VŌS comprises of R’n’B entranced singer, Dawn Moss and Scandipop loving co-writer Palmer. Self-written and produced, the duo have brought their unlikely mix of ice and fire to a point with ‘Patience’, their first single – a proud unsigned release. The two met at a jam and fumbled through a Lianne La Havas track, a shared inspiration. One moment of reading lyrics and chords off an iPhone led to the past year, creating a collision of two sounds. Their blend of synthesis and stories of highs and lows is as familiar as the London streets that provide the song’s setting.
We chatted to them recently about their R&B Scandi Electro pop….
Hi there, how are you and what are you up to today?
Dawn: We’re great thank you. Just sat chatting about politics. Rock ‘n’ Roll!
To those not familiar with you, how would you describe your sound?
Robin: A marriage of R’n’B and Scandi Electro Pop.
What are the 5 albums that have influenced you the most?
Lianne La Havas – Is Your Love Big Enough
Bon Iver – Bon Iver
Ben Howard – Every Kingdom
Alina Baraz – Urban Flora
James Blake – Overgrown
Lianne La Havas – Is Your Love Big Enough
Bon Iver – Bon Iver
Ben Howard – Every Kingdom
Alina Baraz – Urban Flora
James Blake – Overgrown
Which other artists are you into at the moment and why?
Dawn: Stormzy ‘cos his music rocks and he seems like a legend! Drake makes me want to get on the dance floor and Jorja smith who has an incredible voice and maturity for her age.
Robin: SOHN is forever bringing new sounds to the table, which I find super inspiring. I’m a big fan of how Sylvan Esso fuse rawness and synths and I really dig Banks for ever raising the creative bar in the world of Pop.
Robin: SOHN is forever bringing new sounds to the table, which I find super inspiring. I’m a big fan of how Sylvan Esso fuse rawness and synths and I really dig Banks for ever raising the creative bar in the world of Pop.
Are there any key pieces of equipment that you are using to define your sound?
Robin: Old analogue synths are a big part of our music, as part of our live show we’re gigging with a Moog and a Prophet. We combine these with creating and messing with samples of a mix of voices and odd percussion instruments, doing as best as we can to make a new sound.
What would you say some of the challenges artists face today in the music industry?
Robin: Old analogue synths are a big part of our music, as part of our live show we’re gigging with a Moog and a Prophet. We combine these with creating and messing with samples of a mix of voices and odd percussion instruments, doing as best as we can to make a new sound.
Where do you gather songwriting inspiration?
Dawn: Generally from anything around me, whether it be something I’m reading in the news or personal experience.
Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting your music together?
Robin: It changes from track to track – we’ve ranged from challenging ourselves to starting a brand new track every 30 minutes to one of us coming with a jam or with the skeleton of a song. More often than not we sit down and try a tonne of ideas out together and see where that gets us, but ultimately beyond a point the story of the song takes over the creative process.
What’s the best gig you have ever done and why?
Robin: Our first ever gig at the Alley Cat was awesome, so much energy from the audience.
Robin: Our first ever gig at the Alley Cat was awesome, so much energy from the audience.
And the worst?
Dawn: I’m sure that’s yet to come…
If you weren’t a musician what would you be?
Dawn: I always wanted to be in MI5, but I probably shouldn’t tell you that.
Robin: I’m in MI5.
Robin: I’m in MI5.
Do you have any particular gigs or festivals that you dream about playing?
Dawn: Glasto
Robin: I’m trying to get her in so we can play my mates stage, can anyone help…?!
Robin: I’m trying to get her in so we can play my mates stage, can anyone help…?!
If you could perform alongside any other band or artist, living or dead, who would it be?
Dawn: Depends if you’re talking classic or new. New for me would be Stormzy or Drake. Old would be Michael Jackson or Spice Girls. Haha!
Robin: Bon Iver’s latest live show setup blew me away, raw acoustic instruments with live electronics. Yes please.
Dawn: Depends if you’re talking classic or new. New for me would be Stormzy or Drake. Old would be Michael Jackson or Spice Girls. Haha!
Robin: Bon Iver’s latest live show setup blew me away, raw acoustic instruments with live electronics. Yes please.
Do you have any information regarding upcoming releases, projects or gigs in the pipeline that you would like to tell us about?
We’re currently planning a live session at Abbey Road, which will be a big tick on the bucket list for both of us! And coming up on the 13th June we’re playing upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s!
