Interview By Meghan Killimade
Tell us how Victim Or Victor got started and who are the members & instrumentation?
Victim Or Victor started as an acoustic act by front woman Steph Lussier -- that's me! I'd perform original music acoustic every Tuesday night at Strange Brew Pub for open mic night. Going there every week, performing every week, I made lots of new friends and eventually recruited band members when I was recording my first acoustic EP, "Choices". During the process, I had guest musicians play on a couple tracks and those musicians became my fellow band members. Since then, I've only had one lineup change -- we got a new lead guitarist. The band currently consist of myself, rhythm guitarist and lead singer, Steph Lussier, bassist Dan Jackson, lead guitarist Connor LeBlanc, and drummer Danny Fleet.
Victim Or Victor started as an acoustic act by front woman Steph Lussier -- that's me! I'd perform original music acoustic every Tuesday night at Strange Brew Pub for open mic night. Going there every week, performing every week, I made lots of new friends and eventually recruited band members when I was recording my first acoustic EP, "Choices". During the process, I had guest musicians play on a couple tracks and those musicians became my fellow band members. Since then, I've only had one lineup change -- we got a new lead guitarist. The band currently consist of myself, rhythm guitarist and lead singer, Steph Lussier, bassist Dan Jackson, lead guitarist Connor LeBlanc, and drummer Danny Fleet.
How did you come up with the name?
I wanted the band name to represent the spectrum of life, that being good and bad, yin and yang. I was brainstorming a bunch of names and was leaning hard towards calling us Negative Times Negative, (because in math that equals a positive). But one day I was watching American Horror Story, one of the characters was talking to another character after some circumstances had happened and caused problems for them. The character said, "you can either choose to be a victim, or you can choose to be a victor." And that was it. It clicked. I knew the name to represent my music, would be Victim Or Victor. Because we all have a choice. We can't choose what happens to us, but we can choose how we react to it. We can choose to keep our chin up, and be a victor, or we can let it get to us and become a victim.
I’m hearing alternative/rock in your music – how would you describe your sound & performance to someone that isn't familiar?
I'd say we're a mix of 90's grunge, early 2000's alternative rock, and modern indie. Our lyrics are filled with emotion and metaphor.
I'd say we're a mix of 90's grunge, early 2000's alternative rock, and modern indie. Our lyrics are filled with emotion and metaphor.
Talk about your 2 new singles “Trapped In Space” and “Inspire” – what was the inspiration/meaning behind the songs and what are you hoping to get across to listeners? Also, where were they recorded?
"Inspire" was written when I was stuck in a rut and feeling like my creative spark was gone. My bassist and I both came up with the opening riff for it one day. I started playing, he asked what it was, and from there we wrote the chords for the song. We added the lyrics a couple days after. The verses are more self-deprecating while the chorus lyrics are hopeful. I'm hoping listeners can listen to this song and relax. I' m hoping it inspires people, (pun intended), to not shame themselves when they are in need of rest, or not feeling their best selves. The song "Trapped in Space" has a much deeper meaning. I wrote that as a response to learning the atrocities and grooming techniques of musicians I grew up listening to and respecting. So many stories are coming to light now, not only musicians, but actors and politicians who used their power to groom someone younger than them, or seduce someone with less power than them, into either intimate favors, or just favors in general. I myself am mostly affected by the musicians that I grew up listening to, and "Trapped in Space" is sort of a vow to never let myself let power corrupt me, and to never lose sight of what making music and performing is all about. Also my good friend Matt Barnes from Casting Shadows does guest vocals on the song and it's awesome!
Both songs were recorded at Floodwater Studios, which is Noah Feldman's studio, a friend of mine and a talented local musician.
Any plans to release an EP or album in the future or just singles for now?
We are actually releasing a full length album called "Chaotic Flow" on Friday September 13th. It's a nine track album, full band songs, except for one. We're really proud of it and can't wait to share it.
We are actually releasing a full length album called "Chaotic Flow" on Friday September 13th. It's a nine track album, full band songs, except for one. We're really proud of it and can't wait to share it.
What is your songwriting process like – do you write as a collective or do certain members do the majority of the writing and then bring it to the rest of the band?
Most of the time, I write the rhythm guitar on my acoustic, and I also write the lyrics. I will then bring the song to my band members. I might have some lead guitar/bass/drum parts in mind that I convey to them, but we tend to write the rest of the song together. I have the skeleton, rhythm and lyrics and then my band adds the skin, the bass, drums, and lead guitar.
Most of the time, I write the rhythm guitar on my acoustic, and I also write the lyrics. I will then bring the song to my band members. I might have some lead guitar/bass/drum parts in mind that I convey to them, but we tend to write the rest of the song together. I have the skeleton, rhythm and lyrics and then my band adds the skin, the bass, drums, and lead guitar.
