Q&A: This is Vannorte

“I’ve always been a bit outside of the genre and that perspective hasn't changed.” - Vannorte

It was a pleasure to recently interview Vannorte! We discuss his new album, how the lofi music scene has changed over the years, his musical goals for 2025, and so much more! I’m a big fan of his and I definitely learned a lot about the man behind the music! Be sure to check out the playlist below at the end and continue to support his future work!

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

How did you get started making lofi music?  

A musician I played with, maybe in 2016, mentioned it as a style. It was a natural genre extension of the mellow guitar jams I was doing at the time.

Which lofi hip hop artists do you look up to or are inspired by? Is there someone on your wish list to collaborate with in the future?

There are a lot of excellent musicians and producers in the genre. Lately I've been finding inspiration from Wun Two, Xander, and C4C. I've always enjoyed the collaborative process and making something greater than the sum of its parts.

You recently released an album with Nick Wolf called "Second Chance". Why did you two name it that and how was it like to work with Nick on this project?

Nick is great to work with and for a while, we had an insatiable collaborative energy. I think we averaged several tracks a week for almost a year and released a few albums and lots of singles during that time. For various reasons, life got in the way and that energy came to a pause. “Second Chance” was the collaborative restart after taking a long year off.

Your first album came out in 2018. In the six years since, have you noticed major changes in the music industry and in the way you release/promote your music?

Chilled Cow is gone. It seems more competitive and crowded and everyone seems more hungry to monetize what they can. Seems like some of the platforms are more exclusive as well. I've always been a bit outside of the genre and that perspective hasn't changed.

What are your musical goals for the rest of this year and for 2025?

Continue to find joy and passion in the process. It's nice to see growth in the statistics as well.

What would a perfect day be like for you?

Early morning surf, music and coffee, some intellectually rewarding work, sunset walk with the family, and a slow cooked meal at home.