When the world came to a halt earlier this year, musicians all over the world were forced to rethink their plans for touring, recording, and promoting any new music.
What went from an industry based on live events and in person meet ups shifted overnight to an entirely online and digital world- forcing fans and artists alike to reimagine what the process of connecting and promoting would be. But with this forced urgency to create new methods of keeping the industry afloat came new creative endeavors by musicians to keep their careers and creativity going while also adapting to the changes happening around them- and artists such as VAYA are proving that 2020 isn’t going to keep them down.
Based in Canada, VAYA have spent the last year honing their skills and preparing for their return to the touring world. Not letting the uncertainty of the year stop them from their creative endeavors, the band have worked on planning their short films, preparing for their next album, and practicing a positive mindset in order to stay focused on furthering their careers and lives.
You can read our full interview with VAYA now, and be sure to check out their latest film SEXUAL, out now.
Second Society Report: How are you holding up during this insane year that is 2020? Hopefully your friends and families are staying safe and healthy!
VAYA: Hello Second Society Report!
Well the first wave was tiring, so it was asking us to focus on essential needs:) But in the same way it opened a door for us to work deeply on the post production for this second opus: color of the sound, technical skills etc…
SSR: Did you have any big releases or tours that were put on hold because of the pandemic? How has that affected the band? (could be personally, financially, morale wise, etc.)
VAYA: So we had planned to tour the first album in the UK. We will see how it goes: we are patient. I had planned to go to Japan in June for the two next short movies of the second Opus, but we decided wisely to move that trip for later on, for feeling in a more positive way to co-create. It gave the opportunity to our movie maker to explore new skills and us to focus on how to realize the physical version of the second opus and how to build the first live of it. It is more a period to put some seeds in the ground and wait.
SSR: How have you been spending your newfound “downtime” while the world has been essentially shut down?
VAYA: As explained; having time to deepen our skills, finishing some stuff «on hold» because we did not have time before, discovering new stuff we like to do such as cooking 🙂
And enjoying the power of nature!
SSR: Have you picked up any new hobbies while quarantining that you’d like to share?
VAYA: I just went deeper in my actual skills and continue such as singing, painting, meditating, healing, loving:)
SSR: Have you worked on any new releases during this time? Any that are already out or that we can get a sneak peak of?
VAYA: Yes! We have the pleasure to share that we won a Montreal film festival award for the best video music for our short movie SEXUAL (one of the songs of the second opus in process)
SSR: If already out- what was the inspiration for the release? Have you written any songs specifically about the state of the world right now?
VAYA: I think that the actual second opus (written in 2018) was somewhat a visionary way of saying “Go back to the essence//Healing is coming” because if you really have another look on this pandemic, it opens a door on regenerate some human being and have the opportunity to jump into another/new dimension.
SSR: How has it been being an artist in a time when you cannot tour? How have you been working to promote your music and expand your reach?
VAYA: I think I have already answered this question. You always have the possibility to create: Creativity does not know rules, limits, pandemic…:)
SSR: Do you have any words of advice for fans that are feeling particularly bummed out about the live music world coming to a halt?
VAYA: Dream on…something better together: Universe will hear our pleas. It is time to create a new Human being:)
SSR: When the world returns to a safer spot and we are able to (hopefully) attend live shows again- say in 2021- what do you hope to achieve?
VAYA: Continuing on building production (physical version/ short movies/ live show) for the second opus. We did not feel a real stop; We just had changed/adapted our way of working / creating.
SSR: Is there anything you wish your fans would know about you or about the current state of the music world?
VAYA: Dream, it will come true:) All my best and stay safe. – VAYA
You can watch VAYA’s short film SEXUAL out now, and stay up to date with all things band related now via their social media pages.
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