Velatine blends gothic, industrial, cinematic, and post punk influences into a unique, genre-bending pop format. The band maintains a mysterious presence, opting for guest vocalists on each release to ensure a fresh rotation of voices and an ever-evolving sound.
Their latest single, Orange to Black, features the enigmatic vocalist Nocturna, whom Velatine’s architect, Loki Lockwood, first encountered at a warehouse party in early 2024. Struck by her performance, Lockwood reached out, leading to a series of exchanges. The result is Orange to Black, the first track they recorded together; a haunting collaboration which sets a thrilling new tone for the project's future.
Loki unveils: "There's something special, I love her voice. In the studio she exceeds my expectations and brings so much more to the music so even though the plan was to continue working with different vocalists, Nocturna might be it. Soon after I ask if she's up for another song, it's a yes, at least for the present."
On Orange to Black, Lockwood unfolds: "Those three words, written to mark the initial musical idea back in September 2022. The first seeds of a song I always give a spontaneous title at the start, over and over this has become the song meaning, title or makes an appearance. Life to Death, the immediate correlation, the obvious, stared back at me over the weeks developing the music but when it came to lyrics I felt reluctant to take that road so it sat around waiting for inspiration. I tried to think about brighter things, the sun, but every day, that dies. Flowers of orange and black, they can't live forever either. Almost a year later I celebrate, [with my partner] a milestone anniversary in Paris. I took the idea there, for surely I'd find inspiration. But the death of Jane Birkin gets in the way and being the ghouls we are, we attended her memorial service. I read about her life, that her bond with Serge Gainsbourg extended well past them being lovers but got stuck with the question of have they met again in the afterlife. Night at the Gainsbourg house, the beauty of Montmartre Cemetery, I try steering the song to when they were lovers but it collapses, leaving only the funeral imagery intact. Somehow it's not ready to be written so it's hidden away... As 2023 is closing the sudden departure of a close friend rocks many musicians in Melbourne and death again takes centre stage. Too young, this triggers lots of life and death questions again as Nocturna decides this is the music she loves the most. As all these events collide it's the unwritten song that calls to be finished, to mark this moment in time. Finally I allow the song to be what it always wanted. Without proof of an afterlife, I'm resigned to never seeing my friend again, but honoured to be one of the custodians of his memory. Maybe I'm wrong and we do meet in the afterlife."
With powerful vocals and an immersive atmosphere, Velatine consistently deliver tracks with an undeniable, immediate allure. Though their presence in the underground music scene is low-key, it remains quietly commanding.
ZR