Interview: Vimaara (Written)
Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life bring you an interview with independent progressive metal artist, Vimaara.
1. Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat to us. First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started.
Hello! I’m 30 and French. Listening to metal since I’m 13. And writing songs since I’m 15 maybe! I’ve written a lot of songs in my life but never produced any before my latest release, so I was a bit frustrated about it. Doing everything by yourself allows you to be in control of the creative process but is also a lot of work. Vimaara is the embodiment of what I want to propose as a musician.
2. Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?
Progressive metal. Might be a bit tricky but I think it’s where I fit best. It’s kinda difficult to put your music in a genre.
3. What’s currently going on in your camp? New releases? Tours? Etc.
I just released my debut double EP Ad Astra/Ad Inferi! 8 songs to discover my universe. These 2 EPs are a compilation of what I consider the best songs I’ve written when I was younger.
4. What has been the most positive experience of making music to date for you?
The first time I listened to a song years after writing it and thought it was still good. I wrote a lot of average songs in the beginning.
5. Likewise, what has been some of the more challenging aspects and how have you overcome them?
I think now that I launched this project, this is becoming the more challenging part of my music career. How to get people to know me, how to keep the project afloat, how to be relevant. All of these questions are in my mind. Working more is always the answer.
6. How do you handle the modern expectations of being in a band? Always online, having to put out content constantly, your success measured in likes and follows?
Well now that I launched this project, I’m being more aware of how difficult it is to get known by people. I already feel I have to release new music even though my last release was 3 weeks ago. As I’m not doing this professionally, I’m a bit detached from likes and follows. Of course, it’s nice to know that people appreciate your work, but the main purpose of this project is my own enjoyment and creativity development. I feel like if I’m true to myself, a certain kind of success will follow in the long term.
7. What’s something that really ‘grinds your gears’ about the industry/business these days and what would you propose is done to combat it?
As I’m a starting independent artist, I don’t have too many topics yet to talk about. But as everyone should know, what streaming platforms pay the artists is ridiculous. I think something should be done in that sense. I saw Deezer going in the right direction recently on this topic. Others should follow their direction (especially Spotify).
8. Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support your music?
Of course, the best thing you can do is to buy the songs on Bandcamp. I will also be dropping tabs on Bandcamp and merch in the coming weeks. So, buy something if you can, that would be very helpful.
9. Outside of the music, what’s do you do to relax?
Listening to other people’s music! And cook!
10. Where can people find you?
Everywhere but Twitter I guess! Vimaara or vim2ara on Instagram.