reported to officials?
Little Birdie is still at large! It’s very hard to contain such a small, flighted animal.
15. Mustard wonders if you still do not take any oaths for nobody?
No oaths, except for my cat (I vow to always feed her and give her pats)
16. Mustard would like to wish you congratulations on your newest single "I'd Rather Grow Old." Could you share more about your latest single?
Thank you! I’m so glad people have connected with this single, it’s a very personal one for me. It’s about overcoming struggles with my mental health, and choosing to live life to the fullest, not being held back by my own thoughts. It took a lot of time and therapy to get to this point, but this song felt like a very cathartic release of a lot of toxic parts of me.
17. What makes a lie pretty? How do pretty lies differ from other types of lies?
Pretty lies are the most dangerous, because they are easy to fall for and the easiest to tell yourself. They’re very sweet until they’re not.
18. Mustard is curious if you still feel like a ghost?
No! Luckily I feel more solid, because ghosts can’t enjoy mustard.
19. What is on the horizon for VRDA in 2024?
A lot more music! I’ve just released a track called ‘Sugar Water’ with Okayden, and there will hopefully be some more collabs with them and other artists to come! Also a new solo single in March, keep your ears peeled.
20. Where can readers listen to your music?
Wherever they like! Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube - All the places! You can download it and keep it all to yourself on Bandcamp too. Here is a link I prepared earlier: https://linktr.ee/vrda.music
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