A Chat with Voodoo Bloo (12.08.22)
Influenced by the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Deftones, My Bloody Valentine and Radiohead, New Zealand-based Voodoo Bloo are known for their energy and enthusiasm. We speak with vocalist and guitarist Rory McDonald about Voodoo Bloo’s new album The Blessed Ghost, delivering bad news, future plans and more!
OSR: How did Voodoo Bloo come together?
McDonald: Well, our story is quite a long one, but in short, after some pretty traumatic events took over in my life and I needed a musical outlet to get rid of some of the frustrations of my day-to-day life, so a great bunch of guys came together to help me in the process and we’ve just been going from there ever since.
OSR: What and/or who inspires you to make music?
McDonald: Honestly, the inspiration comes from everywhere, from MF Doom to Panic! at the Disco, Faith No More to Black Midi, we try and take inspiration from anything that we find intriguing. Hell, even one of the lines from the first album was taken from a guy I met in an elevator who I’ve never seen again. It’s just a matter of keeping your ears open at all times and taking in anything that means something.
OSR: What can you tell us about The Blessed Ghost?
McDonald: The Blessed Ghost is sort of a letter to my past, present and future self as a means of celebrating everything I’ve overcome, everywhere in my life I think I can improve and how I need to do it. There were a lot of pieces I needed to pick up after the making of Jacobus, and just in the same way I used Jacobus to get over a tough period of my life, The Blessed Ghost was my way of jumping that hurdle and also trying to make it to the finish line at the same time.
OSR: The Blessed Ghost was recorded on your label PlasticGroove. What were the benefits and challenges of producing on an indie label?
McDonald: I’ll get back to you on that one once we get on to a major label. No, but in all seriousness, the challenges weren’t something that even phased us too much during the whole process of recording and releasing this album. Our manager and the sole person behind PlasticGroove allowed our dreams to come true yet again. I’ll never be able to thank them enough.
OSR: What do you hope people take from The Blessed Ghost and your music in general?
McDonald: My main thing with this band and everything we release has just been to be as open and honest as possible with everything we do. I know that our music is not for everybody on the planet, but I just hope that through that honesty someone else can find something to relate to in it, and share in the same catharsis that we have through this project.
OSR: What is the most exciting thing about being a musician?
McDonald: Honestly, it’s probably exactly the same thing as what I said before, just the joy of being able to scream our name into the void and every once in a while being able to hear a reassuring voice back. Our fans mean the world to us, and we try our best to keep up with everything they’re up to and what’s going on in their world At the end of the day, we’re nothing without the people who support us.
OSR: If you had to deliver bad news, how would you do it – in person, on the phone or via carrier pigeon?
McDonald: Oh without a doubt carrier pigeon. Not only am I terrible with conflict and confrontation, but I would die of laughter if I got some terrible news back from my doctor from a little fat bird with a letter in its mouth.
OSR: What is the most uncomfortable situation you have ever found yourself in?
McDonald: I can’t really think of much here, I might be pretty fortunate in that regard. Maybe being in the same room as a couple breaking up? Not much you can do but just sit there and watch. Thinking about it now that wasn’t the greatest time of my life.
OSR: What future plans do you have for Voodoo Bloo?
McDonald: I don’t like to spoil any secrets, but once we know you’ll definitely know.
OSR: Do you have a message for our readers?
McDonald: Pepsi once had one of those largest naval bases in the entire world. No seriously, look it up, it’s a real thing.
Many thanks to Rory McDonald for speaking with us. For more from Voodoo Bloo check out their official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
