Q&A: Vision Video’s “Balaclava Kiss” is a Haunting Anthem of Reflection
☆ BY danielle holian ☆
POST-PUNK GOTH ROCK BAND — Vision Video injects modern malaise into classic sounds of the late 70s and 80s. Their latest single, “Balaclava Kiss” is a music that both honors the traditions of contemporary goth rock and compellingly expands upon them. With this single, the band masterfully blends raw passion with fragile beauty, creating a mesmerising mix of heartfelt vulnerability and fist-pumping excitement. This combination is rapidly establishing itself as a defining characteristic of Vision Video’s sound and bolstering their increasing stature in the genre.
“Balaclava Kiss” is essentially a statement more than merely music. The single, which embodies the band’s distinctive dark but melodic sound, delivers a moving and relevant message.
Frontman Dusty Gannon finds inspiration in the striking picture of a protester wearing a mask, a potent symbol of defiance against escalating monitoring and social turmoil. The track’s lyrical foundations are driven by this visual pattern, which turns it into an anthem for demonstrators, human rights advocates, and everyone else who is fed up with the status quo.
With its powerful emotional and political resonance, “Balaclava Kiss” is a unique composition in Vision Video’s catalog.
The song is a demonstration of Vision Video’s skill at crafting menacing, alluring and scary musical environments. Urgent and rebellious, layers of shimmering guitars, pounding bass lines, and pulse-quickening percussion blend together to create a soundscape. The song’s core contrast of power and vulnerability is encapsulated in Gannon’s ethereal, yet authoritative voice.
Vision Video really shines in this sound-emotion mix, and “Balaclava Kiss” is a perfect illustration of how they can combine the political and the personal without sacrificing the genre’s signature dark charm.
The song’s theme of resistance and contemplation is emphasised by the title, which also highlights the goth rock influences of the song. In addition to solidifying Vision Video’s position as a major influence in modern goth rock, this song exemplifies the band’s ability to incorporate intensely personal and politically charged topics into their songs. They stand out in a genre where themes of introspection and melancholy are frequently connected because of their talent.
As excitement for their forthcoming album grows, “Balaclava Kiss” is a potent example of Vision Video’s musical and lyrical prowess. The band’s dedication to utilising their art as a vehicle for actual change in the world is demonstrated by this song, which encourages both introspection and action.
Vision Video’s creative goal is still unwavering as they prepare for the release of their album: to generate music that affects people viscerally, intellectually, and emotionally.
Continue reading below to find out more about Vision Video, their musical influences, the background of “Balaclava Kiss” and the importance in current music.
LUNA: Thank you for sitting down with Luna. What inspires your style and creative persona?
VISION VIDEO: I’m inspired mostly by things that push fingers into the eyes of the status quo in the name of progress and making the world better. I draw a lot of inspiration from the past as well: horror films, post punk music of the 70s/80s, existentialist literature from authors like Vonnegut Jr. Or Camus.
LUNA: Your latest single, “Balaclava Kiss” delves into heavy themes of resistance and defiance. Can you elaborate on how current socio-political climates influenced the creation of this track?
VISION VIDEO: The political climate in the US is at a boiling point within the tyranny of poor choices at the moment. We’re expected to choose between Trump, the Heritage Foundation/Project 2025, and straight up Christo-fascism, or Harris who is incredibly establishment based. Either way, both support the Israeli governments’ genocide in Palestine and militarism abroad and it’s incredibly frustrating. The song is about standing up and getting the voices of the common people out, but doing so in a non-violent, non-compliant way.
LUNA: The interplay between Dusty Gannon’s and Emily Fredock’s vocals is captivating. How do you approach crafting harmonies and vocal dynamics in your songs?
VISION VIDEO: Emily and I have really complimentary ranges and when we write, we try to find either harmonies or call and response moments that build something more beautiful and powerful than what could do individually.
LUNA: Your music often explores themes of trauma and human resilience. How do personal experiences shape the narratives in your songwriting?
VISION VIDEO: I was in the military for a long time, and then I served as a firefighter/paramedic when I left the military. Both careers gave me insights into worlds of pretty unimaginable horror, and it really formed my opinion on the preciousness of peace and life. My experience is a major driving factor to music and writing.
LUNA: Can you share the creative process behind the intricate layering of instrumentals in “Balaclava Kiss?”
VISION VIDEO: I wanted to write something that sounded simple but strong and powerful. I think the production really embodies the spirit of that message of non-violent resistance. We kept the guitars loud and big, but not too intricate or ostentatious. The keys help push the melody but sit firm in the mix. The bass and the drums are pretty driving and relentless and I think they provided the perfect backbone to the song.
LUNA: Vision Video’s sound blends elements from the late 70s and 80s with modern goth rock. What artists or movements have significantly influenced your musical style?
VISION VIDEO: Post punk masters like the Chameleons, the Sound and the Cure are the most obvious influences, but I take a lot of vocal inspiration from soul and Motown artists who were absolutely magical in their melodic and emotive resonance.
LUNA: The metaphor of a balaclava being raised for a kiss is powerful. How did you conceptualize this imagery and what does it represent for you?
VISION VIDEO: I actually saw a photo of someone raising a balaclava to kiss someone and it was such a dualistic image. I love dualism because it is the essence of the human condition. I think it describes this staunch strength of resistance, but with love being the motivating factor, which is the most powerful force in the world.
LUNA: “Balaclava Kiss” is a preview of your upcoming album, Modern Horror. What themes or concepts can listeners expect?
VISION VIDEO: It’s a predominantly angry record. It’s a reflection of my frustrations of choosing between the lesser of evils. It’s a reflection of my onward angers and regrets of my past and being duped into believing lies from the media and government. But like a horror film, there are moments of light and levity, and those moments give the darker bloody edges contrast. It’s raw, energetic and dark, but still maintains a sense of accessibility and danciness.
LUNA: Your previous records, Inked in Red and Haunted Hours, received critical acclaim. How has your musical evolution progressed from those albums to your latest work?
VISION VIDEO: I think I’ve become a better writer and composer. I used to think there was only one certain way that our music SHOULD sound, but I’m way more open to external influence with Vision Video. Working with the producer Ben Allen at Maze Studios has been a master class in creating really tight, cohesive songs with incredible production value.
LUNA: Live performances are a significant aspect of Vision Video’s appeal. How do you translate the brooding atmospheres and soaring melodies of your studio recordings to the stage?
VISION VIDEO: I can’t take myself too seriously most of the time. I think I’m a pretty goofy person generally speaking. During the performance of the songs live, I get really immersed in the essence and I try to push that to a mental and spiritual place of catharsis. But when I’m not soapboxing political points in between, I’m usually full of terrible jokes and quips!
LUNA: With “Balaclava Kiss” already resonating with fans, how do you see Vision Video’s role in the modern goth rock scene, and what legacy do you hope to leave?
VISION VIDEO: I really hope that the scene grows and becomes simultaneously more defined sonically but also more open to outside influences. The funny thing about goth music as a genre is that the people who started it in the late 70s and early 80s didn’t set out to have an abiding sense of what “goth” music was or sounded like. The term itself wasn’t common until the first wave was already over by the late 80s. That being said, there is a substantial subculture of people who like things that fit under this umbrella of “goth” music and it’s exciting and refreshing to share that shadow with others.
LUNA: Anything else you would like to share with Luna?
VISION VIDEO: The world can change, even if it’s slow. We can only do so much as individuals but we owe it to ourselves and to the future to try to do and be better. Music is the vehicle for the message of change, so support it! Go to live shows, and support your favorite artists. And as always STAY STRANGE!
