Exclusive Interview with VINNY LUNAR

Indian-Australian musician Vinny Lunar released a new EP, “Chauffeur” with Sydney-based electronic producer, Low Beams. The 5 track EP is Vinny’s first collaborative body of work. It follows on from the Afrobeats banger ‘Prema’ in 2021 (produced by True Vibenation’s Moody), which was added to Spotify’s “R&B Feels” and “Date Night” playlists. Chauffeur is the first EP with Low Beams, an artist known for his hard-hitting electronic and R&B-infused beats. The first single off the EP has received airplay on FBi Radio and been featured on BBC Radio’s Asia Network. Tracks from the EP were added to UK South-Asian Collective “DialledIn’s” Official Apple Playlist, and have received glowing reviews on Triple J Unearthed. Check out the EP and the Exclusive interview with Vinny Lunar below:

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

VINNY LUNAR: I am from Sydney, Australia but I was born in Hyderabad, India. My family migrated to Australia when I was a baby and we moved to multiple cities before settling in Sydney. It was during the car rides were I would listen to cassette tapes of Bollywood musical scores. This overlapped with my teenage obsession with Hip-hop and R&B!

I was briefly in a choir during high school but started to build a passion for music during my travels to Europe in 2012. I performed at an Open Mic in London’s “The Social” and fell in love with the stage. This continued during my years in Law School, performing at Jazz Open Mics and starting a band (called VCS) that was heavily inspired by N.E.R.D, Drake’s earlier work, and Miguel. I released a 10-track Album, and an EP which got some radio play locally and a series of gigs. My career has evolved since into a solo act (Vinny Lunar).

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

VINNY LUNAR: I’m mainly self-taught. I learned a lot of production and songwriting techniques off my ear, imitating some of my favorite producers (Pharrell, Timbaland, and Noah 40). I then picked up skills in songwriting, production, and sampling through short courses, Youtube, mentors, and collaborating with other artists. For example on this EP, I am working with a Sydney-based producer called Low Beams to bring in stronger dance grooves.

I learned how to sing and rap mostly through listening to my favorite artists and diving into the open mic scenes wherever I have lived. I also took a few vocal coaching lessons to help with my technique after getting positive feedback from an audition on X-Factor.

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

VINNY LUNAR: My first ever musical influences were the Bollywood soundtracks and scores of AR Rahman in the 1990s and early 2000s. This then flowed into my exposure to Western music, with a love for artists such as Timbaland, Pharrell, Miles Davis, Usher, D’Angelo, and Craig David. I had a natural affinity for Jazz chords and music that came from the world. I was also influenced by my brother’s interest in electronic music, with Muse, Radiohead, Massive Attack, and Portishead regularly bopping in our car rides. This combined with the connection to darker-toned R&B and electronic in the 2010s spearheaded by the Weeknd’s earlier mixtapes, Kid Cudi, Frank Ocean, and James Blake.

Vinny was my high school nickname growing up in Australia and my middle name means the moon in Sanskrit. This created “Vinny Lunar.” It also kinda has a ring to it…Freddie Mercury, Stevie Wonder, Vinny Lunar…Just sayin ;)

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?

VINNY LUNAR: I endeavor to fuse different genres and cultures and share my stories to connect with my listeners. As someone who has lived in 4 different countries, is familiar with 5 languages and lived in over 15 different homes in my life, I see myself as a bit of a chameleon. I do my best to reflect this in my music. Sonically, I have had a journey that has floated between Hip-Hop, R&B, Bollywood, Jazz, Electronic, Afrobeats, Dancehall, and Neo-Soul. I then hope to combine these influences with vulnerable storytelling about what’s happening in my life and my observations.

5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as R&B?

VINNY LUNAR: I have only truly embraced what is unique about me and my story more recently after years of experimentation and imitation.

Like many other artists, I developed as an artist and a music maker initially through imitation. Vocally I dived deep into the jazz open mic scenes, singing songs from artists ranging from Stevie Wonder, and Sam Cooke, to Marvin Gaye. I then used to obsessively sing entire albums from my favorite contemporary artists at the time such as Usher, Jodeci, Donnell Jones, and Jon B.

Production-wise, I was heavily inspired by the sample-based approaches of producers such as Timbaland, Pharrell, and Noah 40. As I developed more confidence and momentum, I would fill knowledge gaps with technical training, short courses, and tutorials.

It’s only recently I have embraced my cultural heritage and roots to reflect it in my music. I grew up in a multi-lingual household, hearing English, Hindi, and Telugu throughout my upbringing. I finally dared to show this side of me through lyrics and production decisions in the last 2 years. I’m grateful for my collaborators in recent years, Moody and Low Beams, for joining me on this ride.

6. 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?

VINNY LUNAR:

I am hungry for more… I want to do more shows, collaborate, and self-produce tracks to release bolder and unique music in 2023. I am bursting at the seams with stories to share and can’t wait to reflect them in my music. I hope my future involves more time abroad, connecting with artists from diverse cultural and sonic backgrounds, and touring opportunities.

7. Could you describe your creative processes? How do you 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?

VINNY LUNAR:

As a singer-songwriter first, I tend to try and lock into a few melodies and chorus ideas. I tend to start with jazz piano chords or an interesting sample. This then gets linked to a very elementary beat that advances over time.

I then try to lock into a specific emotion or story in my life that feels a good match to the beat. I always try to avoid making music just for the sake of it. Each song reflects a different chapter or reflection in my life.

This evolves into lyrics and progressive refinement until it’s ready for the mixing and mastering stages. I strongly believe in trying to control the sound design elements as much as I can but concede that there are amazing collaborators who are better than me in certain areas.

Whether it be working with a wide range of mixing engineers, jazz pianists, Carnatic classical instrumentalists, or other producers, I see making music as a way to showcase other people’s talents as well. For example, my recent EP, “Chauffeur,” with Low Beams was a collaboration. My track “Prema” was produced by my friend and collaborator Moody. I have also however completed end-to-end production of some of my tracks as well. Each project has a different dynamic.

8. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?

VINNY LUNAR:

Beyond the shared struggle of Artists during the pandemic, a constant battle for me has been imposter syndrome. It took me 3 years of gigging, radio play, acknowledgment by more successful artists, and some media coverage for me to finally say I admit that I am a musician. As someone who is self-taught and makes feel-based music, I always admired those with technical backgrounds in jazz and classical. My Law and Business degrees don’t quite immediately translate to smooth and sexy jams if you catch my drift! This prevented me until recently to back myself up for opportunities, taking more risks, and putting myself out there more.

9. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

VINNY LUNAR:

My 2 years in Berlin. I felt that I grew as a man and as an Artist. I arrived at the city alone with little to no concrete connections in the industry. I didn’t have a local fanbase or community of friends to tap into immediately. I also had a very basic understanding of the language and culture.

Fast forward, I released a 5-track EP, performer a sold-out EP launch show with over 200 in attendance, honed my craft in Jazz open mics graced by the likes of Erykah Badu, featured in a documentary, performed improvisation comedy, and acted and performed in two different music videos. I also was able to collaborate with International artists ranging from Palestinian Rappers to Southern Italian beat makers. I managed to develop a conversational level of German-speaking skills (and finally understood the appeal of techno).

I am proud of these achievements as I navigated through bouts of depression and anxiety, adapted to a new culture, and had to truly take care of myself for the first time!

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

VINNY LUNAR: I think the life of an Artist involves a neat balance of the two. To get yourself in front of the stage, you have to do some time and work in more introverted settings to get the song together. I do however thrive and love connecting with people and audiences. The spontaneity and unique ambiance of each show excite me!