Tara VanFlower Talks LYCIA’s New Album, Inspiration, Love & Death ‣ CVLTARTES

Lycia is an American darkwave band formed in 1988 in Tempe, Arizona. The main personnel of the band is Mike VanPortfleet, Tara VanFlower, and David Galas. Devoted to cold, somber, and synthetic sounds, these pioneers of the ethereal are responsible for some of the most acclaimed underground albums of the ‘90s.
We talked to Tara VanFlower about their newest material, “Casa Luna”, and many more in an enchanting interview.

CVLT: Hello Tara! And thank you for accepting my request to do this interview. What was the inspiration for this EP? How much time took to write it?

Tara: I don’t think there was any “inspiration” necessarily. There’s no theme to it. We had recorded a track for a split single with another band, but time and other obligations delayed that, so Mike decided to record another song. The next thing we knew there was enough for an EP. We’re still hoping to get back to that split single with the other band.

Where you find your inspiration for the lyrics?

I joke and tell people all my songs are about love and death. It’s essentially true. I love love. And death is ever-present. I’ve been hyper-aware of the passage of time since I was a child, so it’s something that haunts me all the time. Dreams also inspire lyrics. Or stories I write in my head.

There is a song that might be your favorite? If yes which one and why so?

I’m assuming you mean if I have a favorite song on “Casa Luna”. I really never pick a favorite song because they’re all our children. I am especially proud of the way ‘Salt & Blood’ turned out. It was one of the easiest tracks I’ve ever recorded. I normally torture myself over this stuff, and that song just flowed so easily. I love the swoony quality of the whole thing.

Recently you collaborated with Daniel Anghede from ISON. What can you tell us about this collab? How did it all start?

Daniel and I have been friends for a few years. He had written to me to tell me about his recording and it casually came up in the course of that conversation. I’m not sure he had actually planned to ask when the conversation started.

I joke and tell people all my songs are about love and death. It’s essentially true. I love love. And death is ever-present. I’ve been hyper-aware of the passage of time since I was a child, so it’s something that haunts me all the time.

Does this Covid-19 affect your future plans or collab? How did you manage to get through this?

Covid has had zero impact on our music. We never leave the house anyway. We were actually quite active through the pandemic with music and writing projects. Our life didn’t change a whole lot personally except to make me see some people in a different, and less favorable, light.

Can we expect a touring with Lycia soon in Europe or maybe, why not, in our beautiful country Romania?

Oh, how I wish we were going to tour Europe. I hope so one day. Give Dracula a kiss for me.

Thank you so much for doing this darling! Hope to hear from you soon.

Thank you so much for your interest in Lycia and “Casa Luna”. It truly means a lot to us.

“Casa Luna” was released on June 11th, 2021, adorned by photography taken by Tara Vanflower and chosen because of its somber ghosts of the past feel.

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