INTERVIEW: Catching Up With Violet Sands + Stream “Gone”

Earlier this year we brought you “What Do You Feel” the ethereal electro-shoegaze single from Violet Sands and Justin Faust. Now, Violet Sands are closing out 2018 with “Gone,” a more plaintive but equally as enveloping cut from the New York-based group.

To celebrate the release of “Gone,” we sent along some interview questions to Violet Sands’ Derek Muro. Read and stream below and follow/save here.

Hi Violet Sands! Congrats on your new single. Can you tell us a little more on who you are and how you first got into making music?

Hi! Violet Sands is Deidre Muro, David Perlick-Molinari and Derek Muro (myself). Deidre and I are siblings and have made music since we were kids, growing up with musician parents. Deidre and David are married and have collaborated on music since they first met.

Making music was always happening growing up in the house and with friends, but I really loved listening to cassettes on headphones while going to school or on road trips, looking out the window. I definitely wanted to create that connected, meditative spiritual feeling.

What’s your songwriting process like?

Much of our album Hotel was written out of playing together in the same room, and playing some early shows where we only had loose structures for the music. We embraced a lot of the unexpected bits that came out of that.

“Gone” started a few years ago in LA right before I came back to NY, initially as an attempt at making “updated Cocteau Twins.” We picked it up again this year, revamped it, and had fun adding some of the more orchestral elements at the end.

What are some of the larger themes at play on “Gone”?

Gone is about losing your way and being confused but ultimately embracing the future’s unknown potential – seeing it not as scary but as hopeful, like butterflies in the stomach. It’s easy to reach for comfortable, familiar distractions in that moment, but I like to think you have to accept the uncertainty.

Who are some of your biggest influences/favorite artists?

Miles Davis, Steve Reich, Kraftwerk, Devo, Brian Eno, Roger Troutman, John Cage, Trevor Horn, David Sylvian, Ryuichi Sakamoto… I recently re-discovered visual artists like Robert Smithson and Agnes Martin.

Any new artists/venues/purveyors of the arts you could turn our readers onto?

George Clanton, Kelela, Mister Lies, Tornado Wallace, NxWorries, Knower, letherette, and a bunch more… The favorite venue I’ve been in the last few years is definitely Magick City in Brooklyn – it’s a wonderful small space and community with great sound and atmosphere. The Lot Radio is another local favorite – a few friends are regulars and I love what they’ve built as a station, cultural hub & physical space… All 3 of us in VS are partners in a production studio and label YouTooCanWoo, where we’ve been releasing music, producing events & content for several years now.

Where can we follow you and what do you have coming in 2019?

Instagram is best for us (@violet_sands). In 2019, we’re looking at a few more singles which will likely be more dance-focused, long-form and instrumental.

Any parting thoughts? Open platform!

Thanks for the questions and support!