After recently returning with their stunning comeback singles 'Change The Game' and 'Lose It' earlier this year, Nashville-based outfit Von Tagen are back once again to deliver their vibrant new outing 'Colorado'.
Capturing more of that bright and dynamic pop-rock aesthetic they have quickly earned a reputation for, 'Colorado' makes for an incredibly rich and immersive listen. With its warm and alluring textures, soaring atmosphere, and stellar hooks throughout, they return to the fold with one of their most anthemic cuts to date here.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with them to find out more about their origins and what has been inspiring them most over the years.
-
What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Tyler – Guitar at age 9
Jordan – Bass at age 9
Derick – Piano at age 9
Mikey – Drums at age 4
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Tyler – Hawk Nelson, the Tarzan soundtrack
Jordan – Switchfoot, Toby Mac, Michael Jackson
Derick – Owl City, Switchfoot, Coldplay, Frank Sinatra
Mikey – Hawk Nelson, Switchfoot, Coldplay
What was the first album you remember owning?
Tyler – “Turn Around” by Jonny Lang
Jordan – “The Beautiful Letdown” by Switchfoot
Derick – “The Beautiful Letdown” by Switchfoot
Mikey – Hannah Montana
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Tyler – “Once in a Lifetime” by The Nightgame
Jordan – “Stupid Deep” by Jon Bellion
Derick – “Clocks” by Coldplay
Mikey – “1985” by Bowling for Soup
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Tyler - No rituals, really. It's mainly trying to capture the initial idea whenever it hits, usually using voice memo.
Jordan - I usually write melodies and lyrics in the car. Once the song is mostly finished with melodies and lyrics with the brothers’ help, we lay down some simple production for a demo. Over the course of time, we keep revisiting the track and either add or subtract production from it to find what the song wanted to be all along.
Derick - I personally just make sure to capture melody ideas on voice memos that come to my head while I’m singing in my mind all day. Or I’ll just doodle on the piano until inspiration strikes, but I really don’t like to force it.
Mikey - Whenever I think of a melody that seems catchy to me, I usually take out my voice memos and record it no matter the time or where I am. I usually end up helping most with structure of songs and being the yes/no person and of course the percussion.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Tyler – The Night Game, Sunday Service Choir.
Jordan – Ed Sheeran, Jon Bellion, Rihanna, and Switchfoot.
Derick – half • alive, Dominic Fike, Jacob Collier, and Switchfoot.
Mikey - Noah Kahan, Shaboozey, and David Kushner.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Tyler – Twenty One Pilots or Blue Man Group.
Jordan – The Pope...in Las Vegas.
Derick – yeah the Pope would be cool.
Mikey – I mean Taylor Swift would be a pretty neat, or maybe we could settle for Harry Styles.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Derick - The fact that all four of us get to be musicians as brothers is really an amazing thing we try not to take for granted.
Tyler - Ditto.
Jordan - What Derick said.
Mikey - I’m with these guys.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Derick - Finding the time to make music and rehearse amidst all of our busy lives can be very frustrating. Tyler and Jordan own a drone photography/media company, Derick is working as a registered nurse, and Mikey is finishing his business degree at college.
Tyler - Derick’s a nurse?!
Jordan - What Derick said.
Mikey - I got 3 exams next week…
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Tyler - Just make stuff that is dope to you. If you can be excited at what you're making, that should be the end goal.
Jordan - Make the music you want to hear.
Derick - When you come to the fork in the road, take it. <- essentially let the song tell you where it wants to go, and run with it.
Mikey - A little more brown sugar… — just when you think you might be good or done, there’s always a little more in you.
-
Von Tagen's new single 'Colorado' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.