Over these last few years, emerging artist Victor Sebastian has been able to carve a distinctive direction for himself in the indie-pop arena. And with his recent comeback singles ‘Hasta La Pasta’ and ‘Last Call’ continuing that dynamic ascent, he recently returned once again to unveil his shimmering new single ‘LA Sober’.
So with the new track doing the rounds, we joined him in conversation to find out more about his background and what he has planned for the future as well.
–
Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in music?
Music’s been my shadow since I can remember. But it really started when I was thirteen. I was a theater kid tasked with singing a song in class. I was all set to belt out “Daddy DJ,” but my mom stepped in and suggested “Hey Jude” by The Beatles. She handed me this CD with twenty-seven of their number-one hits.
So there I am, working my way through the album to track twenty-one, “Hey Jude.” But somewhere along the way, between “Love Me Do” and “Let It Be,” something clicked. I got hooked! Hook, line, and sinker. These guys could write, sing, play—all of it. Suddenly, it hit me like a bolt of lightning: “Wait a minute, I can do that too.” And Bob’s your uncle.
Who are your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your sound?
I like to think of it this way: you walk into a perfume store, and after sniffing a dozen fragrances, your nose goes numb and overloaded. They hand you a jar of coffee beans to reset your senses. The Beatles are my coffee beans. Whenever the musical noise gets too overwhelming, I go back to them to recalibrate, to remember what it’s supposed to feel like.
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you decide to pursue music seriously?
I just never stopped. It felt right: cathartic, therapeutic, like exorcising demons. Not doing music was never on the table. It’s in my bones, part of my DNA. So I kept at it, and then things started happening. As long as the songs keep coming, I’ll keep at it.
Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process?
When I’m writing for others, it’s like a therapy session, digging into their psyche and building a conceptual framework. But when it’s just me, I start feeling this strange energy; could be grandness, sadness, some emotion brewing inside for days. It’s like the universe is tuning me into a frequency, and there’s this fleeting window where I can snatch the idea out of the ether and download it straight into a song.
Sometimes it happens in half an hour—a lightning strike. Miss that window, and it’s gone or not as potent. Of course, you wade through a swamp of lousy songs to get to the gems. But the best ones come easily, like they always existed.
How do you find inspiration for your music and lyrics?
Inspiration sneaks up in random phrases I overhear, odd things I spot, bizarre thoughts that pop into my head, or even the mundane ones. It’s all about keeping my eyes and ears open. Sometimes I just spill out how I feel onto paper. Other times, a melody worms its way into my brain, and I’m mumbling nonsense syllables, trying to decode what they’re hinting at, seeing if they morph into actual words. It’s a bit of a treasure hunt, really.
What themes or messages do you hope listeners take away from your music?
I’m hoping folks catch a bit of a laissez-faire vibe—don’t sweat the small stuff. After all, we’re hurtling through the cosmos on a spinning rock, clueless about how consciousness even works. It’s both magnificent and absurd. Sometimes, you just have to zoom out, take a breath, and be present; easier said than done, I know. I try to strike a chord between sadness and joy, this optimistic melancholy. It’s a peculiar shade, but it draws me in.
What challenges have you faced as an emerging artist in the music industry?
Plenty. There’s a tidal wave of about 100,000 new songs hitting Spotify every day. Everyone’s scrambling, pulling the same marketing tricks—I was guilty of it, too. I churned out the so-called “pop songs,” but let’s be honest, I’m not going to out Harry Styles or Bieber. And now there’s AI music, too.
I realized I needed my own unique fingerprint. Sounds pretentious, I know, but with vintage pop, I found it. Took me 31 years, a mountain of songs, and learning the craft inside out before I could start bending the rules. “Hasta La Pasta,” “LA Sober”—these tracks sound like me, not me trying to be someone else. They resonate with whatever it is I am.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your musical journey so far?
Hands down, sharing this wild journey with my brother and manager, Simon, and my producer, David. I’ve been surrounded by incredible people who actually believe in this ridiculous idea; it’s humbling. Collaborating with top-notch songwriters and producers in LA has been a trip. I feel like the luckiest guy alive to be able to do this.
How do you stay true to yourself and your artistry in a constantly evolving industry?
I just tune out the noise. I’m content with liking what I like, and I don’t chase trends or what I’m “supposed” to follow. The artists who really shake things up – like Chappell Roan or Billie Eilish – they march to their own beat. If you’re constantly chasing someone else’s groove, you’ll never find your own.
What can fans expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or tours?
There’s some exciting stuff brewing—can’t spill the beans just yet, but stay tuned. Putting out more music is certain.
Where do you see yourself and your music career in the next five years?
Fingers crossed, we’ll have some hits under our belt, carving out a niche that lets me make a good living doing what I love. I want to dive deep into the vintage pop scene; we’ve been getting good vibes, and I think it’s got legs. If the stars align and the algorithms smile upon us, there’s room to build something big—for me and my team at ColliderScopeCollective.
–
Listen to Victor Sebastian’s new single ‘LA Sober’ below.
