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Hi Peter, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?I’ve been good! Hope everyone is well! Can you tell us about your latest single “Breaking Chains”?
“Breaking Chains” is my first single after 2-3years of releasing music in other projects. It is a total rebrand of my sound and image. I’ve always taken a real liking to 80s and 90s pop culture and I wanted to write a song that felt current but with a nod to the MTV music days I wish I grew up in. The title in itself is a reference to the themes and imagery of that time.
What was the writing and recording process for this track?
So I started writing this song (originally) in 2018, when I moved in for college, I was studying Music & Technology and immersing myself in a lot of different kinds of music. I’ve always been inspired by 80’s movies, music and pop culture. One day I was listening to ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears and I took a real liking to the production and syncopated rhythms. I said to myself “What would a song like that sound like in this modern world of music we’re living in?” and I adapted the production style and applied it to the pop and rock styles I was used to writing.Fast forward to 2021, I shared the song and demo with my producer Clint Curtis of Sevenview Studios and got the ball rolling. I’ve taken more of a producer role during the recording of this single and my music going forward, compared to other projects.
Did any event/experience in particular inspire you to write this song?
Not at first. During the first writing pass I was just trying to write something that felt nostalgic, and fun. However, in late 2020 myself and my girlfriend (of 4 years at the time) broke up and that caused me to really do some soul searching, and expose a lot of personal struggles I was going through. I came to terms with a lot of insecurities and flaws within myself, that I knew I really had to rid myself of or “break-away” from to become a better person.It was only in this past year that I was out with a friend and decided to revisit some of my music, to which he accidentally gave me a new title and meaning without realizing. The song became about so much more than sneaking out and having fun, it became about breaking away from the things that are holding you back and the mistakes you’ve made.
Can you tell us about your experience shooting the music video? Any cool behind-the-scenes stories you can share?
The video shoot was an absolute blast and I can really say a lot of work and thought went into the whole thing. I went to Stephen Green (of Centre City Media & FIlm) with a very specific Idea and narrative I wanted to capture on film. Something that felt nostalgic and timeless but also something that could fit well in the modern music climate. Everyone did a great job, the band (Daniel George, Pete Macdonald, Cody Stacey) and the lovely Miss Vanessa Harring. Special thanks to Canadian AV for lending us their warehouse and services.The warehouse scene was one of the coolest things I’ve been a part of, we had haze machines and split lighting that looked so cool.A funny story when we were shooting the scenes outside the apartment – we shot this scene where myself and Vanessa got into the car and I naturally wanted to look into the camera and Stephen couldn’t help but make fun. He said, “Maybe you should look at the girl you’re supposed to be with in this video, rather than looking at the camera.” I said something like “Dating 101: with Stephen Green ” and we all burst out laughing. One of the funniest nights I’ve had in a while and it will forever be an inside joke between us now.
What role does Newfoundland play in your music?
Newfoundland is full of the most persistent, hard working people. I guess where we’ve often felt separated from the rest of the world, we work extra hard to get what we want out of life. I am really inspired by the community here in the province. We all seem to look after each other and that’s how it should be, especially in a pandemic world. As for the music side of things, I think I’m really inspired by the story telling that has come from this province. Everyone in Newfoundland is a storyteller whether they realize it or not, and great songs come from great stories, ask Alan Doyle or Cory Tetford!
How did you balance your love for the 80s and 90s in this song while still keeping it contemporary/modern? What is it about these decades that you find so fascinating?
I think the forecast for modern music is always changing but the cool thing right now is the DNA itself has changed once again. We’re seeing artists become more honest and creative and just simply more unique in a lot of ways and less like copy cats of each other in my opinion. Genre is becoming less of a defined thing where you can mix genres, and bring influence from all kinds of styles. I’m just simply lucky that there is a retro resurgence in music where we are seeing influence and sounds from days past whether it be 70s influence coming from Harry Styles or the Disco influence were hearing from Dua Lipa, or even more recently with the Pop-Punk outbreak from artists like MGK, JXDN and many more.What really fascinates me about the music from those decades is the bombastic, larger than life energy and emphasis put on the creative side of things.
Does the new single mean we can expect more new material soon?
Definitely! I’m ALWAYS working on new stuff. I try to write everyday, whether it’s a title or a cool riff. I also have a vault of unrecorded music I’m currently bringing to the studio. I have other singles in the works, but I’m working towards a possible EP/Album.
What else is happening next in Peter Vance’s world?
I’m taking this time over the recent COVID outbreak here in Newfoundland, to work on my physical health as well as my mental health. It’s definitely one of my new years resolutions for sure. 2021 was a great year in some ways but also a very challenging year. I’m hoping to head into this new year at my very best.
