By Kieran Webber
Psychedelia is a wonderful world, whether it be in art or music. There is something very alluring about anything psych. It is strange, sometimes unsettling but other times is tranquil and beautiful but normally always unpredictable. It is such a large and varied universe that spans genres and timelines. Recently there has been somewhat of a boom of artists looking retrospectively at the golden era of the sixties yet with a modern, fresh outlook.
Listen to ‘New Years Day’ here:
One such band that is part of this new wave is Voyages, the project from singer/songwriter Will Walter. The now five piece band that includes Will and Tim Walter on vocals/keys, their brother Ollie Walter on guitar, alongside another set of twins in James and Lewis Woods, who take care of the rhythm section on bass and drums.
In December they released their debut EP ‘New Years Day’, a collection of succulent 60’s inspired jams that were reminiscent of the likes of The Beatles and Nilsson. After devouring this we were eager to find out more about the fantastic Voyages.
We had a chat with the creator and lead singer Will Walter to get to know more about the band’s influences, how they craft their music as well as everything else in between.
CLUNK: How has 2018 been treating you so far?
Will: Very good. We started the year off by heading into the studio and getting 6 new tracks down. Most of January has been focused on that plus I’m currently moving to Bristol so I’m looking forward to catching a load of new music as there are so good few venues in the city.
CLUNK: What are your predictions for 2018?
Will: I predict England will somehow scrape through to the knockout stages but then lose terribly and get knocked out by an obscure lesser known team in the World Cup.
I predict Ed Sheeran will receive a Knighthood.
I predict the new Jurassic Park movie will be better than the last one which felt to me like more of a set up for a sequel.
And…
I predict Voyages will release an album of very good music.
CLUNK: You built your sound around your record collection, I am intrigued to know what is in your collection and what specifically influenced your music?
Will: I have an ever growing, ever expanding record collection. I would say the main records that influence the Voyages tracks are big 60s vocal harmony groups – The Beatles, The Walker Brothers, The Beach Boys. Then lyrically I’ve been getting heavily into Harry Nilsson, Father John Misty and Simon and Garfunkel.
“All of my life I’ve thought of them as sounding magical, I’ve never really lost that feeling”
The process in writing these tracks has very much been about starting with a nice big lyric and working backwards from that. In terms of more contemporary influences the Edward Sharpe Album “Here” was always on my mind and Tame Impala for a general warmth in the sound. I made a Spotify playlist to reference when we completed the EP called Recollection (a record collection) you can listen to it here.
It’s mainly full of tracks which I have grown up listening to. My dad used to play a lot of them on vinyl – all of my life I’ve thought of them as sounding magical, I’ve never really lost that feeling.
CLUNK: There is a strong movement at the moment that appears to be looking retrospectively in regards to music, why do you think this is? What is it about that era of music and time that pulls so many people?
Will: I think acts like Mac DeMarco and Tame Impala dressing up the music In a particular way has made people take the sound more seriously. They make retro sounding songs cool on a huge scale and it has a positive effect on all of us once those waves start rolling. In terms of why people are pulled towards the sounds of that era i just think it was an era of very satisfying music to listen too. That’s why I’m drawn to it because it sounds pleasing.
CLUNK: How do you create music that pays homage to the past sounds of the sixties and blend it with a modern sounds and ideas?
Will: Recently I’ve been thinking of it as a few layers – making a 60s sounding vocal track with nice harmonies and then using the drums and bass to build up a harder picture. There are drum beats and guitar sounds that you don’t associate with that era and that’s what I’m excited about exploring. Making bombastic sounding records with the golden vocals.
“People are pulled towards the sounds of that era i just think it was an era of very satisfying music to listen too”
CLUNK: You are planning to be playing the festival circuit this year, what festivals have you been eyeing up and which ones would you like to play personally?
Will: End Of The Road festival always has a great lineup, this year Vampire Weekend, St Vincent and Feist are playing so I would like to get there. I played Montreux Jazz Fest a few years ago and there was an amazing atmosphere. I would love to play there again if only for the catering.
CLUNK: What do you like to bring to your live performances?
Will: A microphone.
CLUNK: To finish can you guys share a weird/freaky or funny story with us?
Will: I lied to Kerrang magazine a few years ago about having a tattoo of Eddie Murphy on my left thigh. They asked for a picture and i just sent them one i found online. They ran a whole tattoo issue of the magazine and in worst the worst tattoo section I came in 2nd only to Ozzy Osbourne with his Happy face on the knee tattoo’s. I was so honoured by the accolade I ended up getting the tattoo so it all came back around eventually.
CLUNK: That is honestly the greatest story we’ve had yet!