Tanner Ross grew up as much a fan of horror movies as he was of electronic music. It was this combination of interests that helped spawn the haunted techno sound that has had the electronic music scene buzzing for the past year. In Mar, Tanner and partner James Watts debuted Voodeux’s live set to an intimate crowd in Detroit. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Now with the recent release of their first LP, The Paranormal, the accolades only continue to roll in. Tanner talked with us a bit about the creative process and where Voodeux’s music fits into the big picture. He also took time to discuss some of his musical influences, not to mention list a few of his favorite all time horror movies.
So what came first, the concept behind your sound or the sound itself?
The sound itself. Just making music late at night, it kind of sets the tone from feeding off of each other
I’ve read that you’re a big horror movie fan, is he the same way?
Not so much. Not really at all from my experiences hanging out with him. But he knows the dark side and embraces it very well. I mean, the dark side doesn’t just come from me. I think its safe to say that we both enjoy twisted music moody music in general. It just catches the senses.
I also read that you guys pass project files back and forth and add to them. How exactly does that work?
We both use the same sequencer, so we’re able to save the project as a self contained file. Then I just put it in our dropbox folder. We just swap ideas till we think it’s done basically.
Does it end up becoming like a competition? Who can add the wildest shit to the track? Or do you guys like discuss it over the phone and than proceed to add to it?
It’s not a competition. We discuss things via phone and email, but not that much really. We work really well together to the point where it is almost like mind reading.
So do you get a track back from him sometimes and think, “yea, that makes sense”
Not really. I think its more like I send him a track and he sends it back. Then I listen and think to myself, “BRILLANT!” and continue. A track can go in a direction and I will make it that way. Then after sending it to him and getting it back, sometimes he’ll continue with the idea but sometimes he’ll take it in a different direction that I wouldn’t normally think of. And then we will add to that idea and just kind of let the track take us on a journey. I find that most of the time the best music is usually the kind that is made with no idea it just controls itself.
So you never disagree with the direction he takes it in I guess. You just kind of let it go and it just flows freely.
Yeah, it’s a collaborative process, purely. It’s not like a band and I’m the guitar player and so is he and I’m like, “nah man, not a good idea.” It’s more like, “Sure, sounds great. Let’s see how it works out.” If it’s bad, well we’ll go back. But if not, sweet.
Well I guess you guys will be around for awhile then, seeing as how you don’t let egos get in the way
Yeah, I mean the whole project is just for fun really. Once it becomes a chore it’s pointless.
But there will be more Voodeux projects to come right?
We just did a remix for Airdrop that is out now, and we are doing a remix of a track off of Claude Vonstroke’s new album. In the near future we will begin work on the next EP. In the meantime we will be playing gigs all around including the Decibel Festival in Sep and this festival in LA.
What city has the most impressive music/club scene in your opinion?
Personally, from my DJ experience, San Fran hands down. The vibe, the people and the open minds to new fresh music. I have never felt so comfortable DJing anywhere else besides my room. Ya know?
Yea, it’s funny how your music is pretty dark and experimental, yet it plays well in the club. Was it important that you guys remain club-friendly?
Well, we’re constantly trying to expand the sound barrier. But at the same time there is a constant reminder that we are doing it for the dance floor. I mean believe me, we could really take it to outerspace, but the purpose of this project is purely mentally engaging dance music. It’s our mood expressed through our instruments. It May not be for everyone but the people that get it really enjoy it.
I think it’s pretty accessible though. That’s what I like about it. A lot of producers get too bizarre and they end up making music that scares people because they can’t grasp it.
Yeah, there is a little bit of a safety on what we do because we aren’t trying to scare the bejeezus out of people. We are just trying to shake things up a little
I wouldn’t call it safety. It’s good to introduce something new to a scene where the music has kind of grown stale
Yes this is very true. Personally I have grown a bit jaded with the music that is being called house and techno today. Not all of it does, but a lot of it sounds like it was made 7 years ago… or more. Aren’t we trying to make progress? That’s what this music is about: the future – to me, Maybe not everyone. But what really excites me is progress. I have been listening to electronic music since I was 13. In the states that’s really early, and I have seen a lot of change. Now I feel like there has been a stunt of growth. But to me there is light, people like Martyn and Appleblim from the “dubstep” scene. I put that in quotes because to me that term is very ambiguous. But those guys are pushing it. People like Ben Klock, Shed Moderate, blurring the boundaries. That excites me and I know that excites James.
I feel like when the growth gets stunted its time to go in a new direction. I think that’s what you guys are doing.
There is more to this than just the same recycled house loop. We are, and it is, constantly changing. We have new ideas for the next project. It May be a little different. Who knows? But it will still be dance floor. I’m producing “dubstep” now and I’m learning a lot of new ideas that I wouldn’t normally learn by just making the same techno beats over and over again. So then when James and I get back together again we will have this whole new thing. It will constantly be evolving until we are too tired to continue. With influence from dubstep to techno and even drum n bass. Eventually in 10 more years or so there will be no genre. It will just be dance music. But again, everyone needs a category – for organization purposes
You’ve got some interesting influences listed on your myspace. I don’t think most people would list Bernard Hermann as an influence but I guess it fits in relation to your sound.
Yeah. Hermann is amazing. Have you heard his score for Taxi Driver? Very beautiful Then you hear his music for Psycho and it’s different, but same techniques. That’s the thing, when you hear a Ben Klock techno track you think, “Ah, that’s a Ben Klock techno track.” But when you hear him do a dubstep track, same technique but different take… I think I’m rambling…
I get you though. You guys are trying to be auteurs.
Yeah, but the main point of the whole thing is to have fun. I think the best quote that fits the whole picture is something I read today on Resident Advisor about Andrew Weatherall, “The minute you get blinkered and you just go down one avenue, it’s like giving in. You’ve become your parents.” Amazing. And so true. That’s my new life mantra and I will stick to it.
Last question. What are your top 3 horror movies?
[Laughs] That’s tough. But I will give it to you:
3. The Shining
2. The Devils Rejects
1…………. Give me a minute. I need a smoke real quick to think about that because this will be embedded in the internets for eternity.
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