In Conversation With: Vukovi
Glasgow’s Vukovi have just released their high energy second album ‘Fall Better’ Despite being fueled with infectious pop and rock riffs, the album sees the band tackles the subject of OCD and the world it creates - also a condition that singer Janine Shilstone was recently diagnosed with. She took a moment to talk to us in more depth about it and how the album came together.
Right, so here you are, back with the second album! How do you feel ‘Fall Better’ differs from your last album? Is there any meaning behind the title?
I think there’s a massive improvement in songwriting, there’s more of a dystopian element to this album as well. Fall Better basically means to cope with struggling better. Whether it’s ocd or mental illness it can be paralysing but when you decide to fight back you know you’re still going to struggle but you’ve found the strength to struggle better and not let it consume you.
There is a connection between the band and Andrew Lloyd Webber, where Janine was auditioning to be Dorothy for Wizard of Oz. But something hit you when you reached the final stages of the completion, that this just wasn't you. Can you tell us how it felt and what went through your head during that experience?
I hated every second being surrounded by falseness and desperation. People that would sacrifice their own mothers to get a part in a show where you’re playing someone else. I hated being encouraged to be someone else. I was asked to sing for him and he said “do you want to be here?” I said “no, I don’t want to be someone else and it’s taken this experience to realise that. He said “you don’t belong in the world where you play anyone but yourself. Your body language, your attitude, your voice screams individuality. Now go be a rock star.
Do you feel that experience shaped you to the performer you are today? And influenced your creative process?
It definitely made me more confident in myself and not to doubt my creations.
The record is influenced by the condition of OCD, which Janine was recently diagnosed with. Can you tell us how it affects you as a person and its involvement in this album?
About a year and half ago I was diagnosed with an OCD called “Thought Action Fusion”. Definition: a term that describes the mistaken belief that having a thought might make it more possible that the thought will come true. Since I can remember I was convinced that there was something following me around making decisions for me and making bad/good things happen to me (mostly bad). I thought everyone thought like that so since being diagnosed writing about it, describing it, referring to it as a person/thing/he/she depending how I’m feeling that day. For me this album has been my way of coming to terms with it and accepting that this is something/someone that will probably never leave me. Making friends with the demon that follows me around is the main theme of the album lyrically.
Do you feel OCD is a thing people are starting to open up about more?
Nowhere enough but if more people with influence are talking about it and humanising it I think that’ll encourage others massively.
Is there a stand out track or lyric from the album, that you are very proud of? If so, which one and why?
Violent Minds purely because it was written when my ocd was at its worse and had this rage that I struggled to keep control of. The lyrics in this track are a good representation of being trying to fight back.
These tracks sound like they have been written for the live environment, when are you next hitting the road?
The week the albums out (24th January) and then looking to do a bigger tour in May inc Europe :)
Now the album is out there, what next?
New music new music new music. Not rest for the wicked.
