https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076207533365
From: Isle of Wight
Sounds like: Rock
1. How did you get started with music and how did you develop your sound?
Voodoo Raven are an extension of the band I had in California called Revenant who released 2 full length albums and 2 EP's. I started Revenant in 2010 and we disbanded in 2018 as I was moving to the United Kingdom. Essentially Voodoo Raven is an evolution of Revenant and also a trio.
2. What do you want people to take away from your music?
Essentially a lot of the songs that I have written since Revenant and for Voodoo Raven are related to 10 years of depression that I underwent from 2000-2010. Depression is a crippling disease both mentally and physically so writing songs that were looking at positive ways of moving forward with hope and belief as exemplified in the songs like "Dark Church", "Midnight Angels", "Delirium" and "Healer Man" from the debut Voodoo Raven album "THe Healer". Other songs are critical of the current world disorder especially in songs like "Show Your Mercy" and "Greed" both on the current "Lady Liberty" album as well as "All Fired Up" and "Voice of Liberty" off the debut Voodoo Raven album "The Healer". Mainly the music is finding your own temple of beliefs against whatever odds one may be up against and to keep fighting for the truth.
3. How would you describe your sound to the average listener?
A collision of punk rock and classic rock.
4. Who are three bands you’d like to tour with?
Black Country Communion, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Guns & Roses.
5. What's your thoughts on AI generated music?
Stick it in the garbage can and dump it. All original music, rock, country, jazz, soul, funk, pop comes from writing from the heart and life experiences. AI has no soul and no heart. It is merely a synthetic machine that copies from previous music templates with no consciousness.
6. What’s your take on the current state of Rock?
Rock has never died and will continue to evolve. It may not be any further evolved as in the concept of being completely original and born out of a social movement since the 1950's but is still has a presence and an audience that still wants to rock'n'roll all night long.
7. What’s the current music scene like there in the Isle of Wight?
The music scene on the Isle of Wight is primarily cover bands and tribute bands which is the dominant music. It is hard for original bands to break out of here, the most notable recently being Wet Leg and of the past Level 42. We have started our own music event called the Gasoline Rock Club which will be a monthly event that features only original bands. Our recent event was on Halloween which featured Voodoo Raven and 3 other Isle of Wight original bands. Somebody has to take the fight against the onslaught of cover and tribute bands being the dominant musical entity on the Isle of Wight.
8. What’s your take on the royalties that streaming services pay out to artists?
Disgusting and wrong. An artist can often spend 5-10 years crafting their music for their first album so when it comes to royalties the digital platforms are the ones making all the money on music that they had no skin in the game or creativity of an artist's endeavours.
9. What’s next for Voodoo Raven?
We have a couple of shows coming up in December and start to record songs for the next album as well as trying to get on to some festivals in 2026. Also shooting making music videos for some other tracks off the Lady Liberty album.
10. Any shoutouts?
Ebenezer Hammond-Laing aka The Fixer who manages the band and never lost belief. Also all original bands who know how hard it is to get recognized in the world with their music. Rock on!
