Interview With The Venetia Fair
The Venetia Fair are just wrapping up their ‘The Launch Tour’, which saw them play 13 venues across America alongside The Greats Heights Band and Icarus The Owl. I caught up with them to ask about touring and what it’s like to be in a band.
Who came up with the band name and how did they come up with it?
“We came up with it. Venetia Phair was a person who used to be alive who named the then planet Pluto “Pluto”. Now it is a dwarf planet and she is a dead lady.”
How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?
“I met Mr. Chark in 3rd grade, we made a club mostly focused on holograms. I met Joe when I was in high school and he banged my girlfriend and was my sworn enemy. I met Mike when Venetia Fair toured with his band Kiss Kiss in 2010 and he had these real cool boots I liked. I met Austin when he asked to join our band because he heard a rumor that our old drummer had left the band and he was right but nobody really knew yet so it was weird.”
Could you briefly describe the music-making process?
“It’s always different. We used to write all together in a room. Every note of music was written in the same room all together then I would write the vocals and lyrics. Then we switched it up for a while and Joe, Mike and I would write most of everything, then I would write vocals and lyrics after. We’re thinking of going back to the old way for a bit now. Probably getting a little of both things goin’.”
Out of all your music videos, what was your favourite one to shoot and why?
“”The Day I Set Them Free” was probably the most fun because we got to give a little kid cigarettes and fireworks and all sorts of stuff he probably wasn’t allowed to play with usually. His mom was super cool about everything and he was an awesome kid so we had a great time making that thing. The other videos came out awesome but were very hard to make. “Pride Alone” was done all in one shot so it took all night doing take after take until we got it right. We also did zero rehearsal for it because most of it was written on the spot. So it took all night. “The Ringleader” was shot during a 1000 degree day and I swallowed a lot of dirt and then had to go be really obnoxious to people on the street and in stores and I was very uncomfortable but it was very funny when it was done so it was worth it.”
When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?
“We started playing together in college and we were bored as shit because we only liked playing music so we had to make a band or we would have stayed very bored.”
How long does it take you to write a song on average?
“Some songs are written in a few hours, some songs are tinkered with for years. I couldn’t even begin to guess an average.”
If you weren’t musicians, what would you ideally do for a living instead?
“I have no idea. Probably make money.”
What was the first song you ever played as a group?
“This group came out the gate writing original songs that you’ve never heard because they were bad but when I started my first band we spent 6 months learning how to play “Gone Away” by The Offspring.”
What’s the best part of touring and why?
“Right after we play. Because if people liked the show then everybody really likes me and that’s nice and if people didn’t like the show then at least it’s fuckin’ over and they aren’t looking at me anymore.”
Do you have anything you want to say to your fans and people who support your music?
“Hey. Thanks. Maybe someday I will hate you all for filling me with a false sense of hope and pride in my abilities but until then: “Hey. Thanks.””
Will you ever tour outside of the US? (Scotland, particularly?)
“If I don’t die too soon then yes but I can’t know the future because that is magic.”