VAZUM: Detroit deathgaze duo.
Interview conducted August 22, 2021
By Dan Locke
The Familiar is VAZUM’s second single from their forthcoming album, V+. Released Friday, May 21st the Familiar is a tongue-in-cheek expose on a culture of regurgitation that dominates the music industry in today’s algorithmic landscape which rewards conformity over originality. With its Dancy drum beat, post-punk style guitars and gothy vocals, The Familiar is sure to arouse your penchant for fishnets, hair spray, black lipstick and eyeliner. With the single comes a music video shot and edited by vocalist / bassist Emily Sturm. It features the duo sporting the looks of goth / post-punk icons Siouxsie Sioux, Robert Smith and Andrew Eldritch. The Familiar is available for pay-what-you-want download from vazum.bandcamp.com and is on all streaming services.
What is your upbringing?
Musically, I was mostly raised on Beatles and some 80’s music like Talking Heads. My dad listened to a lot of Leonard Cohen and Bob Marley. Emily’s parents are musicians and she grew up listening to a variety of things from Mahavishnu Orchestra to Motown. She spent her teen years in LA and was introduced to the deathrock scene there.
How did you discover music?
I got into music from MTV and started really paying attention when I was in 5th grade during the grunge scene. I was heavily influenced by Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots. Those types of bands. Emily listened to KROQ in LA and became a fan of artists like Gary Numan and Echo and the Bunnymen. Her first concert was Adam Ant with INXS opening.
How did you start to write music?
I’ve always had ideas in my head beginning early on but didn’t start realizing them until I was in my 20’s and wanted to say something. So, I just started recording on my 8 tracks. I’d usually start with drums then layer other instruments and vocals on top. Emily has been writing songs since she was very young. It just came naturally to her.
You are a duo from Detroit. How did your band form?
Out of frustration as a drummer, I put together an album of solo material in which I played all the instruments and sang. That was in 2017. Then I recruited some of my friends and we began playing shows. In 2019 Emily joined and in 2020 we became a duo with the pandemic.
How did you get your bands name?
There’s an unreleased Sega Genesis game called Vasum. I thought it looked and sounded cool. It was important that the band name be easily searchable and unique, so I changed it to vazum since no one else was using it.
Describe your music.
Deathgaze, which combines the raw energy of deathrock with the depth of shoegaze. We fall into the alternative, dark alternative, goth, post-punk world.
What was your first performance like?
The first Vazum show was at a cool venue in Windsor, ON called the Phog Lounge. We played songs from the first album. The three people I had played with me for that show only played that one show.
Royalties never appear like magic. Royalties are only sent to you through work undertaken by a PRO to ensure that their members are getting paid. If you’re not yet signed up to a Performing Right Organization like ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, you may not be receiving all the royalties you deserve.
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the international singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP?
Yes, we’re on ASCAP.
What makes a good songwriter?
Someone who can transfer their ideas from their minds and make them into something tangible. Without getting muddled in details and keeping the integrity of the original idea intact.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
I vaguely remember the first original song I wrote and recorded on my 8-track cassette recorder, which I no longer have. I was probably 14 or 15 years old. The first official VAZUM song was called Fall Guy which I released in 2017.
What is the process of writing your music?
I usually begin with piano or acoustic guitar and get a vocal melody going. Then once I start recording and adding instruments it starts to morph and can end up sounding completely different than what I started with. When me and Emily write together, we will jam on a riff or something then start improvising vocal melodies over that. We feed off each other and often can tell what the other is thinking.
Tell me about the making of your video “Haunted House”?
We shot the video in Emily’s bedroom. She’s a huge Dario Argento fan and she painted her bedroom to resemble the Witch’s living area from the movie Suspiria. Emily had all the shots planned out. We used her Galaxy phone and she edited it using an app on her phone. She was also inspired by movies The Grudge and The Ring.
Tell me about your new album V+?
