Van Alden, the deep, pop-noir music project of Los Angeles-based artist and clothing designer, Paul Abrahamian, announces his self-titled debut. Van Alden is a strong showing of a fully-modern singer-songwriter, bent on expressing life’s more intense and complicated emotions from loss, memory, to freedom despite pain. The dark, moody, and synth-heavy sounds make the record feel like a lonely 3AM smoke on a rooftop in L.A.
Abrahamian garnered the public’s eye with his appearance on two seasons of CBS’s hit series, Big Brother. The new record serves as a juxtaposition of the perceived idea of Abrahamian as a “reality star” to his identity as a music artist, allowing established and new fans to see another side of his personality, artistry and energy that translate into an undeniable live show. Tracks like “Otherside,” “Boheme,” and “Never Die” are cinematic, living in their own all-encompassing world into which listeners are instantly pulled. Those who only know Abrahamian from his time on reality television, will be pleasantly surprised by the artistry displayed by Van Alden.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Van Alden about the new album, challenges, motivations and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
Born & raised in Los Angeles. I’d say the style of music I make is really spacey, moody, urban, electronic, with a splash of dark pop/alternative. I really like to pay attention & hone in on the atmospheric details of the music.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?
I’ve always played in bands, ever since I was 12/13 years old. I’ve always been a member of a group / had the support & feedback of other members. I never really had the confidence to release my own music, as I truly am my own worst critic. I could never muster up the courage, or confidence to put out work that was 100% mine. But alas, through all my experiences/lessons learned, I’ve realized that our existence is so minuscule, & life is too short not to take risks. I’ve realized that I’d rather take a risk & fail, than be haunted by the constant thought of “what if” or “I wish I did.”
How is your new release different than previous ones? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?
The music I release through Van Alden is specifically meant to hit the soul. I wanted to put the listener in a certain mood/headspace/atmosphere. I find being in this state of mind is a prime place to self reflect & ponder about ones troubles, struggles, & experiences. I want my listeners to just take a step back & reflect.
Do you face any challenges as an indie musician in a digital age? On the flip side, how has technology helped you (if it has)?
Absolutely, the challenge is that there is so much talent / music out there. You’re now in a universe / dog eat dog world of unlimited sounds/music/talent. Virtually, it’s all out there – so it really forces me to pay attention to detail in my own artistry. In a universe of endless sounds/music, you really need to figure out what you want, & own it. Set a ton, roll with it, be confident, & do it well. On the flip side, you have access to endless outlets, listeners, & people at the tip of your fingers. I’ve found that by using these tools strategically, the digital world has been in my favor.
Where can we follow you online and hear more music?
All social media is @VanAldenMusic
We have YouTube, facebook, & instagram. Van Alden is also on all major streaming platforms, like Spotify & iTunes/Apple music.
