The magic of the Midwest inspired Luke Eisner in more ways than one. Between learning card tricks and diving into the fantasy worlds of fiction, it was only a matter of time before those interests crossed over into his other passion: music.
He played in his fair share of pop-punk bands in the Milwaukee area, but became intrigued in electronic music as he prepared to attend the University of Southern California. Stepping into his first classroom at the Thornton School of Music, he found himself choosing an open seat next to a young man with equally long locks.
Gus Ross found his own magic across the pond, busking on the streets of London and brushing up on the history of jazz before he too found an interest in electronic music. Their mutual respect for Swedish DJ Avicii started a conversation that would become an unbreakable bond. They pulled a name out of a metaphorical hat, and VOILÀ. So it began.
Frat parties on the USC campus helped develop their stage presence, because nothing can prepare an artist for crumbling stages and power outages quite like a room full of intoxicated college students. They even took the show on the road, including a memorable performance at the world’s largest music festival, Summerfest. It was there that Eisner first realized Ross could sing, and that their current genre was potentially holding them back.
In the blink of an eye, they found that their favorite place was the studio. They refused to hold back their creativity once they were in there, and that passion has given them five full-length albums in five years.
“We have a purpose and we’re obsessed,” Ross said.
Despite suggestions of “slowing down”, they have found a strategy that works for them: a new song every three weeks and a double album every year. Their latest, The Last Laugh (Part I and II) totals 28 songs. The idea stemmed from their own desire of having their favorite musicians release music more frequently.
“If we’re going to be someone’s favorite band, I want to make sure they don’t have that same experience,” Eisner said. “I want them to be constantly fed with what’s going on. Music is essentially a diary, and if you’re not writing in it frequently, then you’re not really using a diary correctly.”
The repetition of releasing a new song every three weeks has not only given them the opportunity to hone in on their skills but has also turned into their biggest weapon. Ross admits it took them about six years to find their sound, but no matter which direction they went, they knew nothing was going to make them stop.
By releasing music in that manner, it grew their fanbase in a unique way. Yes, “Figure You Out” is considered the song that gave them recognition. Yet if you ask their Discord community, there is a variety of what they consider their favorite songs. This fanbase, who named themselves the Magicians, are the reason why VOILÀ just wrapped their first sold-out headlining tour.
Each night was much more than a group of people coming together to hear live music. They showed up early, bought VIP tickets, gifted each other homemade bracelets and proudly donned light up rabbit ears throughout the entire night.
“They’re so graceful with each other,” Eisner said. “The way that they interact with each other is unlike any community that I’ve ever seen. I can trust all of these people with each other. If we never showed up tonight, I think that everyone would [still] have a great time.”
On the artist side, there was something about their New York show in particular that just clicked. It felt like a realization that they were on the right track. They locked eyes with people who travelled to get to the show; people who saved their money for a chance to see them live and bring home a piece of merchandise to commemorate their night.
“We both felt it afterwards,” Ross said. “When we were meeting people after the show and having that experience in real time, getting the energy from the front row, it felt like people were having the time of their life.”
Magic tricks happen on and off the stage, but this wasn’t a performative act. This was a genuine, emotional connection. They have observed that live events seem to be more important than ever. Concerts are a chance to be in a room full of people that all share the same desire to feel less lonely for a few hours. No phones, no news; just music.
They look back on their college years and realize that handling the obstacles of playing at frat parties only better prepared them for tours like this one. Ross said that it taught them to have a cool head about technical difficulties and to have faith that it will all work out in the end. Eisner adds that it also taught them humility. Making mistakes in front of a group of people is what keeps their egos in check.
Eisner also credits their college years for learning the importance of storytelling. With a major originally in screenwriting, everything he learned in those courses ultimately became his most powerful tool for songwriting.
“Screenwriting is storytelling with dialogue,” he said “That’s really what music is too.”
In VOILÀ’s world, everyone is a Magician… but they are the ones with one more trick up their sleeves.
