INTERVIEW: Vonswange discuss origins and influences alongside new single ‘The Magician’
Fresh off the release of ‘Saccharine Dream’ earlier this year, Charlotte-based artist Vonswange returns with his latest single ‘The Magician’, a shimmering slice of what he dubs “American Daydream Music.” Blending the cinematic sweep of synth-pop with the grit of alternative, the track layers reverb-soaked vocals, silky harmonies, and pulsating backbeats to create a sound that feels both ethereal and grounded, dreamlike yet emphatic.
At its core, Vonswange is a project born from love, fun, and friendship. What started as text and voice memo exchanges between close friends in a dark time became the seeds of an introspective yet expansive solo project. Since debuting in 2024, mastermind Rob Losier has built a world of music that balances action-packed instrumentals with themes of heartbreak, hope, and reflection. With ‘The Magician’, he continues to push that vision forward, cementing his place as a boundary-pushing new name to watch.
We sat down with Vonswange to talk about his creative journey and how friendship became the foundation of his sound.
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What was the first rock song or artist that made an impact on you?
When I was 7 years old my neighbor across the street got a CD player and Green Day, “Dookie”. At home I was only exposed to Christian music and Whitney Houston, so this totally blew my mind. I would go to the neighbor’s house to listen to Green Day and Nirvana as much as possible. This was the moment when I truly fell in love with music.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences within the rock genre?
I grew up listening to 90’s rock music. Nirvana was by far my biggest musical influence. Learning Nirvana songs is also how I learned to play guitar. I think it’s awesome that the music is so accessible, and that I was able to learn all of their songs when I was 10-12 years old. I also love Sublime. As I got a bit older I started traveling backward in time, and I love late 70’s/early 90’s punk music (e.g., Germs), and even further back bands like The Stooges, Black Sabbath, and MC5.
Are there any non-rock musicians or genres that have also influenced your music?
Absolutely. My favorite Grateful Dead album is “Workingman’s Dead”. I love folk music and I consider bluegrass to be ‘the soundtrack of my life”. My favorite artist of all time is Bob Dylan. And I love female singing groups from the 50’s and 60’s – I think that’s how I got so interested in vocal arrangements (that and Beach Boys).
What is your main inspiration when looking to write new music?
I feel that musical inspiration is always flowing around us. It’s a frequency that we can tap into, and sometimes I find myself naturally in that headspace, easily able to tune into the creative channel. When I get there, I try as hard as I can to keep my analytical brain out of the way, and to capture whatever message I’m receiving in as pure a form as possible. So the music and songs can be anything. It’s whatever happens to be flowing through when I’m tuned in. Sounds kind of corny maybe, but that’s really the way I experience it.
What do you enjoy most about performing live and do you have any memorable live performance experiences you’d like to share?
What I like most about performing live is the in-person interaction with an audience. Too much of the music industry takes place online/remotely nowadays. I don’t like social media and streaming platforms. One of my favorite things about music is the power it has to bring people together. I never feel more free than when I’m at a concert or festival with my friends.
What has been a particularly rewarding moment in your musical journey so far?
The creation and release of my new EP, “Short White and Lonesome” has been extremely rewarding. Vonswange is my first solo project, and my skills as a songwriter and producer have never been better. For the first time ever, I took no shortcuts, made no compromises, and stuck it out until the end result was exactly what it should be. That feels amazing.
How would you define success as a musician?
Success as a musician means building a life that enables you to make art the way you want to. I don’t make money from my music, and hardly anyone outside of my friends and family knows I exist. But I have the time I need to write, record, and continue pursuing this art form I’m so passionate about. That’s what it’s all about. I create my art and share it with my friends, and success is the ability to keep doing that for the rest of my life.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting out?
Create your own opportunities. The dream and success are not things that usually come and find you. They are things that you do and demonstrate. If you can’t book a gig anywhere, set one up in your apartment, or in an alley, or literally anywhere that has an electrical socket. You probably won’t get in much trouble so just do it. And once you do have your act together, go on tour with it. Same advice as before, if you can’t book it, make it. Just do it.
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Listen to Vonswange’s new single ‘The Magician’ below.