The Soul of an Artist (with Human Barbie and veronicavon — Chris Hackman and Xuan Nguyen)
Chris and Xuan join the pod to discuss artistic serendipity, co-writing, unexpected choices, and how recording choices inform genre. Veronicavon, the brainchild of songwriters Chris Hackman (Human Barbie) and Xuan Nguyen (Xuan), emerged in 2020 with a (secret) mission to explore uncharted horizons in lo-fi pop. Their universe of grainy synths, cassette-drenched drums, and warbling guitars, complemented by Nguyen’s enchanting vocals, creates a wistful, playful, and instantly addictive dreamscape. Flood Magazine dubbed them "casually devastating," and their hypnotic bedroom aesthetic quickly garnered a passionate audience, with over 500k streams on Spotify in their first year. They've been featured on editorial playlists like ‘Fresh Finds’, ‘Borderless’, and ‘Fuzzy’. Keep a close eye on this duo, as they follow in the footsteps of alt-pop icons Men I Trust, Alvvays, and Japanese Breakfast. Human Barbie, an analog fantasy formed in 2018 by songwriter Christopher Leopold, weaves wistful pop, shoegaze, and psychedelia into a melancholy glowscape. Their debut album ‘Get a Life’ (Poor Man Records, 2020) explores personal heartbreak through psychedelic pop, meticulously recorded on vintage equipment. ‘Get a Life’ received acclaim from fans and critics, featuring in Brooklyn Vegan, BIRP!, Indie Shuffle, KCRW, Buzzbands.la, and Spotify playlists like Undercurrents, IRL ANGEL, and Fresh Finds. The album was a top seller on Bandcamp, with songs used in commercials, including a Facebook radio ad and DISCO’s 2022 SXSW mixtape. Inspired by its success, Leopold crafted the patient and expansive EP ‘no worries’ in a Baltimore warehouse, channeling 90’s-era shoegaze nostalgia. Be sure to check out their music and follow at: https://www.instagram.com/therealhumanbarbie/ https://www.instagram.com/vvsohot/ And to hear my music and visit the links, https://scoobertdoobert.pizza Podcast Produced by Beformer