Interview Series #18: Anastasia Vronski

The NO PART OF IT Interview series was a strain of questions sent to a number of different people between February and March 2019. Each entry was scheduled chronologically to be thrust upon the world on a monthly basis since then. Each individual is introduced informally as if they were being discussed at a bar.

Anastasia Vronski is a bit mysterious for me, as I've been aware of her work for over ten years, and been in touch on social media, but she has never been very revelatory.  I know that she is from Russia, and on two different occasions when I was corresponding with her with regard to releases, she was travelling somewhere and with no permanent residence.   I have come to enjoy her work quite a bit.  I have touched on this a bit in my promotion for the 6 tape set that she is on, but her work, like her presentation in general, has a morose quality to it, while also imbued with a positivity and a lust for life, at least to me.  She goes from musique concret to black metal and a lot of things inbetween; field recordings, drones, doom, dub, and the like.  I thought I might be able to shed some light on the matter with this interview.  I hope you enjoy it. 
 

1.  What kinds of things have you been getting into lately?

I have always listened to a lot of music in various genres. Recently I have been re-visiting some of my favorite pieces of music through albums I made on my Facebook account. One is for songs and the other is for instrumental pieces, so basically I've been listening to a lot of things I already know and love but had not heard in a long time. As for recent discoveries, I am really into the recent Merzbow albums. It might be a cliché but I think Merzbow is really my favorite Noise artist because of the diversity of his output. From DADA collages to cut-up Harsh Noise through Free Jazz drumming, he has done it all and I value this variety. At the other end of the spectrum, I have been enjoying some Bob Dylan live bootlegs, especially from the ''Time Out Of Mind'' era. I'm also discovering noise from 2000-2010 that has a different vibration to it, such as Birds Of Delay, The Skaters, Vodka Soap etc.

2.  What you do, do you do it as an artist, or is it a hobby?  

Meaning of artist and hobbyist is complicated and not everybody agrees about it . What I can say is I have a job that takes all my time , now above this I study so I have not much time for making music and icons but I consider these activities as vital for me. It is a need

Before I was on Facebook I had no attention to photography . And discovering great photographers I began to make photos on my own, I had never before and quickly enough it changed all my views of Nature and the world , I began to see it through a lense , I had a camera in my brain and I had to make an effort not thinking like this , I felt it created a filter between me and the world ,( but at same time made me appreciate it more too ) but for music it is the same , I am constantly listening to noises, but I am used to it since I was little , it is my world so I don’t feel a filter.

With icons you express your creativity through very rigid rules .This is another experience . I cannot say it is a hobby as it is spirituality.

3.  How would you describe what you do?

It depends because I do many different genres. Noise-wise I would say I went from harsh to more drone-oriented sounds. I also try to incorporate noisy elements in otherwise ''electronic music''. I like it when the music is somewhat functional, when you can use it to relax, or maybe dance to. Some of my recent tracks are almost danceable, but always with something twisted about them. I'd say what I do is not ''pure'' as in purely in one genre or category. I wouldn't like to limit myself like that. It might not be a good way to get recognition, because I think people like to know exactly what they are going to get with an ''artist'' but I don't mind, so be it. I like the fact that it's not possible to categorize me as ''noise'' or ''electronic'' etc.

4.  How would you describe your creative progression over the years, in a brief synopsis?

I taught myself computer and then music on computer . I started with Noise . Usually I record sounds with a small recorder and then arrange the sounds with the computer, sequence them. Sometimes I play live and record but most of the time I sequence pre-recorded material. Some time ago I decided to do only what I wanted whatever my mood (see previous answer). I learnt a bit of guitar, a bit of bass and percussions. Then I discovered field recording, Religious music, foreign music and it has inspired me to use my own field recordings and samples. I really like working with samples, putting them in a different context. I'm not worried about having to pay for using these samples as I don't sell my music. So, to describe my creative process nowadays, I usually start with a specific sound I have, it could be a field recording, a sound I made or a sample, and build around it. It sets the tone and often it gives me the title of the track too. If it doesn't work for me I start again with a different set of sounds.

