Meet Visuals

A self-portrait by, Visuals

Would you rather…

explore space, or the ocean? Why?

I've always wanted to explore space - make some paint pigments from Mars dirt, do a little 0-G R&R. Plus the Overview Effect. Its the epiphany moment people feel when seeing the earth from above. Can't fake that.

Some questions with Visuals

Hi nice to meet you. Can you tell us a little about your project? Who is Visuals?

Hi! I'm Andrew(he/his), from New York. I'm a songwriter / producer, and Visuals has been my solo project for about 10 years. I've always been interesting in making songs that feel like On the road I've done it alone as an electronic act and also as a band. There are some folks who I always tend to collaborate with on the production side, especially Dave Harrington, whose band Darkside produced the first VISUALS EP.

The production style of your 2022 release ‘Light Breaks’ had a super eclectic quality to it. What was assembly typically like for each track?

During the writing/production of 'Light Breaks' I acquired my own studio - so there's a before and after. The before was a bit more scattered - some material was started on my touring rig (the song Light Breaks, for instance, in Mexico City in 2018), some in collaboration with other players (Lifted) on remote sessions. By the time I started working with my label House of Feelings - everything was roughly demoed, but we spent the winter of '21 in my studio crafting it. Some of the best sessions: doing drum and percussion tracking with Attis Clopton and Mayteana Morales, and choir vocals with my friends Ang Low, Julia Kwamya and Andrew Leonard. I love to work with other people, so it was always part of the vision to bring other players into the process, to make the music feel more like a conversation than a monologue. My friend The Range did the final mix, so I had ideas coming from him during the recording process as well.

While recording the album did you find yourself getting into a rhythm or was each song a different method?

Once we got into the new studio (Astral Sound) that winter, the process got streamlined. Matty Fasano from the label co-produced with me and made sure we trimmed the fat, found the hooks and kept things spacious. I would say the production was about 4 straight months, and it ramped for sure - albeit methodically. By the end the process was rhythmic for sure.

What was your first job? How did it go?

First real music gig was interning at a studio in Soho called Fun Machine when I was 18. I was the assistant's assistant, and I got coffee for a producer named Andrés Levin and his band Yerba Buena. By the end Andrés and his cohort let me hang out a bit, offered me to drive the van on tour. I declined - went off to school instead.

Coffee or Tea? How do you take it?

Coffee - with oatmilk or cowboy style if the beans are righteous.

Who were you listening to when recording ‘Light Breaks’? Can you hear its influence on the album?

Big influences - Bowie (always), but also Helado Negro, Julia Holter, LA Priest, Broadcast, Brian Wilson. There were a lot of musical nods to Pet Sounds, at least in spirit.

What is the best smelling thing ever?

Clothes of the person you love - when they're away.

What gear did you find yourself leaning on while recording ‘Light Breaks’

A Yamaha CS50, which makes for some unworldly voices and textures throughout, my old Hofner guitar run through some fun Death by Audio and Eventide pedals. A funky CR-78.

Describe your sound in three colors.

Phthalo Blue, Amthyst, Crimson

Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)

My message is ... listen to VISUALS

Looking And Listening With Visuals