Official bio: A VOID is a 3-piece DIY rock band from Paris/London. Will scream insanities in your ears and make you uncontrollably dance the onche-onche ondulé. Nightmare of sound engineers. A VOID will delight you, disturb you, and always surprise you. A VOID self-released their second album Dissociation in September 2022, from which they released five singles: Sad Events Reoccur, Stepping on Snails, Newspapers, 5102 and Sick as A Dog. The band consists of Aaron Hartmann (bass), Camille Alexander(vox/guitar) and Connie Howarth (drums/vox)
People say that you can find everything on the internet but there is one thing I could not find. A clip taken in the early 90s at an MTV Music Awards. A young man from the audience was asked who among all people in Seattle was deserving of fame the most and without missing a beat he said Courtney Love. This answer made Courtney chuckle as she had a hard time believing that somebody would consider her worthy of anything. I really wanted to find this clip but since I could not, you will have to take my word that it happened. Why do I need recording of old MTV news for you may ask? Because I feel like that random dude today trying to tell the world that we have folks on the circuit worthy of all the fame, glory and money for their art. But make it times three cause A VOID has three spectacularly talented members.
The band is known for their distinctive sound – a mix of Seattle approach and a college rock with razor sharp vocals. They have been active for about seven years now. The trio produced two albums: “Awkwad and Devastated” (2018) and “Dissociation” released last year, alongside string of singles. Their music videos often cause a stir (such as when lead singer Camille Alexander was portrayed to be chained to a doghouse in “Sick Like A Dog”) and awe (band singing underwater in “5102”) almost in equal measures. Whatever they produce is not just professionally made but planned to a highest degree – be it promotional photography, release covers or their concert posters.
You could say the band has big connections and budgets behind it and nobody would blame you for being wrong. But everything, absolutely everything that A VOID puts out is made in house or self-funded by the band. They edit and direct their videos, they share artistic inputs and marketing duties.
If there ever was a prime example how to be DIY and compete with artists on major labels without selling yourself or giving up your artistic vision, we have it in A VOID.
The band just premiered a new single on May 7th simply called “2023” and this release will only strengthen their reputation as serious candidates for international stardom. Sadly, there is no jaw dropping video to go with the song but you are in for a treat anyway.
Let`s start with the cover showing a model named Conni in an Ophelia like pose, with intestines (or is it meat?) coming out of her ear to form the title of the song in writing. It takes a few seconds to realize what you are looking at and it is gruesomely beautiful. Dressed in red with her raven hair floating, Conni is both a homage to the cover of Pulp`s “This Is Hardcore” and a reference to an iconic moment from MAN from U.N.C.L.E (In “One of our Spies is Missing” a female detective is being found in a bath full of water, where she lied with her eyes wide open). There is something almost paranormal about the way Conni looks into the distance. The image was taken by A VOID front woman Camille Alexander herself. This is Ophelia reimagined, taken away from the male gaze and shown through the eyes of a fellow woman. Feminine power is present in life and in death, in macabre and elegance.
Then there is the song itself. To me “2023” is A VOID`s direct response to Smashing Pumpkins` “1979”. Driven by this easily recognizable, pulsating guitar riff on top of a serene melody and bittersweet vocals, delivered with warmth and a bit of nostalgia.
I was a teen when “1979” came out and since the title of the song was also the year of mine and my friends’ birth, it quickly became an anthem of us, the late-stage Gen X kids who were lost and misfit. Despite the charming surface the song was never optimistic or friendly. It perfectly captured the sense of dread we all felt. “And we don’t know just where our bones will rest. To dust, I guess, forgotten and absorbed to the Earth below” – goes the lyrics.
There`s this weird fetishism around the 90s these days – like it was some wonderful time of prosperity and safety. It was time of Rodney King riots, war in former Yugoslavia, old political blocks were crumbling and first ecological disasters started to roll out: ozone layer hole, acid rains and overwhelming pollution. Kid you not, the consensus among us was that we were seeing the end of things.
Fast forward 28 years later and not much has changed. The feeling of impending doom is still there and A VOID frames it just as skilfully as Smashing Pumpkins once did. “There’s nothing left to fear. I mean… apart from the world giving in. We’re all going to die. And somehow, we deserved it” sings Camille and you wholeheartedly agree. I know, the band speaks to the new generations, to their peers but it resonates with me too, on a very personal level.
2023 feels very close to how it was to be living in 1995. You worry about the world, about the environment, the political maniacs in power, the rise of fascism and authoritarianism, the hunt for any marginalized group – from trans to refugees. And the only thing to help you though is college rock/riot grrrl guitar music.
A VOID follows into the steps of acts that sonically shaped many people in the last three decades – from L7, to BratMobile to Hole and Babies in Toyland. I have already mentioned Camille Alexander and her many talents so shall we give some love to the rest of the ensemble?
I love the drumming of Connie Howarth. Her way of delivering the beats reminds me of Patty Schemel. Or maybe even Molly Neuman because of the unorthodox way she approaches the drumming. Connie also handles backing vocals in the band which is not easy when you are sitting behind the kit.
Aaron Hartmann shares name and instrument with the bassist of Girls In Trouble. If you don’t follow American music here`s a bit of explanation. Aaron Hartman (Hartman senior?) is an influential member of the Olympia scene since the late 80s and early 90s in Washington. Generally, Seattle scene (ie `grunge`) would be seen separately to what was happening in Olympia as the latter was more experimental, more inclusive and more academic as it should since it is the capital of the state. Aaron Hartman Sr played in wonderfully bizarre Old Time Relijun, then moved to NYC to form Girls In Trouble. Besides his signature bass playing he is a sought-after producer and composer. These qualities are also evident in Aaron Hartmann (jr) of A VOID who is my favourite member of the band. His way of playing is a true firecracker. He is a volcano of energy on stage. His way of playing has been often compared to another iconic bassist – Ash Bowie of Polvo/Helium (but we will explain the Boston music scene another time, ok?).
Wrapping up. As a single “2023” is a powerful and timeless piece showcasing the fears and horrors of today. But the sheer brilliance of members of A VOID gives us hope that art will continue to inspire, offer solace and strength to those who worry.
The song was recorded and mixed in December 2022 by Simone Reca (Hostage) at Perry Vale Studios in London (X Ray Spex, Jesus and The Mary Chain) and mastered by Tony Cousins (Suede, Adele, Bat For Lashes) at Metropolis Studios.
You can follow A VOID on socials:
http://www.avoidinyou.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBwCzGg0kXD8delfwMQqgtQ
https://www.instagram.com/avoidinyou/
https://www.facebook.com/avoidinyou
https://twitter.com/avoidinyou
https://avoidinyou.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/album/4Ecxd2jnG9r0b6k12Ij0up
You can also follow Camille Alexander photography and art:
https://www.instagram.com/pansyisinsane
https://www.instagram.com/camillealexander_art/
Our previous coverage
https://vanadianavenue.co.uk/2022/09/11/a-void-dissociation-album-review/
Malicia Dabrowicz
Indieterria 