Exclusive Interview with HUSH VICTORIA

Minnesota’s Hush Victoria, a high-energy power trio, has just released their debut EP.

Hush Victoria, formed from the ashes of successful Twin Cities punk rock acts such as The Devil Blues Band, The No- No’s, and No Pride, set out to create songs with equal emphasis on rhythm and melody. Check out their debut EP Hush Victoria and the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?

HUSH VICTORIA: We’re from around the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. We’ve known each other for a long time, playing in bands with each other under various names, but Hush Victoria felt different right from the start. All three of us had just come out of bands that we really loved, so no one was eager to jump into something that didn’t feel 100% right.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

HUSH VICTORIA: We are all mainly self-taught. Certainly the experiences of being in lots of bands have brought lessons on what works, musically. It’s more of a baptism by fire than a theoretical exercise!

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘HUSH VICTORIA’?

HUSH VICTORIA: We’re all based on a love of punk rock, Ramones, Rancid, etc. Brandon and I love Brian Fallon and the Gaslight Anthem. We grew up on loud guitar music and that remains our first love. As for the name, we were throwing around different ideas, ranging from “terrible” to “maybe.” Brandon suggested Hush Victoria in a list of potential names and it jumped out at me. It’s tough to find something catchy that hasn’t been used! So, no great story behind the name, just a solid moniker which hopefully sticks in your head.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

HUSH VICTORIA: We’ve been describing it as Punk Rock ‘n’ Roll. It’s high-energy music which isn’t confined to a simple “verse-chorus-verse-chorus” format. There are twists and turns to the songs, which we love. It keeps the listener engaged and keeps us on our toes! Key changes, time signature changes, that sort of thing. But we never lose sight of the main point of our music—it has to propel the listener along, using power and groove to drive the melody home.

5. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?

HUSH VICTORIA:

That’s a tough one! We love the process of writing and recording, especially me (City Matt) as I do the engineering for Hush Victoria, but I think playing live where the rubber meets the road, so to speak. Getting the songs in front of an audience is how we can judge how engaged the audience is and how they respond to the songs. I love the feeling of killing a live performance and leaving the crowd wanting more.

6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?

HUSH VICTORIA:

We tend to lean on the technical, narrative and entertainment side of things. Lots of great music has a deeper meaning or impactful purpose, which is cool. For us, we’re trying to engage people with the music, both melody and lyrical content, without getting too deeply into topics which might divide the listener.

7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?

HUSH VICTORIA:

We are writing and playing music that we love, and that’s the reason we keep going. From a creative perspective, that is an amazing feeling. We certainly have plans to push harder and further as the future unfolds, but the creative process is rewarding all by itself.

8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

HUSH VICTORIA:

Typically, Brandon will come up with a part–sometimes just a verse, more frequently a whole song. He’ll demo it for us and, if there’s energy behind developing it further, we’ll work out drums and bass lines in the rehearsal space. It’s a collaborative effort and has been working really well. Brandon is a really talented songwriter and that propels the whole band forward.

9. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?

HUSH VICTORIA: That’s a great question! Truthfully, we don’t care to engage the haters. At this point in our musical careers, we don’t have time for that. Everyone has the right to an opinion, so we just keep on moving. Country Matt doesn’t really have social media so he’s pretty much immune, haha.

10. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?

HUSH VICTORIA: I think the songs have an interpretive quality about them. Brandon writes the lyrics and that can be an intensely personal process. He tends to face down topics which are relatable, even around dark subject matter. People have said that they connect with our songs, including the sad ones. The commonality here is that, as human beings, we tend to go through similar experiences. I feel that these connections make it possible to experience a Hush Victoria song in a way that feels personal to the listener.