We are releasing the album on June 25th. It’s ten songs and it is more post-punk than our other albums. I and Emily shared the writing duties 50/50. We recorded it in my home studio in late 2019 and into early 2020. I spent a lot of time mixing the album. I was experimenting with the new gear I purchased. We are trying to stay away from too much of a digital sound. So, we have incorporated analog recording equipment into our studio.
Tell me about your upcoming single “The Familiar,” and are there any connections with dogs?
We released The Familiar on May 21st. We actually used Emily’s dogs in the music video. But that wasn’t the intention with the title. The Familiar is aimed at destroying that which is comfortable and safe. I think there’s too much idol worship in our culture. For as long as the stars of the 20th century dominate the music industry, there won’t be much room for new talent to emerge and evolve.
Why did you pick Emily Sturm to direct it?
Emily does all of our videos. She has a strong visual aesthetic. She has studied films and filmmaking.
What is your favorite track on your album?
My favorite track is The Familiar. I am proud of the lyrics, which me and Emily wrote together. I think it’s an upbeat and catchy song. It’s got a nice chorus and bridge. Overall, I’m happy with how it turned out. Emily’s favorite track is Loved to Death. It’s a personal song to her, and it took on a life of its own while we were recording. We are both very proud of it.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
Streaming music is great. It gets your music out there, and if you’re an independent artist you can potentially earn money from it. Some platforms are better than others. Bandcamp is very artist-friendly whereas Spotify is not.
The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, pound sign and a sharp sign in music. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags being known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag.
Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?
I don’t think many people are using sheet music these days, so yes, I think it is being forgotten.
Digital vs. vinyl?
I listen to music mostly on Youtube and mixcloud. I have a CD player in my van so I still listen to CD’s. I have no allegiance to vinyl. Though I would like to have some VAZUM records printed for one of our future releases.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
There’s a song from the first VAZUM album called Mistress. It’s about standing your ground and not being a slave to someone else’s emotions. Sometimes I’ll find myself questioning people’s motives. Not everyone’s honest and it can take a while to figure that out.
How has your videos changed over the years?
Our videos have always been DIY, with the exception of one which I hired someone to do. I began making the music videos because I’ve always thought the visual aspect is important. Once Emily joined the band, she took over the videos and photos. Consequently, they’ve improved drastically since her involvement.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
It seems like larger festivals and concerts will keep going. They’ve got the machine of the live nation behind them, and artists who can bring in serious revenue. For the smaller venues and artists, it’s a different story. Without funding from a large company, I think it will be difficult for any independent venue/artist to continue operating. Some will survive and some won’t. That said, I don’t think the previous model for indie bands and venues was very viable, to begin with. In most cases, the band is making a small margin from the door. Their biggest chance of making a profit is from merch sales. But those things all depend on attendance. And that can be determined by promotion.
Do you think that Covid-19 has been a plus to an artist career?
For me personally, it’s given me a chance to focus solely on VAZUM and concentrate on recording and building our online following. Before the pandemic, I was playing drums in various projects which really was a distraction and not in my best interest. I can’t speak for other artists. I know a lot of other people who haven’t done anything.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Emily and I have stayed very busy writing songs, recording, practicing, making videos, and taking photos. In our free time, we enjoy cycling.
How do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
We take walks regularly, we cycle, Emily does Pilates. We don’t hardly drink anymore which is a nice change to being hungover all the time. Emily is a great cook so we have been eating very well.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Cycling is a new hobby for me. I find it freeing. It’s nice being in nature and seeing the countryside from that point of view.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will includes [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
People are still using Facebook just as much as before.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
Constant content. We work hard to have new content ready to post on our socials, whether it’s photos, songs, videos. We enjoy making the content, too. It’s fun for us.
Is pay-to-play still a thing? Now pay to play also means things like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
There are plenty of scams out there. I’ve fallen for them before. In some cases, it may be worth paying for that playlist, opening slot, or whatever. But in most cases probably not. All depends on the scenario.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
That’s the way of the future.