What are some bands/musicians you listen to for inspiration/motivation?
I'm inspired by so many artists and musicians. The ones I consistently go back to and think are absolutely brilliant include Max Bemis and the band Say Anything, and Justin Pierre and the band Motion City Soundtrack. They're two of my favorite artists, they write epic songs, and are neurotic like me, so it fits.
I'm inspired by so many artists and musicians. The ones I consistently go back to and think are absolutely brilliant include Max Bemis and the band Say Anything, and Justin Pierre and the band Motion City Soundtrack. They're two of my favorite artists, they write epic songs, and are neurotic like me, so it fits.
What are some of your favorite regional venues to play and what are some you’d like to play in the future?
We really love playing 33 Golden, a little intimate dive bar in New London. Strange Brew Pub of Norwich is my stomping grounds and I will always love playing there. One of the coolest places we got to play was The Dome in Wallingford. That was amazing. We're planning on traveling in the future and would absolutely love to play house of blues in Boston or California. House of blues is classic and would be a blast. It's a goal of mine to play The Fillmore in San Francisco as well. It's a historic but small intimate venue. What are some things you think this area needs in terms of the local music scene?
I'd say we need more of the locals to come out!! We get a good amount of people at the local shows, but can always use more. It's the people who come to these shows that make it so we can keep doing the local shows. And I love meeting new people.
I'd say we need more of the locals to come out!! We get a good amount of people at the local shows, but can always use more. It's the people who come to these shows that make it so we can keep doing the local shows. And I love meeting new people.
If you could bring back one local band that doesn’t exist anymore, who would it be and why?
Oh man, a local band that doesn't exist anymore that I'd love to get back together, even just for a show to humor me, would be Angry Bears. They were a pop punk band who were up and coming back when I had just started my high school band I Was Left On A Mountain in 2012. We did a lot of gigs with them and were good friends with them. We wanted to do a DIY tour together but it never happened. My 18 year old self was just getting started then and cherished their friendship. They're all doing adult things now, killing it. I'd just love to jam with them again.
Oh man, a local band that doesn't exist anymore that I'd love to get back together, even just for a show to humor me, would be Angry Bears. They were a pop punk band who were up and coming back when I had just started my high school band I Was Left On A Mountain in 2012. We did a lot of gigs with them and were good friends with them. We wanted to do a DIY tour together but it never happened. My 18 year old self was just getting started then and cherished their friendship. They're all doing adult things now, killing it. I'd just love to jam with them again.
Any favorite local bands/musicians or businesses you want to shout out?
I want to shout out my other bands I'm in that I play bass and sing in: Living Weary, which is my friend Steven Bossie's band, and Forever Fool, my friend Drew Catchart's band. I also want to shout out Casting Shadows, my bassist's other band, and Fleet, my drummer's other band! Go check them all out!
I want to shout out my other bands I'm in that I play bass and sing in: Living Weary, which is my friend Steven Bossie's band, and Forever Fool, my friend Drew Catchart's band. I also want to shout out Casting Shadows, my bassist's other band, and Fleet, my drummer's other band! Go check them all out!
What's up next for you? Any big gigs? Goals/dreams?
We're having our album release show at Strange Brew Pub in Norwich on Friday September 13th with our friends in Haunting Titans and Sugar Cones. After our album is out, we plan to do 3-4 day runs. DIY. We're going to group states together and do mini runs. We will start, CT, RI, VA. Then make our way to NY, MA, NH. We're also planning on trying to go south and do some gigging there as well as travel east. Basically wherever we can! We have friends in bands all over and plan on setting some stuff up. We can't wait!
We're having our album release show at Strange Brew Pub in Norwich on Friday September 13th with our friends in Haunting Titans and Sugar Cones. After our album is out, we plan to do 3-4 day runs. DIY. We're going to group states together and do mini runs. We will start, CT, RI, VA. Then make our way to NY, MA, NH. We're also planning on trying to go south and do some gigging there as well as travel east. Basically wherever we can! We have friends in bands all over and plan on setting some stuff up. We can't wait!
FOLLOW
https://victimorvictormusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/victimorvictormusic
https://www.instagram.com/victimorvictorband
https://victimorvictor.bandcamp.com/
https://victimorvictormusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/victimorvictormusic
https://www.instagram.com/victimorvictorband
https://victimorvictor.bandcamp.com/
CATCH THE SHOW
Friday 9/13 @ Strange Brew Pub
86 Water Street - Norwich
9pm / $10 / 21+
9pm / $10 / 21+
Album Release Party!
LISTEN