Deli #54 - Bodega, Brooklyn Stompbox Exhibit and Synth Expo 2018

ands + Gear
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Vlad Holiday
Indie Rock
New York’s indie-pop sensation vlad holiday is a force to be
reckoned with. Just take one of his latest single, the ambient
and melancholic “Children”—channeling the likes of M. Ward
and the National; holiday waxes nostalgic for simpler days
and laments a certain loss of innocence that comes with the
territory of growing up. Moreover, he seems to long for the
kind of blind optimism that drives so many of us to plunge
headlong into life and love, for better or worse. (EthAN AMES)
Your family moved to the US from Bucharest when you were
10 for political reasons, how did the passion for rock’n’roll
manifest itself?
I fell in love with music right around the time I moved to the US. I
was a bit of an outcast coming from a country no one had heard
of (as 10-year-olds) and barely speaking English, so I found an
escape through music and learning the guitar. I was in my own
world and no one was judging. that ended up defining who I’d
become in every way.
Photo: Lisa verberght
Klon Clone / ZVEX Instant Lo-Fi Junkie / Strymon Flint / BOSS DD-3 /
Malekko Omicron Fuzz / Fulltone OCD / KORG Pitchblack Tuner
Your singles, “Quit Playing Cool” and “Children” both seem
tinged with irony. What purpose does irony serve in your lyrics?
It’s the realist in me fighting the dreamer. For example, the line in
Children, “Lie and say this world is fine, that we will be alright,” (to
me) acknowledges the reality of life but also that you can’t focus
on the negativity 24/7 and lead a sane life.
Your tracks have a lot of interesting and varied guitar sounds.
Tell us about the pedals that were the most utilized during the
recordings.
ZvEX Instant Lo-Fi junkie was a key ingredient, as well as the
Chase Bliss Warped vinyl. Strymon Flint for all reverb/tremolo,
that might be my favorite, it does those two staple effects just
so well. EarthQuaker Devices Bit Commander for the crazy fuzz
parts and EarthQuaker Devices Bellows with the drive on 1 to add
a bit more body to certain parts. I have a Klon clone for leads and
a Malekko fuzz I got as a gift from a fan. All running through my
Analog outfitters Sarge class A tube amp.
What else do you have on your board these days?
the BoSS DD-3 is cool for certain things, including crazy digital
stutter effects, but my little EhX Memory toy does slap-back a
lot better. ZvEX is for all the tape warble lead parts which are
sprinkled throughout basically every song. Fulltone oCD is on
there now with the drive set to 0 (it still ads just a tiny bit of dirt),
for when I need a bit more breakup. Also recently got this tweed
Blues Junior equipped with a Jensen from Fender, sounds great,
cool spring verb and that classic fender tube crunch.
14 the deli Spring 2018