In a society where streaming and digital services allow us the option to cherry pick songs off albums, it seems that the notion of the album journey is dead. On Ghost Mile however, the moods and feelings blend from one track to the next, making this an album to listen to front to back.
“I think that’s what I love about this album,” guitarist Scott Kay says. “It feels like a journey listening to it top to bottom, I think it really invites the listener to start at track one and go through everything in that particular order. It has a big, almost inverted bell curve of emotion that starts you off on a peak, then has a bleak middle section yet it pulls you back in at the end. I think the album is about celebrating the mundane, it’s very much a record about real life.”
Following the success of 2013’s V, Voyager has truly developed the original voice of their songwriting, which can be heard through the first two singles Ascension and Ghost Mile. These two tracks are polar opposites, which was a conscious decision by the band.
“I think Ascension was a good track to release first because it’s anthemic and a little more accessible. Ghost Mile as a whole, has a really dark flavour to it and we take a pop songwriting approach to our progressive music. We don’t want to alienate the listener but because of the style of music, there are a lot of intricacies within our playing,” Kay says.
A lot can change in three years and the new album, in part, was a journey of self discovery for the band, both in a personal and professional context. It’s no surprise that Voyager is a lot more successful overseas than here at home, due to larger fan bases in Europe and the US. Their previous album saw the band hit their Kickstarter goal of $20k in just three days, showing that everyone was hyped for what they were going to do next. For Ghost Mile, it should come as no surprise, the band turned to the fans once again.
“When we first did a crowdfunding campaign, it was a relatively new enterprise and people were jumping in and contributing. Now that it has become a more established model, things are a lot smoother. I found out we hit 140% of our goal, which is crazy good.
“I think crowdfunding is so successful because it’s less about how it’s framed and more about what you’re getting in return as a fan. Crowdfunding allows you to give incentives that are different and unique like house concerts or skype sessions.”
Over the course of two weekends, Voyager will cross the country playing shows alongside French band The Algorithm. “The way that we have structured the tour around two weekends is better for us, because we can come home and work during the week. Touring in Australia is hard because you have to sort out flights and logistics between cities where as in the US for example, you’ve got someone else doing the driving and you can actually rest in between shows.”
Described by Kay himself as a cross between Avicii and Swedish metal legends Meshuggah, The Algorithm are set to bring an energetic and heavy set of tunes, leaving fans wanting more. “Their show is a DJ/guitarist and a drummer on stage. The stuff they create is bat shit crazy and rhythmically it is so wild. You feel like you are having a seizure when you’re listening to them.
“Remi the DJ goes off live and I think they are the perfect warm up act for us. We are really proud of this album and we can’t wait to play it in the live setting.”
By Tex Miller