Governments around the world are hearing the call of thousands of music creators and included protections for the music community in the omnibus bill. In addition to extended and improved unemployment benefits and small business loans for freelance creators, the package includes several bills which the Recording Academy, its members, and the larger music community advocated for. From the Save Our Stages Act, which provided a lifeline to performance venues and promoters, to the CASE Act, which creates an avenue for smaller creators to defend their copyrighted works, Congress has ensured that both music creators and those who act behind the scenes to bring music to life are given the support they need during this difficult time.” Do you think this will save music venues?
I think it has saved some venues. But I also know some venues have already closed.
Did you know that the Grammys MusicCares can help artist? The MusiCares COVID-19 Relief has helped thousands of music industry artists and professionals during these difficult days. This is the most recipients helped, for any single event, in MusiCares’ history. The need remains great, and these unique times remain critical for music people. It has taken a community uplifting one another to get through this pandemic, and MusiCares has pulled together a list of additional organizations and resources to further support you. https://www.grammy.com/musicares/get-help/relief-resources. Have you applied for it yet?
No, this is the first I’m hearing of it.
In the past if a musician stops doing music, they find a new career. For example, David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants. If you can’t do music, what would you like to be doing?
Music is the only thing I really want to do and am passionate about.
What is your happy place?
Getting lost in the creative process of writing, recording, and performing.
Red Hot Chili Peppers are about to sell their entire song catalog for $140 Million. In the past year, a lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks ($100 Million), Bob Dylan (over $400 Million), Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, K.T. Tunstall, and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Neil Young song 50 percent of his worldwide copyright and income interest in his 1,180-song catalog to Hipnosis Songs Fund limited. Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative than the mechanical royalties paid to artists based on sales, airplay, and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late ’80s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.
The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax-friendly concerning estate planning.
Do you think you would be willing to sale your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs?
I wouldn’t want to. I despise the large record companies.
Spotify’s ‘Stream On’ event on (February 22), the company confirmed that more than 60,000 new tracks are now being ingested by its platform every single day. This means people are added new tracks uploaded to its platform every 1.4 seconds.
The figure, announced by Spotify’s Co-Head of Music, Jeremy Erlich, means that across the course of this year, approximately 22 million tracks will be added to Spotify’s catalog. Spotify confirmed in November last year that its platform now played host to around 70 million tracks.
Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that, by the end of 2021, SPOT will be home to over 90 million tracks. And that in the early part of next year, it will surpass a catalog of 100 million for the first time.
But still, back at the beginning of the year, Spotify deleted 750,00 songs, mostly from independent artists. What do you think what that could mean to the independent artist?
I don’t know any independent artists who rely solely on Spotify. It seems the large record companies make the most money from Spotify. That’s more their game.
Sony Music in November and Warner Music Group in December, The ByteDance-owned video app revealed on (February 8) that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
We’re using TikTok. We’ve been posting videos on there. It will be interesting to see what comes of it.
IN 2019, you played the Deutschtown Music Fest in Pittsburg PA. How was it?
Deutschtown is a good time, it’s a big party with hundreds of bands at small venues in Deutschtown. We didn’t have a great slot or venue but we made the best of it.
Why did you play Friday night?
That’s the night we were offered to play.
Danny Wimmer Presents just announced their 2021 Festival Calendar: Which includes the following live shows:
DWP Partners With Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival In Mansfield, OH
Louder Than Life Set For September 23-26 With Newly Added Thursday Night Celebration In Louisville, KY
Welcome To Rockville Expands To 4 Days And Shifts From Spring To November 11-14 In Daytona Beach, FL
Aftershock Set For October 7-10 In Sacramento, CA, Almost Sold Out
Would you be willing to play these shows and what precautions would you like to have in place?
We absolutely are willing to play at any of those festivals. It seems proof of vaccination / social distancing/mask enforcement is a good way to keep everyone safe.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Thank you for your time. We greatly appreciate it. Our album V+ was released June 25th.
