AWOLNATION On His Music: “A Relatable Sense of Hope Out of Sadness” |CVLTARTES

The trailblazing project from creative force Aaron Bruno, the follow-up to 2020’s ‘Angel Miners & the Lightning Riders’ will arrive on August 30. One of his recent tracks ‘Panoramic View’ finds Aaron Bruno at his most vulnerable – written on piano at the very start of the pandemic, it reflects the overwhelming fear and uncertainty the world was facing. Speaking to his own unborn children at the time, the track sends an uplifting message of embracing the scariness while harnessing the inner strength to believe that everything will ultimately be alright.

Hello, Aaron! It is truly an honor to have you in CVLTARTES Magazine, especially since you contributed greatly to making my high school years more enjoyable. I remember taking the bus to school and playing ‘Sail’ hundreds of times on repeat. But what about you? Can you recall your first-ever musical experience?

Well, thank you for listening hundreds of times ! I can definitely relate, as I used to listen to multiple cd’s at night on my disc man (pearl jam “ten”/nirvana “nevermind” etc.) on repeat while i was supposed to be sleeping. My first musical experience is hard to pin point, but I was definitely blown away by Back to the Future when Marty plays Johnny Be Good on stage at the dance !

Given the state of mainstream culture that permeates how we consume media, how would you introduce your art to a stranger?

It would be awesome for a stranger to listen to my whole catalog from front to end. That is how I usually do it when I discover a band I like.

When listeners make their way through your project, what do you want them to feel?

A relatable sense of hope out of sadness.

Are there any particular messages or life lessons you hope your fans take away from your music as a whole?

See answer above !

Take me through your sound design process. Does the conception come first or do the songs evolve naturally – do you have a clear idea of what it will be before you start to make it?

I hear it in my head but am open to it taking a life of its own. I try to stay out of the way of the song.

Does it ever become difficult to refine ideas or stop perfecting?

No. It is so much fun.

“Panoramic View,” is the latest single you’ve released. Can you introduce us to its creative process?

I wrote it on my home piano to my two boys before they were born.

There are many descriptions of the ideal state of mind for being creative. What is it like for you?

I do not have one way to be creative. I try to stay open minded at all times and allow the ideas to arrive whenever they want to.

In how much, do you feel, are creative decisions shaped by cultural differences – and in how much, vice versa, is the perception of sound influenced by cultural differences?

I would rather allow the music to create the culture.

Thinking about your evolution, what are some developments in you – whether it’s in your art, your energy, or the way you work – that you’ve seen real change since your first studio album, Megalithic Symphony?

I feel absolute freedom to create whatever I want. I am not a part of any record label ! It is amazing.

I also want to ask you about the bands that have been continuous influences for you, but also about new bands and new records that you think are exciting in the music scene. What are you currently fascinated by and how is it feeding into your work?

Every morning, I search for music that I have not heard, and it usually is an older song. When I find a beautiful gem, it really makes my day and then I chase down even more and more. I have an ability to find good music and am blessed with the obsession to explore. If it were not for that , I don’t think I could write music that people love. I adore music deeply.