Artist Spotlight: Voltaire's Ghost
Voltaire’s Ghost, a gothic and rock trio with a penchant for love, death, and the sounds in between, delivers its latest single, the bittersweet melody of “’Till The Break of Day.”
“In this exclusive Q&A, Magnus opens up about the stories behind the music, lessons learned along the way, and what keeps their passion alive.
Eye On Pop: What conversation were you hoping to start with this release?
Magnus: We’re hoping to start a conversation about heart and melody, and why we need more of both in music, and especially in Goth.
Eye On Pop: Was there one moment during the creation of this project where everything finally clicked?
Magnus: We didn’t really know Till the Break of Day had clicked until we heard the finished product. When our engineer Joe Ayoub in LA delivered the final mix, we couldn’t believe how beautiful it turned out. We listened to it over and over in the tour bus as we sped down some dusty Texas roads on our way to Austin. We knew it would be the album closer and standout track.
Eye On Pop: Did this project challenge you creatively in ways your previous work didn't?
Magnus: Yes, I had written the song and released it as a demo prior to meeting Josh and Ruby. When we decided to re-record it as a band and add it to the album, the challenge was to craft a version that was faithful to the emotional core of the demo while adding a layer of bittersweet fragility that had proved elusive in that earlier recording. Thankfully, Ruby and Josh brought all that to it and more, and the finished song is all that we hoped it could be!
Eye On Pop: Looking back now, what surprised you most about making this record?
Magnus: The reaction to the final product has surprised all of us! Well, maybe not Josh; he’s always said it’s his favorite song of ours. We’re getting a lot of tears, lots of thank-yous, lots of “I’m listening to it on repeat.” It’s just lovely, and we’re thrilled it’s landing so hard.
Eye On Pop: How do the visuals complement the emotional world of the music?
Magnus: The visuals (cover art) were provided by our friend and collaborator, the Paris-based artist Olivia Rovere. As usual, she’s perfectly captured the feel of the music…the band standing amongst clouds as the sun rises behind us, while our glowing eyes pierce through the silhouette.
Eye On Pop: What do you hope listeners are still thinking about days after hearing this project?
Magnus: We hope they’re thinking of a fleeting connection from their past. The best songs are a bit of necromancy…reviving the spirits of the loved and lost, summoning them to our side. A conjured visit perhaps, but a visit nonetheless.
Eye On Pop: Where do you hope your music takes you over the next five years?
Magnus: Why, around the world, of course! Our tour this spring took us to London and Paris, where we made and met some great friends and fans. We can't wait to bring our songs to Japan, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe. And Brazil. We have a lot of listeners in Brazil for some reason. If someone there (or anywhere!) will have us, we’ll come play.
Eye On Pop: What should fans be paying attention to next?
Magnus: A music video for ’Till The Break of Day is being filmed in September with director Luke Ostermiller. And in October, look for our next single, “The Ballad of Colleen Grey,” a Rock & Roll ghost story about a doomed silent movie star and a haunted guitar. And in 2027, a new album! We’ve been cutting demos lately and hope to go into the studio this fall. This next album is gonna be a scorcher...it’s got some absolute white-hot rockers. We’ve been playing some of the new songs live already, and man, are they a blast.
