With his latest single, ‘Virtual Love‘ smashing the airwaves right now, we took the opportunity to speak to the artist, ViennaCC about the track and what inspired him to create it.
Your music plays on radio stations around the world. Why do you think your sound resonates so widely?
I might be making music that people – and maybe even radio DJs – like. Who knows? If I had the perfect formula, I’d be a billionaire by now.
What inspires the consistently upbeat energy in your work? Would you describe yourself as a positive person?
I see myself as a positive person. Most of my songs carry an upbeat mindset. There’s already enough negativity in the news. Even though ‘Virtual Love’ ends in sadness, maybe it makes people think – and eventually smile. And if someone listening has been fooled by a love scammer, I hope I can offer them a little comfort.
Do you have personal experience with ‘Virtual Love’? What initially inspired this exploration of love in the digital age?
I sometimes get messages from young girls saying they’ve fallen in love with my photo. Their messages are surprisingly well written – or let’s say, professional. But after just a few exchanges, they start asking for money. I’ve seen reports on this kind of scam, and I know it’s not just happening to me. Needless to say, I never reply to those oh-so-tempting messages.
What was your favourite part of crafting the song? What is your favorite sonic or lyrical element of the track?
Honestly, I enjoy the whole song. But if I had to choose, maybe the two choruses stand out the most. The first one is filled with hope, and by the last chorus, the truth comes out – I’ve fallen into a fake social media account.
Tell us about drawing inspiration from the line “Virtual love in my computer” for the concept of the ‘Virtual Love’ music video. What kind of imagery did this line evoke?
When the song was finished, I thought: “Nice – but how do I visually express a virtual, non-existent concept?” A computer-generated puppet as my lovely dream lady? The idea came from the line: “Virtual love in my computer”. So I placed my dream lady inside a computer, surrounded by circuits. Abstract, but intriguing.
Do you think people should take ‘Virtual Love’ as a cautionary tale?
Yes, if I can help someone avoid falling into a trap and losing money, I’d feel like I did something worthwhile. I don’t want to sound like a school principal wagging a finger and warning people about the evils out there. These things happen – and I sing about them. If it gets someone thinking, all the better.
What do you hope ‘Virtual Love’ brings to your listeners?
I want people to have fun. Entertainment should come first. But if someone hears the message in my song and it sparks a thought, that makes me happy. And if it helps someone avoid being tricked, even better.
Is ‘Virtual Love’ part of a larger narrative that you’re building? What inspires you to explore technological themes in your work?
Being active online is a big part of my life – so why not sing about it? I worked in IT for a long time, so I’ve never been uncomfortable around computers. And they’re becoming more and more integrated into our lives. Elvis sang about ‘Love Letters’ – today, I’d sing about ‘Emails’.
You can watch the music video for ‘Virtual Love’ below, and find out more about ViennaCC and his music online on his official website, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram.
