INTERVIEW: Vargen discusses influences, origins, and what inspires his music most

Fresh off the back of his self-titled debut album last year, emerging artist Vargen recently returned with his shimmering new single ‘CAESAR’.

Honing more of that warm and woozy direction he is building for himself, ‘CAESAR’ continues to cement him as a true innovator on the new music scene right now. So we caught up with him to find out more about his origins and influences over the years.

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What was the first rock song or artist that made an impact on you?

I heard The White Album by The Beatles when I was very young. That one has so many gems in so many different genres…I think it kind of opened up my ears from early on and gave me the mind-set that as long as the music or sound makes you feel something, it’s worth listening to. If I have to pick one rock song that made an impact, it’s Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin. I heard it when I was 14 and I remember the experience as a combination of getting a punch in a solar plexus and taking off on a rocket ride at the same time. That song still amazes me. The raw power, sex, groove, cool and guts of it.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences within the rock genre?

I love the diversity I’ve found in artists and bands like Queen, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin and The Beatles. You can hear they’re curious and having fun on a lot of their records, and every album has a different approach than the one before. 

Are there any non-rock musicians or genres that have also influenced your music?

Miles Davis and Serge Gainsbourg.

What is your main inspiration when looking to write new music?

Books, movies, history, life.

What do you enjoy most about performing live and do you have any memorable live performance experiences you’d like to share?

The energy that builds up in the room, the connection and vibe within the band and between performer and audience. I try to treat the songs as different scenes in a play or chapters in a novel. There’s a lot of dramaturgy involved. Both within the songs and in the setlist. And depending on the energy in the room we sometimes switch one track for another or stretch out on solos and improvisations.

What has been a particularly rewarding moment in your musical journey so far?

I’m very fortunate to collaborate with a producer and musicians that learn very fast, are open-minded and great at improvising.

How would you define success as a musician?

When you’re happy or curious doing what you’re doing for the moment, no matter if in the songwriting process, the studio or live.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting out?

Challenge yourself and explore new genres. Try to play with other musicians as often as you can. If you’re a songwriter, try your song or choice of cover in different keys, tempos and genres.

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Listen to Vargen’s new single ‘CAESAR’ below.