What's next for Vanta & Ruyi?
Describe to us your music
VANTA - “I once heard that art is how we decorate space and music is how we decorate time. I think that music is so often attached to an emotion or a memory, and I try to write layered, eclectic music that the listener can connect with, making or recalling memories to the sound of my guitar. I hope fans can see themselves in the characters I write in my lyrics, I hope they can adorn the events of their lives with my 3 minute pop songs. Isn’t that all any of us do?”
Ruyi - “I’d say for the moment my music is something you can fall asleep to while a single tear hits the pillow. I’m a big fan of softer melodies that crescendo into something larger than the sum of its parts, so there’s some emotional weight beyond just a pleasing sound.”
What is the message you wish for the audience to receive?
VANTA - “That there’s poetry in everyday life. That breakup, that hookup, that trip back home, that first show, that last call. The world can be as plain or as beautiful as you want it to be, all depends on the lens. That’s why I write the way that I do.”
Ruyi - “I want people to know it’s okay to have flaws and feel things sometimes. It’s natural, it’s healthy, please do it. “
Who or what inspired you to join the music industry?
VANTA - “I’ve been surrounded by music my whole life, played guitar when I was younger and finally played my first show at 14. The lights, the noise of the crowd, the ecstasy of hearing my name on stage. I knew that this is what I was gonna do. Forever.”
Ruyi - “Working as a freelance filmmaker for the past few years, I've been surrounded by musicians and mid way through last year I thought ‘hey maybe I can do this too’.”
What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?
VANTA - “The incredible people. Hands down. Some of my best friends are the people I work with, and there’s a unique bond you share with someone when you’ve created art together. Additionally, the response I get from people who hear my songs and are changed in some way. The notion that my 3 minute pop song has affected or helped someone in some way is a feeling I don’t believe words can express.”
Ruyi - “Music's ability to act as a conduit for emotion is the coolest thing ever. The idea that I can express unbridled vulnerability through song and have that impact someone in some way, big or small is surreal.”
What are your struggles as a starting artist?
VANTA - “The one everyone points the finger at is financial struggle, and yeah, I feel that. But the other big trial in the modern era is forced comparison. There’s always a bigger fish and you start feeling like you’re drowning in a sink or swim environment. It has become increasingly difficult not to compare followers, likes, streams etc with other artists and lose hop in what you’re doing. Meanwhile, the emotional impact of music, the true currency we all hope to deal in, has no true metric, so you’re stuck hoping, praying, that what you’re doing has significance.”
Ruyi - “Trying to find my voice has definitely been a struggle. I'm at a point of my life where things are constantly changing so finding consistency amongst chaos has been an interesting experience.”
What advice would you give to someone wanting to follow your footsteps?
VANTA - “ Make art you love, and that you’ll be proud to look back on. Do it once, do it right, no regrets. The most important thing at this level is not numbers but people, surround yourself with those who feel like family.”
Ruyi - “Don't make excuses as to why you can't make music. Start now and you'll figure everything else out as you go.”
Can you tell us the story behind “Blue September”?
Both - “Blue September was the beginning for both of us. VANTA had been playing regional pubs as part of a local rock band, and Ruyi was making joke tracks about VCE in his bedroom. Through a mutual friend we decided to make music together and met for the first time in VANTA’s rural makeshift studio, and over the course of the week took a poem VANTA had written, originally entitled “Dust”, and added each of our own personal flavours until we had a truly unique alt pop song. At the end of that week we were so excited about the track we threw a party to show some friends the track. At that party we decided that music is what we wanted to do. We knew this track was special and have been saving it and tinkering on it all year. Recorded in Gippsland during the bushfires, mixed remotely through Zoom, music video shot between lockdowns, this song has truly been our 2020. We hope you love it.”
Take us into the production of this release, Who did this production and what is the reason behind the production style?
Both - Following on from the last question, we spent 5 days up at VANTA's country property making everything together. We started from scratch so it was very much a 50/50 effort. To be honest this was just the most natural production style for the song. It blended VANTA's rock background and Ruyi’s lofi percussion with a larger than life synth backing to create something that I think really nicely supports the scale of the lyricism.
Is there an EP or Album on the drawing board?
Both - “Absolutely, I think both of us are simply waiting until we know exactly what we want to say, how to best say it, and why we’re saying it. Rest assured that when we’ve made up our minds, it’ll be something pretty special.”
What's next for you?
VANTA - “Myself and my incredible backing band The Slips have been working on hard on what will hopefully be the best live show in Melbourne. I can’t wait to make my live debut in 2021 and show you all another side of VANTA.”
Ruyi - “I’m really trying to expand my circle of artists. I have the honour working with some insanely talented people right now so hopefully you’ll start seeing the results of that within the next few months.”
