PURPLE DYNAMINE : ColdGaze from sunny California
Purple Dynamine are Dream Pop band from California. Their sound is inspired by Cocteau Twins and early The Cure as well as Shoegaze.
Their work to date is:
2017:Metamorphosis, single; Crest demo, EP; Blessed State, Wire cover
2019:Etheric Fauna and Pristine Antiquity, album; Through Opal Eyes We See, EP on Shoredive Records
And now discover the band with an interview while listening to their music.
Who are the group members?
April and Kevin McVey
How did you meet?
We met in grade school and went to high school together. We have been friends for many years and had been in a band together in our formative years. We are now happily married!
How did you come up with your name?
The band name came from our two biggest influences: Prince (the “Purple” comes from “Purple Rain” and also April’s favorite color!) and Cocteau Twins (the Tiny Dynamine EP and just Cocteau Twins in general).
What is your music about?
Our music is about anything we feel connected to, be it past or present.
What are your goals as an artist artistically/commercially?
To continue doing what we love, for the rest of or lives, be it making music or being creative.
What are you trying to avoid as a band?
To never give up doing something we love.
Why do you make the music you make? Is it in you? Is it your environment?
We feel our music is in us, our home, our friends, and the people and music we surround ourselves with. We have the privilege of being around a lot of talented artists and creative friends which inspire us.
What inspire you for the music or for the Lyrics?
Our lyrics are inspired by many things we feel have had an effect on our lives , such as: past tragedies , current loves, acts of courage, and embracing all types of feelings.
Tell us what you are looking when trying to achieve your sounds. Do you experiment a lot or have a clear idea of what you want?
We experiment with ideas for the sound we want and then we develop a structure. We then experiment with vocals and when we develop something we want, we proceed with recording/post-production.
Explain your songwriting process.
We just did that in the previous answer lol.
Describe your palette of sound.
Our palette of sound is one of dark/ethereal/dreamy with undertones of a more post-punk/shoegaze/goth style.
Who would you want as a dream producer?
Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins) and Rudy Tambala (A.R. Kane)
If you could guest on someone else’s album, who would it be and why? What would you play?
We would love to guest on a Prince, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Cocteau Twins, A.R Kane, My Bloody Valentine, The Field Mice, Sisters of Mercy, Smashing Pumpkins, Portishead, Madonna, The Cranberries and so so many more current (and past) artists deep within the alternative, shoegaze, post punk, goth and Dreampop genres of music. We would play anything we were able to learn or readily play on any instrument we could for any of these guest appearances!
What musical skills would you like to acquire or get better at?
We would like to develop our current skills more (vocals, guitar, drums, bass, etc) and acquire more new skills such as synth production and recording/production in general.
Which other musician/artist would you date?
We would date each other lol.
Is there a band that if they didn’t exist you wouldn’t be making the music you make?
Cocteau Twins, A.R. Kane, My Bloody Valentine, The Cure, The Field Mice, Sisters of Mercy, Smashing Pumpkins, and a ton more!
You are from America, what are the advantages and inconvenient?
We are from California in the United States and we feel the benefits living here by being surrounded by a very diverse music and political climate. The inconvenience is the cost of living is not desirable in the least.
What are some places around the world that you hope to play with your band?
We would love to play Japan, Europe, Canada and possibly more if we were asked in the future!
When is the next album/EP due?
We just released two long awaited EPs this year and are currently promoting those while in the writing process for the next album/release.
Some artists you recommend.
Some artists we would recommend are: Grave Saddles (fka Ambersmoke), The Victoriana, Luna XIII, All Your Sisters, Post Tropic, Mannequin, Void Lust, .paperman, Underpass, Tuxedo Gleam, Todavia, Topographies, 100FIRE, Stinging Nettle, Second Still, Temple of Angels
Anything else you want your fans to know?
We would love you all to check out our current release “Through Opal Eyes We See” and our recent vinyl split 12” with Grave Saddles (bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, etc), music videos (YouTube, Instagram TV) and current physical release via Shore Dive Records (CD, download, UK), Recuerdos Ancestrales (split LP w/ Grave Saddles, download, US) HHV Records (split LP w/ Grave Saddles, Europe) and consider buying online or at a show! Hope to see you there!
Our upcoming live shows are: 10/29 @ The Lash in DTLA w/ Todavia, Tangients, LA Drones 11/5 @ The Sierra Lodge w/ Grave Saddles, Sneeze (MA), Fucko (MA) 11/30 @ TBA More TBA! Thank you to Cameron and Chris (Grave Saddles), Pat (Crisis Arm, Shojo Winter, Grave Saddles), Manny Sifuentes (Recuerdos Ancestrales, Depression Chamber, Morgue Toad), Nico (Shore Dive Records), our friends, family, and anyone who has supported us over the years!
Find Purple Dynamine here:
Support the band by buying their music on Bandcamp and spreading their music on social media.
