Interview with Vaughanstrosity

Jarod Smith

Nov 11, 2022

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

Definitely my parents, although they tried with piano first after I got a guitar I was hooked into making music and the band lifestyle. If not music, not sure really as I work in IT and might have tried a career in gaming.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

I mostly try to socialise with my friends or go to gigs! There's an open mic night in Belfast hosted by the fantastic ria timkin on Wednesdays that I use to get fresh songs or sounds and same with the many local bands that play. Shout out to archives who always slay live!

How long has your band been around?

I started this project somewhere last year after writing demos that didn’t fit anywhere else really. Im lucky to have fantastic mates who could help with the recording and live process!

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

I'm in Belfast and it's a mash up of new sounds like Don Broco and later both but with heavy roots and trance like Kascada.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

I can fully say the name is half from the parents who called me Ruaidhri Vaughan Houston. Ruaidhri from Ruaidhri Gallagher and Vaughan from Stevie ray Vaughan. I needed a name that fitted the horror punk aesthetic of my main band so long until the seance

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

Would have to be the first night on tour opening for Doyle as part of so long until the seance. Underworld Camden was a dream venue and to finally play it was insane! The crowd and ambience were beyond spectacular!

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

Either the underworld or the hometown venue of voodoo! Love the home shows!

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

For sure it would be Don broco and bring me the horizon. Failing that a big festival like download or bloodstock would be a dream to play!
For my band I’d have Brett Martin on drums for me for sure, Ethan Beattie doing guest vocals and If I could rope some of my other talented friends in to my band for the gig I'd honestly love that

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

That the grind is real and that you need to keep pushing. It's unfortunately tough to break out but not impossible. Just keep playing and practicing and listening to those who can offer solid advice

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

Patience and don't buy so many guitars, just get that baritone and go for it. Who cares if no one else does it, you do you.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

When the party ends, it's my way of dealing with a death that I thought I was prepared for but clearly wasn't and the more ambiguity of what happens after we die. It's a bot deep for an EP mostly about partying and memes but tried to do it in my own way

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

Fl0w is definitely the winner of both these

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

Find a cool synth sound to make a riff with and build the song around that! I really like basing the hook off of keying it in as I don't fall into habits I have when I play guitar so it forces me to think differently

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

That we can keep partying and we can have a good time! The world is a bit silly but have some fun at the gigs and listening to the music!

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

Well it's just me writing so just me dealing with my own writers block is the biggest disagreement I have

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

Gig as much as I can between home, Dublin, Glasgow, Liverpool and London! The first single is out the 4th of November and the full EP is out 27th January!