VEAUX
It’s been a minute since I last interviewed VEAUX on my blog. I first interviewed them in 2019 for their single “Heart Right”. The Nashville-based trio is now releasing a new banger titled “Moonlight Sugar”. Co-written with Jake Ohlbaum and Jeremy Spring, the new single fuses elements of r&b, alternative and pop. The feel good song captures the feelings of being in love. A catchy tune that will make you want to dance.
Thank you so much Aaron, Dominick and Andrew for this conversation, and congrats on this new single !!
“Moonlight Sugar” is now available worldwide !
Photo credit: Nicola Harger
Hi guys ! How are you? What have you been up to since our first interview?
Aaron: Hi! Since our first interview, we have been trying to survive the pandemic, like everyone. I, Aaron, got to experience the birth of my son, Jack! We released three new songs, “Still Awake”, “What Are You So Afraid Of” and “Tell Me That You Love Me” and we’ve been working on a collection of songs to be putting out in 2022 and 2023.
"Moonlight Sugar" is your new single - what's the story/inspiration behind this song?
Aaron: We are in love! Our wives, Jen, Jeannie and Lindsay are the muses of our lives. We really are just doing our best to capture the feeling of being in love in a time of so much turbulence in the world having those complicated factors happening at one time.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this song? When did you start working on it? Who helped you create it?
Aaron: I’m find the first demo of this song from April 2021. We were really inspired by sampled based hip hop and r&b from the 90’s. We did the bulk of production ourselves, had some additional production from Abe Yellen aka James River from Night Beds and cowrote the lyrics all together with Jake Ohlbaum from The Foxies and Jeremy Spring from Glass Age.
What's your favorite thing about this song?
Andrew: The groove. I think it’s the first song we’ve made that just makes us want to dance.
What made you want to release "Moonlight Sugar" as a single?
Dominick: It just felt like a great representation of where we are headed. It feels fun, unique and also equal parts Drake and Foster the People.
What can you tell us about the artwork?
Aaron: It was designed by our best pal, Caleb Ward and my wife Jen. Caleb was sending us some ideas and took a picture of what he was doing on his computer screen with his iPhone and I thought that alone looked really dope and then my wife Jen added a font that she had custom made onto the iPhone photo of the unfinished artwork. It was equal parts overthought and under thought, if that makes sense.
As artists, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?
Aaron: Hardest part for me is staying focused on the tasks at hand. I get inspired easily and I think discipline is the best driver you can have in the seat when it comes to art over inspiration. Trying to develop healthy practices of staying disciplined to hone my voice, my craft and constantly deliver my best. The best part is the same thing, it’s candy land. Every day we can come to the studio and make something out of nothing.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
Andrew: There’s a quote popular in the stoicism circle that says, “if it is humanly possible, that it is also possible for you.” I’m not discouraged by the music industry currently. Of course, we want royalty rates at streaming to be higher, of course we want to not encounter gate keepers but I think in a lot of ways, patience and consistency are the most valuable currency we as artists can have. I have watched friends go from zero to a million monthly listeners in two years. That is so inspiring to watch and I’m honestly so grateful for the tools for artists to be able to have that chance. Maybe I’m overly optimistic but I’m excited for kids coming up to be able to pick up their phones, make a record and film a video and publish it all in the same day. I think that’s the truest form of punk rock that’s still alive.
What biggest lessons have you learned since the beginning of your career?
Aaron: Like Andrew said, consistency and patience. If you can get rid of arbitrary timelines or a need to be famous, I believe you are unstoppable.
What message do you want to deliver to the world?
Dominick: I think we’ve learned in the last year and some, that life is too short to not do what you really enjoy doing. This pandemic has been somewhat of an equalizer that at any moment, our lives can change. Whatever opportunity you have to create the life you love, do it.
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