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Interview: Vydamo (Jim Finn from Art vs Science)

Words by Scenewave Australia - Published on February 27, 2013

So you’re all acquainted with electro rockers Art vs Science. Well many don’t know that Jim Finn has recently embarked on a solo project, called Vydamo, which is set for a late March-April release. The first single from his record is “Gonna Make It”, and it’s an infectious mix of electro-pop that gets our excity pants on for his upcoming release.

When we caught up with Vydamo late last week, he had plenty to talk about; from what song he had in his head going into surgery for a kidney transplant (whilst on tour in the US), to the future of Art vs Science and why he never makes it back for breakfast (listen to the “Gonna Make It” lyrics and get back to me). He had some very witty answers and made me very keen to see this new project in a live setting. Find tour dates below.

SCENEWAVE: Do you often miss breakfast?

JIM FINN: You have no idea.  That’s why it was such a big deal for me to make it home in time.

SW: What’s your favourite thing to eat for breakfast? 

JF: My dad’s home made beans and franks on toast.

SW: Prediction for the artists to explode in 2013? (Other than Vydamo)

JF: Pluto Jonze.  They’re actually an influence of mine for some of the songs on the album… AND they’re supporting me on my tour. ME!  I am a lucky duck.

SW: What’s your favourite organ?

JF: My fresh new kidney.  Thanks Dad.

SW: If fashion wasn’t a concern, would you wear velcro or lace-up shoes?

JF: Bare foot.  Who needs shoes?

SW: What would you do if someone chopped your hands off?

JF: Tickle them with my toes.

SW: If you could have a song as the soundtrack to your life, what would it be?

JF: Good question.  Hmmm…. Probably Gustav Holst – ‘Jupiter’.  Look it up.  I cried when the I watched the Sydney Symphony Orchestra perform it.

SW: Your go to album to rock out to and crank as loud as you can before you party?

JF: You only need one song… Motley Crue – ‘Kickstart My Heart’.

SW: Art or science?

JF: Science (sorry Art).

SW: Lager or cider?

JF: Lager. No apologies.

SW: Which artist would you bring back from the dead?

JF: Mozart.  I just want to see his reaction to all the directions music has gone.  I think he’d love it!

SW: If you could play a song from the Moon looking back at Earth what would it be?

JF: Flaming Lips – “Do You Realize”

SW: Most famous persons number you’ve got in your mobile?

JF: Mark Foster of Foster the People

SW: The craziest thing a fan has done to you?

JF: I’ll tell you when you’re older.

SW: Favourite road trip song?

JF: Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”

SW: Out of Chad Kroeger (Nickelback lead singer) and Avril Lavigne – which one is punching above their weight?

JF: I think Chad Kroeger has probably been punched more times by people above his weight.

SW: What does ‘making it’ mean to you in regards to your musical career?

JF: Playing the first show on the moon.

SW: What can we expect from your March release? Much of the same, genre-wise?

JF: I think it’ll end up being later than March.  There’s quite a lot of depth to the album… well I think so any way.  Some laid back chilled afternoon-beers-on-the-beach tunes, some big grand ballads, some rocking guitar riffs and a very personal song about a sadder time a few years ago.  I can’t wait for people to hear it.

SW: What made you decide to go solo? Is that a big decision, or something that is pretty much just done nowadays?

JF: It wasn’t really a conscious decision to write songs for a solo project.  I just started writing one day and found a bunch of non-AVS songs came out.  I really liked them and wanted them to go out into the world and have a life of their own.

SW: How’d you come up with the name Vydamo?

JF: I gave one of my sisters a teddy bear when I was 6.  For weeks she couldn’t think of a name for it, then one night she had a dream and in the dream the bear was called Vydamo.

SW: So you were basically touring with Art v Science in the USA when you had to have a kidney transplant. How was that?

JF: Well I knew about it a few months ahead of time, I was actually on dialysis whilst touring the US.  I came back home and had the transplant a few months later.  It was fine… just slightly more organization involved than on a normal tour.

SW: Did you have a specific song in your head when you were going into surgery / is there an artist or song that reminds you of that difficult time?

JF: I actually did, funnily enough I was singing one of the songs I wrote for the album.  It’s called ‘Time’s Gonna Get Me By’. I got my brother and 5 sisters to sing it with me on the album.

SW: How did you have time to write that song during that time?

JF: That time wasn’t a big deal to me.  Things are only as big a deal as you make them, or allow them to be.  It was actually one of the happiest and most exciting times of my life because I was writing so much music, kidney failure was just a minor inconvenience.

SW: Did the transplant change you personally? Musically?

JF: Nope.  I was pretty sure I had already figured out my view of life and the world a while ago, it really just reaffirmed it.

SW: Who’s the hot babe from the film clip?

JF: She is gorgeous isn’t she?  She’s a model/actress the director found.  She was lovely, I had a lovely time hanging out with her that day.

SW: Favourite song right now/what song would you like to see in our next Weekly Playlist (other than one of yours…)

JF: Anything off the new Tame Impala record, Kevin Parker is a genius.

SW: What are the next plans for Art v Science? Does this solo project mean a bit of a hiatus for the group?

JF: No, not at all. We’re heading up to Byron in 3 days to start recording the next AVS record.  I can’t wait to get those songs out and start playing them too.

SW: How would you describe your new project to someone who hasn’t heard your work?

JF: Someone described it to me as Psych-Dream-Pop.  I’m gonna go with that :)

‘The breezy dance-pop of Vydamo’s introductory single Gonna Make It is just so appealing’ – Sydney Morning Herald

‘Extremely likeable’ – Richard Kingsmill, triple j

‘We like it more than Kingsmill!’ – scenewave.com

The dates for Vydamo’s upcoming tour are as follows:

Fri 19th April Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
Sat 20th April The Toff, Melbourne
Sat 27th April Alhambra, Brisbane
Tickets from vydamo.com
Posted in Featured, Music

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