Editor’s Note: This interview was conducted on October 13th 2010 for The Inarguable webzine. We have decided to repost it here for archival purposes and because it is truly an amazing read.
-What are the origins of Vision Éternel?
Vision Éternel formed in January 2007 almost by pure experimentation accident. I discovered the power of reverb in the middle of a depression caused by a breakup, and right away took to recording exactly what I felt in late moments of those January nights. At first it wasn’t anything I planned on continuing with as it was hidden in my many “visions” (a.k.a. solo projects part of Triskalyon), but when I started working on new material after the fall of the circle, I knew it was something serious.
-What provides the inspiration behind the music you compose for this project?
All inspirations are directly related to a mood at the moment of the recording. In most cases I record Vision Éternel songs when I’m in a post-relationship phase. So all influences are directly inspired by my loneliness and hope for affection.
-In terms of musical equipment and gear, what would you say you enjoy using most?
My gear for Vision Éternel is pretty basic, and I must conclude that it’s because I haven’t played shows for this band and have not needed to expand what I currently have. On almost every single Vision Éternel recording I have used my Jackson Kelly, with a DiMarzio X2N humbucker pickup (which I originally picked up for playing thrashened black metal in Throne of Mortality). I use the Boss Digital Reverb pedal as well as various reverb/delay presets on the computer. I’d have to say that lately, what I’m having fun with a bit in my EBow, which is being used more and more on Vision Éternel recordings.
-For physical releases of your albums, what is your preferred medium? Is there any vinyl release on the horizon?
I love vinyls. I hope that something of Vision Éternel can be released on vinyl someday, but who knows. I think it will be up to Abridged Pause Recordings.
-How has living in Montréal affected your artistic side? Do you reside in the downtown area?
When I started Vision Éternel I was actually still living at my parents house in New Jersey, though I had spent the previous 6 months in Montréal. I moved back to Montréal in the summer of 2007. I wouldn’t say that living here has made any difference in the evolution of the music. I think that simply has to do with the fact of living on my own. Often ending up completely isolated in my apartment. I currently do not live downtown, though I have in the past, and plan on going back next summer. The north shore on the island is pretty borin.
-How do you go about the recording process? Is it more or less an independent endeavor?
All recordings take place at Mortified Studios (a.k.a. my computer, Jenny, yes I name all my personal belongings). I’d say that everything Vision Éternel does in the studio is pretty DIY.
-What’s the ambient/post-rock scene like in Québec?
I believe in “Love the music, hate the fans”, so I don’t go to shows much. But I do know that we have a great post-rock scene. There’s a post-rock show at least every other day, in the important smaller venues. We also have a lot of post-rock and ambient labels right here; Alien8, Cyclic Law, Where Are My, Constellation, etc.
-Why did you decide to remaster the music video of Love within Narcosis?
The original music video was filmed on a beat up JVC DV camcorder that my family had bought at least five or six years prior to the shooting. At the time I found it, the first EP was almost ready to be released, and I decided I wanted to make something extra for this band. So I went outside in the cold dusk of February, and I started taking pictures for the album cover, this was with a digital photo camera my dad had. I liked the mood of the lantern and setting sun a lot, especially since I was able to incorporate a bit of the bitter cold outside (even if this was in New Jersey). The next day I got the camcorder and attempted to recreate a similar feeling on video.
That night when I went on my computer to edit the video out, it was one of my first times using Adobe Premiere, so what came out was pretty choppy. As well, my monitor was dying out and the resolution was really, really dark. So the final product was a lot brighter than intended. The gamma was all out of whack. But of course I wasn’t aware of it just yet. Later that evening I added it to YouTube, which was still pretty new back then, and the widescreen format wasn’t an option back then, and I must have messed up something in the encoding because when the video was uploaded, it looked horrible, in quality, in frame and in resolution. But it was my first video and decided it was acceptable.
It was about a year later that I saw once again the same video on YouTube on my friends MacBook, and I realized just how bad it looked. The entire mood was off, and people just weren’t getting the right vibe from it. From that point on I always told myself that I would rework it some day, when it would possibly get released on DVD. Now, almost four years after the making the video, I was working on the video interview (posted above), and I was struck by the desire to fix this whole thing it. It was the perfect moment to get people to rewatch the video. So that’s what I did.
-As far as the future is concerned, what are your plans for Vision Éternel as time moves forward?
Potential 4th EP, but nothing is sure….
-Any final words?
Yes, listen to Faith No More!
