Q&A: A Change of Pace, Vacations Talks “Forever In Bloom,” Inspirations & More
UNIQUELY BLENDING ELEMENTS OF INDIE-ROCK AND JAZZ — Vacations encompass authenticity in their sound and online presence. The Australian quartet is comprised of Campbell Burns, Jake Johnson, Nate Delizzotti, and Joseph Van Lier. Sonically, the band oozes sun-drenched sweetness. Their last full-length album, Forever In Bloom, released back in September 2020, reflects their lo-fi nature with a DIY twist. The delicate sounds of the four-piece has earned them love at home in Newcastle, Australia and across the sea. Their music meshes indie-rock and shimmering psych-pop which shines with chorus-heavy guitars, bright bass, and jazz drumming.
The group has evolved since the days of their first releases, particularly the Vibes EP back in 2016, and yet it is these early tracks that a new fanbase on TikTok has recently clung onto. The song “Young” gained huge popularity on the app over the past year. This is undeniably positive and yet, like everything, the immensely quick resurgence and overnight success of certain songs brings to light some interesting questions on the pros and cons that TikTok has on the music industry which frontman Burns explores.
Luna caught up with Burns and discussed the potential of new music for Vacations. Whilst Forever In Bloom is still fresh, the singer and guitarist talked about his ventures outside of the band, particularly in experimenting creatively through writing and producing for friends. There is no doubt that this new lease of freedom will work its way back to Vacations’ future sonic direction.
Read below as the frontman discusses his current musical inspirations, the band connecting with fans online, and what he anticipates the upcoming months have in store for Vacations, from tour dates to new projects.
LUNA: With spring in full swing and things opening up, how are y’all doing?
BURNS: It’s winter over here! We’ve all been pretty busy lately in our own ways — such is life, etc. There’s a studio currently getting built, which we’re eager to start using, and we’ve planned out some potential tour dates. I’m hoping we’ll be back in full swing soon ourselves.
LUNA: Last year you put out Forever In Bloom. Since you’ve had some time since the release to reflect, how do you feel about the project and reception of it all as a whole?
BURNS: The entire process of Forever in Bloom was a learning curve, for all of us, because of how different it was compared to our debut, Changes. That first album was an extremely DIY effort. There was hardly any budget or industry support behind it, and we did everything ourselves on our own terms. Forever In Bloom was the complete opposite of that experience. We had never worked with an outside producer at a studio or dealt with a record label, anything like that, but we had trust in the process because it seemed like the industry-standard thing to do, y’know.
I think with that in mind, I’m glad there have been two extremes because there’s a clearer idea of what works and what doesn’t on an artistic and personal level when it comes to this project. I know there’ll be a comfortable middle ground between the two in the future.
As for the reception, morale was high towards the end of recording and we were eager as anything to get on the road, then that all got knocked back and we could only see feedback to songs we worked so hard on through Spotify or reviews on indie blogs. It was a strange feeling knowing it’d be some time before you ever got to play them in front of real people, and that’s where the magic happens.
LUNA: Is there any new music in the works? How would you compare what you’re working on now to your previous music?
BURNS: I’m working on new music for a lot of projects, just not for Vacations at the moment. When COVID-19 hit, I started getting into writing and producing for my friends. I felt like I needed to try something different and push myself so I could keep growing as a musician and a person overall. This change of pace has led to a lot of creative freedom and experimenting and meeting a lot of people I otherwise wouldn’t have.
LUNA: Sonically, what are some elements you’d like to explore more/experiment with in the future?
BURNS: To get more experimental with writing and production and discover new sounds; shift some focus away from the guitar. Get weird and freaky. Don’t get me wrong, I love playing guitar, but there are only so many times I can play the same “bedroom-pop-jazz” chords. Attention to sound design and creating something that’s emotive and cohesive is what is currently important to me, regardless of the genre I happen to be working in at the time.
There’s a lot of moments in BJ Burton’s productions (Bon Iver, Charli XCX, Hippo Campus) that make me go: “What was that? What is happening?” I love it — there are all these details that start to bleed out the more you listen and help create this world where all the songs co-exist no matter how eclectic they are.
Slyvia Massy is another producer I look up to. Her approach of “Adventure Recording” goes against so many conventions and norms within the industry, and it’s so inspiring. It’s all about experimentation and creating something memorable for the artist and the listener, regardless of fidelity.
LUNA: I loved the little sports card mockups you guys recently shared — very creative. What do you like about being able to connect with fans so easily via social media?
BURNS: Thank you! I want to start printing them and make a deck of collectible cards. Being able to interact with fans, especially during COVID-19, through social media has been so important. I think it’s helped us still feel active, even though there’s been so much downtime.
LUNA: What’s been inspiring you lately? Anyone good you’ve been listening to?
BURNS: IAN SWEET, Tkay Maidza, Golden Vessel, Dua Lipa, Mk. Gee.
LUNA: It’s so crazy how much TikTok has had an impact on the music industry the past year. I’ve been a fan of y’all for a while so it’s been awesome (but funny?) to watch “Young” blow up on there. What are your thoughts on this and what positive impacts do you hope TikTok can have for musicians?
BURNS: Our rise on TikTok has been pretty funny. I enjoy seeing the blow-up and the sheer amount of people reacting to our music, especially people like Lizzo and I think one of the Backstreet Boys with the knock-knock trend. It doesn’t feel real to me.
As far as TikTok goes for artists, I can’t talk about just the positives without going into some of the negative sides to TikTok as a creator. I think it’s amazing how you can be fast-tracked and bypass a lot of music industry jargon. You can have an immense following overnight and be on your way to sold-out tours and a whole lot more. However, I don’t know if it’s sustainable or long-term for a lot of artists. There can be immense pressure to keep up with social media and mass-produce “content,” which is a toll in itself, and then needing to understand that your followers and genuine fans are two completely separate things. Some artists can handle it but I’ve seen people burn out or become pushed into being inauthentic in their artist practice. I’ve experienced some of this myself, so I want to put this out for other artists as something to consider.
LUNA: What’s a key lesson you’ve learned the past year?
BURNS: Collaboration is key.
LUNA: A fun one: if you could only watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what would you watch?
BURNS: The Simpsons, seasons 2-9.
LUNA: What do you hope the upcoming months have in store?
BURNS: Some warmth and sun.
CONNECT WITH VACATIONS
SPOTIFY
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From Pavietra 🕊️ https://t.co/BXVgWlZud8 -
slowthai by Rosie Matheson 🤩 https://t.co/z7SDfFQ5iF
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RT @i_D: Ian Kenneth Bird photographs young punks on Polaroid: https://t.co/MKT0tMUqO9 https://t.co/a0tTl12ML5
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RT @AnOtherMagazine: #DreamHome – this isolated idyll in the mountains of Lanzarote 🌵 📸 via Nowness, photography by Clemence Blr 🔁 https://t.co/GUusdxD0cg
