Lost Velvet crafts cinematic soundscapes that blend shoegaze, grunge, and dream pop. In this interview, they explore emotional depth, creative instincts, and the immersive world behind “Wasted.”
1. Let’s
start with “Wasted” – it’s dark, dreamy, and hypnotic. What was the emotional
or conceptual spark behind this track?
"Wasted"
began with a drum beat and bassline that Rob built while we were listening to a
lot of A Perfect Circle. That groove became the foundation. Lyrically, it
explores addiction, detachment, and the kind of isolated, solipsistic numbness
that feels very present in modern life. “It’s like I’m not really here” – the
lyrics capture that sense of disconnection.
At the same
time, the sound follows mood and atmosphere rather than genre. We were aiming
for something immersive and emotional—dark, dreamy, but with weight.
2. BBC
Introducing recently selected “Endless” – how did that feel, and what kind of
doors has it opened for you so far?
It was
surreal hearing it on the radio—one of those “oh wow” moments. BBC Introducing
is known for spotlighting artists at early stages, so we were excited and
grateful for the play. That said, it was just a single local spin so far, so
it’s hard to gauge what kind of doors it may open—but it’s encouraging.
Hopefully the next few singles will help us connect more widely and get picked
up again by radio.
3.
You’re known for blending atmospheric shoegaze with grungy post-rock and pop.
How did you arrive at this unique sound?
It honestly
came from following feeling over genre. We’re both drawn to music that creates
a world you can disappear into—textured, immersive, moody. But we also love the
raw, instinctive quality of grunge and the hooks you get in pop. Rather than
copying a scene or aiming to “sound like” something specific, we just build
what feels right for the song. Sometimes that means layering and density, other
times it means space and restraint.
Rob’s early
writing was heavily inspired by bands like Radiohead, and production-wise, the
big ‘90s American sound. But when we added Mel’s voice into the mix, it shifted
the emotional tone and gave us the freedom to explore textures we hadn’t
before. We’re now being recognized as shoegaze, post rock, dark wave and dream
pop—but in truth, it’s just the sum of what we both naturally bring to the
table.
4.
Robert and Melissa, your dual vocals are a key element in Lost Velvet’s identity.
How do you approach vocal arrangement and interplay in the studio?
We don’t
have defined roles like lead and backing vocals—our voices are more like two
instruments in a wider arrangement. Sometimes we blend together, other times we
create harmonies or contrasts, depending on the emotion of the moment. Mel has
a big range, so we can play with octaves or subtle shifts to create texture.
We
experiment a lot in the studio—layering, stripping back, trying things that
don’t always work but sometimes surprise us. It’s not about who’s “in front,”
it’s about how the vocals serve the mood of the track.
5. The
Wild Is Calling described your sound as “graciously bridging the gap between
atmospheric and aggressive.” Do you consciously balance those two worlds when
writing, or is it more instinctive?
Definitely
instinctive. We're drawn to contrast—delicate vs. heavy, ethereal vs. abrasive.
That kind of tension is part of our emotional landscape. Some songs start in a
quiet, almost cinematic space, and then break into something much darker or
more intense. It’s not premeditated—it’s just the way the songs seem to want to
move.
We both
contribute different emotional energies, and that keeps the sound from sitting
in one place for too long. It becomes a kind of emotional balancing act, but it
happens naturally.
6. Your
music feels cinematic, like it belongs in a lost ‘90s indie film. Are you inspired
by visual media or film when writing music?
Absolutely.
We’re both very visual, and film is a massive influence on both our sound and
aesthetic. When we’re writing, we often imagine scenes from a movie that
doesn’t exist yet. There’s something about the stillness, surrealism, and
broken beauty of ‘90s indie films that really resonates with us—those hazy,
emotionally charged atmospheres.
Our
visuals—videos, photoshoots, artwork—reflect that too: forests, smoke, mirrors,
grain, dreamlike imagery. It’s all part of the same world we’re trying to build
with the music.
7.
There’s a lot of emotion and texture in “Wasted.” What role does production play
in shaping that immersive sonic atmosphere?
Production
plays a huge role, but we try to keep it organic. We don’t rely heavily on
synths—most of what you hear comes from layering guitars and vocals. On Wasted,
for example, the verse guitars were recorded in six separate layers, each with
a slightly different tone.
Vocally, we
record multiple takes—sometimes even running Mel’s voice through a Kaoss Pad
live while Rob automates effects in real time. The Mellotron is our only
synth-like instrument, and it appears subtly in both Wasted and Endless. The
aim is always texture, not polish.
8. Being
a duo, how do you handle the creative process – from writing and arranging to
recording and performing?
Rob usually
starts by building the musical mood—guitars, drums, the structure. Melissa
brings in vocal textures and thematic concepts, and from there we flesh
everything out together. There’s a lot of back and forth, and we’re both
comfortable pushing and challenging ideas.
We
self-produce in Rob’s home studio, layering things up ourselves, refining and
editing until it feels right. For live shows, we’re planning how to bring that
same immersive energy to the stage— with visuals and sound that match the
intensity of the recordings.
9.
What’s the story behind the name “Lost Velvet”? Does it represent something specific
to your vision or aesthetic?
It’s kind
of a cinematic mash-up—a homage to Lost Highway and Blue Velvet, two David
Lynch films that both explore surreal, disjointed emotional landscapes. That
strange beauty, darkness, tension and longing really fits the atmosphere of our
music. The name just felt right.
10.
You’ve built a strong identity on social platforms. How important is visual branding
and social presence in expressing Lost Velvet’s world?
It’s a huge
part of what we do. The music is only one piece—we want everything from the
videos to our Instagram posts to pull people into the same space. A lot of our
themes involve isolation, memory, longing, and liminal spaces, and our visuals
reflect that: slow motion, shadows, forests, smoke, mirrors...
We’re not
just posting to promote, we extend the mood of the songs into every corner of
what we share. Social media becomes a kind of dream journal for the project.
11.
Looking at the wider alt-rock scene in the UK, where do you see yourselves fitting
in – or not fitting in at all?
We
definitely don’t sit neatly in one lane. People have called us genre-blurring,
and we’re happy with that. There’s a cinematic, post-rock influence in what we
do, but also shoegaze, grunge, dark wave, even some pop sensibility in the
melodies.
The UK
scene is beautifully diverse right now, and while we might not slot into a
specific trend, we’re carving out a sound that’s emotionally raw, atmospheric,
and a bit haunted. We’re not chasing trends—we’re just making music that feels
honest and real.
12.
Finally, what’s next for Lost Velvet? Is “Wasted” part of a larger project, and
can fans expect more releases or live shows soon?
Yes—Wasted
is part of a four-track EP, which will also include a cover. We’re aiming to
release our debut album before the end of the year. We’re also working on
building our live setup to bring the full immersive experience to the stage.
There’s a lot more to come.
Lost Velvet (@lostvelvetofficial) • Photos et vidéos Instagram
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