Japan Vandamme Interview
Q: Can you talk about your history as an artist/band?
A: (Lorren) My friend Dylan and I came up with the idea to start a band that would temporarily be a mirage on the Minneapolis music scene so he had enough time to learn how to play bass. A hint of satire and a dash of bittersweet irony is the recipe for a cultural placebo effect.
(Erik) I think a shift in what we were doing occurred in early 2016 when Lorren and I were living in a house together for a little while. I have memories of working on songs that would later become “There She Goes” and “NYC.” We kind of chilled out for a couple years until we met Jess and started playing as a three-piece. Eventually my old friend Andrew joined on bass. To be honest, a lot of the history is a blur.
Q: What is your recording process like for Normal Style?
A: For the most part, this album was recorded live. Some tracks with a click and some without. Though, some started only with the drums playing along with a scratch track. The development of the song can only begin once it has a solid foundation. The following concepts must be at the forefront as well: not arguing with the engineer about buffers, compression ratios, reverb levels and wet/dry vs wet/dry/wet vs direct. It's all about listening to detail and allowing the song to develop its own personality.
Q: What is your creative process like?
A: (Erik) If I come up with a melody, I record it on my phone and when I have time I open up Garage Band. It's often a long process. Patience is key.
Q: Can you talk about your history as an artist/band?
A: (Lorren) My friend Dylan and I came up with the idea to start a band that would temporarily be a mirage on the Minneapolis music scene so he had enough time to learn how to play bass. A hint of satire and a dash of bittersweet irony is the recipe for a cultural placebo effect.
(Erik) I think a shift in what we were doing occurred in early 2016 when Lorren and I were living in a house together for a little while. I have memories of working on songs that would later become “There She Goes” and “NYC.” We kind of chilled out for a couple years until we met Jess and started playing as a three-piece. Eventually my old friend Andrew joined on bass. To be honest, a lot of the history is a blur.
Q: What is your recording process like for Normal Style?
A: For the most part, this album was recorded live. Some tracks with a click and some without. Though, some started only with the drums playing along with a scratch track. The development of the song can only begin once it has a solid foundation. The following concepts must be at the forefront as well: not arguing with the engineer about buffers, compression ratios, reverb levels and wet/dry vs wet/dry/wet vs direct. It's all about listening to detail and allowing the song to develop its own personality.
Q: What is your creative process like?
A: (Erik) If I come up with a melody, I record it on my phone and when I have time I open up Garage Band. It's often a long process. Patience is key.
Q: What are some of the themes that are touched upon your release of Normal Style?
A: (Lorren) Normal Style is a time capsule of our twenties. That being said, there are glimpses of love, loss, life with a touch of addiction. Had these songs not been written, I probably wouldn’t be able to remember much from that time period. For me it’s about redemption; shortly before turning thirty (in 2019) I was found without any vital signs due to an accidental overdose. Little did I know the aftermath of that incident would segue into the pandemic, which ultimately gave me the time needed to reflect and let go of my demons. It was time to get back to work and finish what we started.
Q: Have you started playing shows now that the pandemic is almost over?
A: We have and live music is making its way back to where it was before 2020. To us, nothing is better than getting up on stage and showing the masses what we have to offer. It's in our bones and the energy created is what keeps us trucking along with this project.
Q: What else should we know about Japan Van Damme and your music?
A: We are very humbled to be doing what we are doing with this project and cherish our time being able to hone our craft with one another. At this point, we are doing what we do best and heading back to the studio. A lot of fresh ideas that need to be laid down will be recorded in August. More will definitely be revealed, so keep your ear low to the ground.
A: (Lorren) Normal Style is a time capsule of our twenties. That being said, there are glimpses of love, loss, life with a touch of addiction. Had these songs not been written, I probably wouldn’t be able to remember much from that time period. For me it’s about redemption; shortly before turning thirty (in 2019) I was found without any vital signs due to an accidental overdose. Little did I know the aftermath of that incident would segue into the pandemic, which ultimately gave me the time needed to reflect and let go of my demons. It was time to get back to work and finish what we started.
Q: Have you started playing shows now that the pandemic is almost over?
A: We have and live music is making its way back to where it was before 2020. To us, nothing is better than getting up on stage and showing the masses what we have to offer. It's in our bones and the energy created is what keeps us trucking along with this project.
Q: What else should we know about Japan Van Damme and your music?
A: We are very humbled to be doing what we are doing with this project and cherish our time being able to hone our craft with one another. At this point, we are doing what we do best and heading back to the studio. A lot of fresh ideas that need to be laid down will be recorded in August. More will definitely be revealed, so keep your ear low to the ground.