Fresh off the release of Ora Oblivionis we caught a chance to speak with industrial pastor and acid trip pioneer Bryan Erickson of Velvet Acid Christ.
Hi Bryan before we get into the details of new album Ora Oblivionis can we talk about the Fun With Knives remaster and what the album means to you now compared to when it was first released?
Fun With Knives is like our holy grail. It sold the most and catapulted us into the scene head first. It’s still the most listened to and has the most hits of any of the LPs. It’s not my favorite though. When we did it I had no expectations and I never thought it would go anywhere. And it did. I understand the respect my fans have for it so we did the vinyl and fixed it up made the vocals and music sound more detailed.
“We are not just one kind of sound.”
How has your method for producing music evolved between the two releases?
It hasn’t. I use what ever tools I can afford and I just write. Back then we used a dat, analog mixers, dat machines and live sequencing hardware. Now I do track by track recordings into a DAW [Desktop Audio Workstation – Ed] and mix inside the computer.
What’s happening with the industrial scene. Has it been completely taken over by Soundfonts and VSTs?
Seems like it. We still use hardware. I write with software on the road though. But seriously you can make anything you use sound good if you have the skills. Software is not so bad these days. It’s come a long way.
“… it’s four eras of production.”
Let’s talk self-destruction. How would you describe Ora Oblivionis to someone that has only heard Nine Inch Nails?
VAC is a band that makes complex arps, dance beats, industrial beats, and writes soundscapes that are varied in style. We are not just one kind of sound. Self destruction; It seems to be what most people do in their lives, whether they’re aware of it or not.
What’s your favourite thing about Ora Oblivionis?
I like how varied it is. How the LP works even though it shouldn’t. It’s like four singles. And it’s four eras of production. My favorite songs are Colors of my Sadness, Conviction, Adventures, and Romero.
