Justin Vaughn from Low Morale and Vanessa Delfilippo from Dead Leaves embark on a new phase in their musical journeys with their new band, see you., and their latest single, "Doom or Bloom."
Sometimes, taking a new direction is essential for truly discovering one’s musical path. This is certainly true for vocalist Justin Vaughn, of Low Morale, and talented guitarist Vanessa Defilippo of Dead Leaves. Both artists sought to explore their artistic visions separately from the bands that had previously shaped their careers. After experimenting with various initial demos, they found their calling in their new single, "Doom or Bloom." This track served as a pivotal moment, solidifying their commitment to pursue their unique artistic aspirations.
To bring "Doom or Bloom" to life, Vaughn and Defilippo collaborated with seasoned producer Dave Piatek, known for his work with bands like No Pressure, Light Years, and The Stereo. The production infuses the song with a polished edge while maintaining the raw energy that reflects their artistic intent. Lyrically, "Doom or Bloom" addresses the universal experience of growing older and grappling with the feeling of being stuck, all while recognizing the pressing nature of time in pursuing one’s dreams and goals.
This single offers just a glimpse into the direction that the new band is taking, hinting at a broader musical evolution to come. With "Doom or Bloom," Vaughn and Defilippo are not only carving out their own niche in the music landscape but also proving that they are embarking on a meaningful journey toward artistic fulfillment and discovery.
What inspired this new change in direction for you guys? I know you are and have been involved in other band projects before this. What made you want to develop this new band?
Justin Vaughn: My previous couple of bands were with my friend and guitarist Steve Sherman. We wrote a crazy amount of material (a lot unreleased) and got to play with some of our favorite national bands. Over the summer, after years of Low Morale having constant rhythm section member changes and other obstacles, we decided to take a break.
Soon after, Vanessa DeFilippo, who I knew from her time in Dead Leaves, contacted me saying she had some demos lying around if I wanted to throw some vocals on them, and they were great. We pumped out a handful of songs together and soon after that, released our first single.
While you guys are a melodic pop-punk band, instrumentally, what inspired you to make "Doom or Bloom" a reality?
Justin Vaughn: Doom or Bloom was probably my favorite out of the initial demos. Partly because it had so much energy and for the most part, is kind of a short, to-the-point punk rock jam. We thought it would be cool to come out swinging so made it our debut track. With Vanessa being such a stellar songwriter it was fun and easy to write vocals for it, and it was that way for most of her killer instrumentals. It was kind of a no-brainer for us to put it out first.
You guys worked with Dave Piatek (No Pressure, Light Years, The Stereo) for the production of this track? What was that like working with him?
Justin Vaughn: I had been wanting to work with Dave for years and first met him a while back when I did backup vocals on my brother Bobby’s album he produced, and we really got along. We finally made it happen and we’re pretty stoked with how it came out. He really dissects every part of the song and is very blunt about what he thinks, which was something I wasn’t really used to at first. When there’s a part he really likes and gets excited about though, it’s pretty cool.
I like that despite the melancholic lyrical undertones, there is this juxtaposition of positive energy in this track. Can we talk about the themes surrounding this track?
Justin Vaughn: Vanessa and I love bands like Saves the Day (our namesake) and Iron Chic, who have a lot of energy and sometimes are even kind of poppy but have lyrics that get pretty dark and melancholy, and I’ve always dug that contrast. Alkaline Trio is another big influence for me lyrically and vocally. It’s super therapeutic to purge built-up angst, anxiety, depression, anger, etc. through the music, but I usually sprinkle in a sense of hope so it’s not a total bummer.
Doom or Bloom for me is pretty much about getting older and kind of feeling stuck and not having a lot of years left to accomplish your dreams and goals..so you feel like you can’t waste any more time or wait around for things to happen. I repeat the same line in the chorus a few times because it’s like I’m hyping myself up, or maybe just going insane.
What did you get from this process that you haven't gotten from other band projects?
Justin Vaughn: So far it’s been the chillest project I’ve been a part of. Part of that is because it’s only Vanessa and I writing and recording together right now. Not only is Vanessa super talented, but she’s really cool and we’ve been on the same page on just about everything. We have a lot of similar influences and our goals for this project also align. I’ve been in bands for a long time now, so I’m always learning new lessons and applying them to the next project. We’d like to play full-band live shows at some point, and that’s when things get more complicated because there are a lot more moving parts to work with.
What is next for you guys? Is this track a part of something bigger?
Justin Vaughn: Because we want to put out quality stuff that we’re really happy with, and on a tight budget, I think just saving up and putting out individual singles is the game plan for now. We may eventually release the initial batch together as an EP. It would be cool to maybe have a label help us put out a proper release in the near future. We’d love to put something out on vinyl too. Playing these songs with a full band live is something we plan on doing eventually, so hopefully we’ll see you at a show.
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