Interview: Magic And Illusion With VOILÀ
Interview by Lindsey V. Britt
Photo credit to VOILÀ
College classmates turned pop-rock duo, Luke Eisner and Gus Ross have some musical tricks up their sleeves with VOILÀ. With hit songs such as “Stand Tall”, “Figure You Out” and “Therapy”, the magical duo is about to embark on the release of their third album coming out June 21st featuring “Something Blue”, “We Could Be The Future (with The Ready Set)” and “Dead To Me”.
Your new album is coming out June 21st, how has the experience in making this album been different than your previous albums and projects?
Luke: Honestly, it feels like this album is in the same book as our last two albums but just another chapter. The plot thickens so to speak! Writing VOILÀ albums reminds me of that old carnival ride, Tunnel of Love. It feels like the farther along the ride we get, the deeper and darker it becomes.
Gus: Most fun I’ve had so far. This is the best one yet.
The first single off the new album is “Something Blue”, which is about seeing someone marrying the wrong person, what’s the story behind writing that song?
Luke: I was a wedding DJ in high school and the tradition of something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue always seemed interesting to me. I had written a poem in college that was more or less the hook of the song as it is now. I kept it in my back pocket always hoping it would fit in a song! Fast forward to life now, and so many people I know are getting married… a few to the wrong people. I think with that on my mind, it was the perfect time to write it!
I noticed your second single “We Could Be The Future” (with The Ready Set), is a complimentary song to “Something Blue” lyrically, is there a storyline behind the album, and should it be listened to chronologically?
Luke: Great catch! In my mind, it definitely is the song the bride and her lover drive off into the sunset with after they “quietly slip away”. There are tiny through lines in the album that are connected to songs on the project and our past albums. Because my life is chronological by nature, there’s a lot of parallels in our songs that happen pretty subconsciously. For example, “Something Blue” is the fourth song mentioning a Mercedes. That’s because my girlfriend drives a Mercedes since I met her even long before we dated! On the fictional side, something blue also features the locket mentioned in our song “Made For This”.
I watched your five-act music video series for your album Happy Never After and I thought it was amazing and different, will there be another music video series from this album?
Luke: Thank you so much! We’ll definitely be doing another five-act video for this album. It’s actually a storyline I’ve been working on since we started writing the album so I’m very excited to start shooting it! Much to the testament of Gus’ patience, I’ve been directing our music videos since the beginning and I’m doing my best to continue to as long as everyone continues to tolerate my stupid ideas haha! Can you believe I got Gus to wear a bear onesie? The man’s a Saint.
Will there be a tour for this upcoming album? Because I would love to see you two live in concert.
Luke: I can neither confirm nor deny this, but let’s just say I did renew my passport…
Gus: Keep your eye on our Instagram. We’re gonna do our best to get to the magicians in as many spots as we can.
How do you think social media has played a part in the world of VOILÀ, especially as independent artists?
Luke: I really like sharing the photography aspect of VOILÀ. We’ve used the same camera and black-and-white settings since day 1 and it makes the band’s journey feel like a personal scrapbook when I look back over the years. My mother was a film photographer growing up, and I take a lot of inspiration from watching her passion for it. We also really are proud of our community of fans (the magicians) and the discord we’ve created with them. We have weekly game nights on there, podcasts, and events. Our community on there is by far the biggest treasure I’ve gained from this whole experience!
You’ve collaborated with several artists such as Kellin Quinn, Hey Violet, and Lexy Panterra, and I know you love working with friends, is there someone you want to work with that just hasn’t happened yet?
Luke: I really like witty songwriters. I don’t even care about genre I just love really good wordplay! I’d love to work with Pete Wentz, Sam Hunt, Leanna Firestone, and Relient K. I’d also love to write a song with a non-traditional songwriter! Perhaps an author like Nicholas Sparks or Jennifer Niven!
Gus: Honestly so many people I can’t wait to work with. Bring Me the Horizon being my personal dream collaboration.
You both have known each other since your USC days, what is something you two have learned about each other over the years?
Luke: Gus is the most ridiculously hard-working man I’ve ever met. Both of our career dreams and goals are tied together with VOILÀ, but if for nothing else, I hope we succeed because Gus really deserves it. He has dedicated his life to making this band sound the way it does, and I really hope whoever listens to our music can hear the thousands of hours of care he puts into it. Also, he has a really specific and randomly powerful love for the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
I heard you’re fans of The Kooks and I’m also a huge fan of them, and I’m curious what each of your favorite songs by The Kooks is?
Luke: Wow you did your homework, this is such a good question! Inside In/Inside Out is in my top 5 most listened-to albums of all time. I can confidently say I can rattle off every song lyric on that album no questioned ask. I’m pretty sure the reason I can’t remember my friends birthdays is because I used up too much brain space on that album haha! My favorite song is “Matchbox” because it was the first song my high school band ever covered so it holds a dear memory in my heart. I probably listen to “Seaside” the most. I find that song very longing and romantic!
Gus: HUGE fan. Saw them playing in Milwaukee one time which was quite an interesting dichotomy: their northern British accent vs the harsh vowels of the American Mid-West.
Your fandom is called The Magicians, but do either of you know any magic tricks?
Luke: I used to know a bunch more than I do now! I was really fascinated with it for so many years and thought it would be a good way to impress girls- WRONG! Haha, but magic and illusion will always have the dearest place in my heart and that’s why VOILÀ is so deeply rooted in those themes and aesthetic.
Gus: Yea - Honestly the magic comes from meeting them on the road and hearing their individual stories. By far the most magical and humbling thing I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing.
Finally, do each of you two have a recommendation? It can be absolutely anything, a place, book, advice, etc.
Luke: It sounds a little hippy-dippy but I find it helpful to view imagination as a muscle. You have to work it out as often as possible by writing, drawing, reading, playing pretend, etc. You’ll be thankful you have a strong imagination when you’re old or ill because there will still be so many places you can travel in your mind when your body gives out!
Gus: we massively overestimate what we can do in ONE year, but we MASSIVELY underestimate what we can do in TEN. Marginal Gains is also something I’m huge on. 1% improvements, across the board adds up in the end.
Make sure you listen to VOILÀ’s new album out June 21st and stream “Something Blue”, “We Could Be The Future (with The Ready Set)” and “Dead To Me” out now.
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