5.  How would you describe your philosophy?

In music : don’t make pay for music , don’t try to please for success , do what I want .

In life : try not to hurt.

6.  Do you believe in psychics, magic, ghosts, or gods?  If no, then maybe you'll share your favorite conspiracy theory (whether you believe it or not).  

I have my shaman , she helped me , and she taught me some things , like mind travel and healing plants . She wanted to initiate me to become shaman but I was not ready .
It’s difficult to imagine that this universe exists without being created , so there is almost certainly a ‘’God ‘’  but no proof that he is good . Jesus Christ was a good person , a revolutionary , only for that reason I can doubt and believe I need to know more .

I had 3 experiences making me believe in powers . 3 persons have hurt me badly , really ugly , and I wished very strong that something bad happened to them, and I imagined what it would be . I didn’t cast a spell , I just was thinking of revenge because I had been so wounded .
Not very long after I learnt that what I had imagined for them had happened . I was afraid because I didn’t know if it was me It was a terrible coincidence . , I didn’t really wanted what happened , only I was hurt and at one moment I needed a symbolic act to appease my heart
After this when I was getting angry and I was beginning to have some idea like that , I guess everybody has in anger , I quickly stepped back in my thoughts but still something happened to the person but not exactly what I had in mind . It happened not so strong or somewhat different .as if the process was interupted . So now I am very careful , even if I am not sure if these events were related to me . I avoid thinking of revenge and try to forgive the person and forget them.
I now try to see if I can bring something good , instead of bad , but starting with little things because I have to be careful, if I wish something good to someone it can bring something bad in their life . You never know the consequences of what you want , it can be worse if you do it for others
Maybe one day I will return to my shaman ,last summer a lightning struck the house where I was staying and an electrical device exploded near my ear . (I got tinnitus and hyperacousia because of it).
I didn't realize it was a sign. But now my life came to a stop , what I wanted I will never have , , so maybe it was a call of shaman .

I have a theory too , linked to climate change . I think it is so incredible that the lpowers that be carry on leading the humanity to its end , including themselves and their family, that I begin to believe they have a back up plan, , it could be going on another planet hiding it because if people knew it they would attack them , kill them and stop all this madness . So these people carry on to make profits until they will leave in secret , and it will be too late for the rest of us .

7.  What would you say was your most definitive experience?

The death of my mother when I was 5

8.  Do you have any side projects that I am not aware of? If not, what is something you'd like people to know about you, that you don't think anyone would ever ask?

No side projects

9.  Would you care to name any theoretical "desert island" records, or at least releases that you think are approaching your concept of "perfect"?  

Duos for Doris Keith Rowe & John Tilbury , Arseny Avraamov - Symphony Of Factory Sirens , Tchaikovsky Hymn of the Cherubim ,Erik Satie Gnossiennes 1 Gymnopedies My box of Shostakovish String Quartets , Stravinski Rite of Spring  Merzbow 4 Karasu 13 japanese birds

10.  What is the earliest childhood memory you can (or are willing to) recall?   

I choose one happy one little boy defending me at school when I was attacked and he would be my friend all my life and even become my adoptive brother later . My Seva.

11.  Are you able to appreciate other peoples' creative work regardless of their personal shortcomings or inherent flaws?  To what extent?  

I am able to see there are good things , that I like or love especially if I have known the work before

learning about the person flaws, but once I know it I can’t enjoy as much it anymore , like with Nietszche and it’s misogyny .

12.  Do you have any heroes or heroines?  Who are they?  Feel free to add anything that makes them stand out.  

Simone de Beauvoir writing her book The Second Sex in 1949 seems to me visionary .and brought the most important awareness to women .

13.  What would you like to have on your epitaph?  Or what is your favorite quote?  Over time well, it all goes away.    it comes from a french song .