Q&A: Von Boyáge Crafts Nostalgic Yet Modern Musical Landscapes through "Just A Boy"
IN THE EVER PROGRESSING REALM OF MUSIC, LA-BASED VON BOYÁGE stands as a bridge between eras. With a combination of guitar, synth, vocals, and big drums reminiscent of the 1980s, Von Boyáge's music offers a sonic journey that encourages listeners to embrace the past while navigating their own path towards the future.
"Just A Boy," his latest single, serves as a testament to this unique blend of old and new styles. The song is a nostalgic exploration of childhood memories and the rush of growing up too quickly. It's a musical canvas where driving verses and chorus sections pay homage to the grunge and post-punk era of the '90s, while also offering a contemporary touch. But what truly sets this song apart is the inclusion of chanting children, sprinkled throughout the track to evoke the child in all of us.
With "Just A Boy," Von Boyáge doesn't just transport listeners to the past; he invites them to look back while walking firmly into the future. This sixth single showcases his talent for crafting music that's both a sonic experience and an emotional journey.
As Von Boyáge continues to create, we can only expect more nostalgic yet modern musical landscapes that capture the essence of the past while embracing the possibilities of the future. Read below to learn more about the making of the track and what’s next for the artist.
LUNA: "Just a Boy" draws on the theme of nostalgic memories of childhood and growing up too fast. Can you share the specific experiences or memories that inspired this song and what you hope listeners take away from it?
VON BOYÁGE: Some of my fondest memories stemmed from experiences I had as a young boy. I am so thankful to have been brought up by loving parents and in a time before cellphones / computers. I am one of six children and attended Catholic school from first to twelfth grade, so you can imagine my experiences are quite vast. A couple memorable ones were falling in love at a young age, riding bicycles to school, and meeting my best friend in the 2nd grade. I wanted the song’s lyrics to be left open to interpretation and can be taken literally or figuratively by the listener.
LUNA: The song has elements reminiscent of the 90s grunge and post-punk era. How do you approach blending these nostalgic sounds with a modern touch to create your style?
VON BOYÁGE: Von Boyáge originally started out as a very 80’s driven synth-pop project. The past couple years though I have been falling back in love with music from my youth and the 90’s in general. I love to blend genres and eras together and bring a little flavor / nostalgia for different age groups. It tends to keep things familiar to the listener while maintaining a sense of originality. In my opinion every song has already been written, just in a different way by different people.
LUNA: Chanting children are incorporated throughout the song, which adds an interesting dimension. What's the significance of this element in the context of the song's message?
VON BOYÁGE: It was actually a last minute decision, almost like a light-bulb moment, to incorporate children into the vocal section. I felt since the song is about childhood, why not include them in it! Luckily I am blessed to have a large family and many eager nieces and nephews to jump on board.
I ended up layering 5 or 6 kid-vocals together and blending it with my own, which really helped enhance certain sections of the song.
LUNA: Your music has been compared to artists like TV on the Radio, Two Door Cinema Club, and The Killers. How do these artists influence your creative process, and what do you think sets your music apart in this genre?
VON BOYÁGE: I’d be honored to be compared to these artists, so hopefully people are making that connection.
I think I take many things away from music that I love and grew up listening to. As I mentioned earlier, I try to blend genres and eras in a way that keeps it fresh and interesting for not only the viewer, but for me as well. This often entails pulling various elements from songs that I like to structure my own bodies of work. However, it is definitely a subconscious thing and less of a specific “rip off” if you will. I like to believe that Von Boyáge has a specific sound that is both nostalgic and original to the listener.
LUNA: What’s your favorite lyric from the track?
VON BOYÁGE: I’d have to say my favorite section is just after the first chorus in which all the kids and I chant “Tell my mother I’m not coming home”. Although this seems negative, it was kind of an ode to the defiance of childhood and felt necessary to include. My absolute favorite part of the song though comes at the end…so you will just have to listen to hear it…
LUNA: How does your creative process typically unfold when you're working on a new song?
VON BOYÁGE: I generally begin a song with a chord, vocal hook, or melody of some kind. This almost always begins in my head and then gets transcribed by instruments. Most commonly a piano, guitar, or my voice. I definitely have songwriting ADD so my demos number well into the hundreds. When I discover an idea that will not leave my head or continues to surface, It is usually a sign that I need to see it through and finish the track. Luckily I have also been blessed to work with a couple very talented people including producer, Luke Villemure and drummer, Stevie Noah – both of whom have contributed to my recent work.
LUNA: Von Boyáge's sound is described as original yet familiar. How do you find a balance between paying homage to musical traditions of the past and creating something fresh for contemporary audiences?
VON BOYÁGE: I touched on this a bit above but I can say it is not easy. Luckily for me, I have spent many years developing some key characteristics and elements that set my sound apart from others. I think the key is to pull from a variety of genres of music and different musical eras in order to build the skeleton of a song. The rest is peppering in the “you factor” and making it original. You can also put your spin on things by experimenting with structure, which can lend itself well to genre-bending and diversification.
LUNA: What intentions do you have for this fall season?
VON BOYÁGE: This fall I am looking to focus mainly on the live show and get that back up and running for next year. I took a break from playing live because I recognized the need to build a following if I have any hopes of touring down the line. However, I believe the key is to find a good balance of gigging and promoting in which both can happen simultaneously and keep things interesting.
