Vernian Process
| Vernian Process | |
|---|---|
 Vernian Process performing at Steamstock in Richmond, CA, October 7, 2012. Left to right: Martín Irigoyen, Steven Farrell, Joshua A. Pfeiffer, Eugene Dyer III, Janus Zarate, Brian Figueroa | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Genres | Steampunk, neoclassical dark wave, industrial, Gothic Rock, avant-garde |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | None |
| Associated acts | Unwoman, Unextraordinary Gentlemen |
| Website | Official website |
| Members |
Joshua Pfeiffer Martín Irigoyen Janus Zarate Brian Figueroa |
| Past members |
Eugene Dyer III Steven Farrell Kyle Thomas Heather Yager Free Fargo |
Vernian Process is an avant-garde band formed in San Francisco in 2003. Taking its name from the works of 19th century author Jules Verne, Vernian Process is a band that creates music themed around Victorian scientific romance and its modern counterpart steampunk. Their sound is a fusion of modern and old-world styles including gothic-rock darkwave, progressive rock, neoclassical, trip hop, ragtime, and other related genres. The band consists of vocalist Joshua A. Pfeiffer, multi-instrumentalist Martín Irigoyen, bassist Janus Zarate, and multi-instrumentalist Brian Figueroa. The band also features guests live and in the studio regularly.
Career
Pfeiffer began working on music under the name Vernian Process in the winter of 2003. He released a number of downloadable albums over the next 4 years, including 2004's Discovery and 2006's The Forgotten Age, before being approached by Irigoyen about joining the project to work on Behold the Machine. From that point forward, Vernian Process evolved beyond a solo project. Throughout 2009, as work on the album progressed, Vernian Process sought out additional members in order to play shows to support the upcoming release of Behold the Machine, as well as record new material for future albums. Peter "Janus" Zarate joined in 2009, followed by Brian Figueroa in the latter half of 2009[1][2]
Behold the Machine was released on October 1, 2010.
On November 11, 2010, they announced that their next album would be titled The Consequences Of Time Travel.
On June 27, 2011, Vernian Process released the first single from the new album, entitled "Something Wicked (That Way Went)." The song was inspired by Ray Bradbury's similarly titled dark fantasy novel Something Wicked This Way Comes. The song integrates tarantella and circus music styles with progressive rock and features a sampled calliope. It features Kyle Thomas and Unwoman as guest musicians.
On October 31, 2011, they released a special remix of "Behold the Machine" entitled "Behold the Machine (Factory Floor Mix)." The remix incorporates EBM and industrial influences.
Press
Vernian Process has appeared in articles in media such as the UK publication Bizarre Magazine,[3] and MTV during their coverage of the Steampunk genre.[4]
Band members
- Joshua A. Pfeiffer - Vocals, songwriting
- Martín Irigoyen - Guitars, songwriting, SFX
- Janus Zarate - Bass guitar, backing vocals
- Brian Figueroa - Keyboards, guitars
- Steven Farrell - Keyboards
- Eugene Dyer III - Drums, hand percussion, saxophone
- Erica Mulkey - Live guest cello
Live appearances
Live, Vernian Process is often joined by cellist Erica Mulkey, aka Unwoman.
Vernian Process has appeared at events performing with Attrition,[5] Skinny Puppy, Front Line Assembly, and Faith and the Muse, Ravenwood Festival in Arkansas, and the Eccentrik Music Festival in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 2008. In 2009 they appeared at a number of festivals, notably Steamcon in Seattle, Washington (alongside Abney Park), Eccentrik Festival in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and The Endless Night Festival in New Orleans. In 2011, they performed across the West Coast at events such as Gaslight Gathering in San Diego, California; Maker Faire in San Mateo, California; and the Edwardian Ball in San Francisco, California. In 2012 they appeared alongside Thomas Dolby and Abney Park at the inaugural 'Steamstock' festival at the Craneway Pavillion in Richmond, California.
Other projects
Shades of Violet
As of 2008, Joshua, Martin, and Allison Curval have begun working together on the musical score for the steampunk themed videogame; "Shades of Violet: Song of the Clockwork Princess" for Imagineer Games.[6]
Dirigible Days
In 2012, Vernian Process was commissioned to write the theme song for the newly released steampunk web series Dirigible Days. The resulting instrumental track, "New Horizons", was released as a single on August 13, 2012.[7]
The edited version for the show's opening also features narration by Anthony Daniels, most famous for his work as the voice of C-3P0 in the Star Wars film series.
Discography
Albums
| Discovery (2004) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
| 1. | "De la Terre a La Lune" | |||||||||
| 2. | "Empire Lost" | |||||||||
| 3. | "Cold" | |||||||||
| 4. | "Cirque de la Mort" | |||||||||
| 5. | "Dusk Express" | |||||||||
| 6. | "Porcelain Crusaders" | |||||||||
| 7. | "Calm Before the Storm" | |||||||||
| 8. | "Echoes" | |||||||||
| 9. | "Ironworks" | |||||||||
| 10. | "Musashi" | |||||||||
| 11. | "Mirage" | |||||||||
| 12. | "At the Center of the Earth" | |||||||||
| 13. | "Grudge" | |||||||||
| The Forgotten Age (2006) [8][9] | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
| 1. | "Rust (Part 1)" | |||||||||
| 2. | "The Elegance of Espionage" | |||||||||
| 3. | "Revolt" | |||||||||
| 4. | "Benedictus" | |||||||||
| 5. | "Zeitgeist" | |||||||||
| 6. | "Rust (Part 2)" | |||||||||
| 7. | "Intermission" | |||||||||
| 8. | "Engelorum" | |||||||||
| 9. | "The Fading Rain" | |||||||||
| 10. | "Noir" | |||||||||
| 11. | "Where are the Young Men?" | |||||||||
| 12. | "Atmosphere" | |||||||||
| 13. | "Switchback" | |||||||||
| 14. | "Reflection" | |||||||||
| 15. | "Rust (Part 3)" | |||||||||
| Behold the Machine (2010) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
| 1. | "Behold the Machine" | |||||||||
| 2. | "The Alchemist's Vision" | |||||||||
| 3. | "Unhallowed Metropolis" | |||||||||
| 4. | "Interlude I: Into the Depths" | |||||||||
| 5. | "The Exile" | |||||||||
| 6. | "The Last Express" | |||||||||
| 7. | "Vagues de Vapeur" | |||||||||
| 8. | "Interlude II: Into the Shadows" | |||||||||
| 9. | "The Curse of Whitechapel" | |||||||||
| 10. | "The Maple Leaf Rag" | |||||||||
| 11. | "Queen of the Delta" | |||||||||
| 12. | "Into the Aether" | |||||||||
| 13. | "The Maiden Flight" | |||||||||
- The Consequences of Time Travel (TBA)
Singles
- Something Wicked (That Way Went) (2011)
- New Horizons (Dirigible Days Theme) (2012)
- "ELEgy" (2013)
EPs
- Steam Age Symphony (2003)
- Revolution (2005)
Compilations
- Catching Up With Vernian Process (2006)
- Catalysts (2006) - A Collection of cover versions
See also
- List of steampunk works: Steampunk musicians
References
- ↑ Vernian Process Facebook page updated 10/16/2012
- ↑ Interview with steampunk-music.com 10/05/2012
- ↑ Interview Bizarre 2009
- ↑ Interview MTV 2008
- ↑ San Francisco Events December 2006
- ↑ Imagineer Games; developers of Shades of Violet
- ↑ Day 304 Productions; producers of Dirigible Days
- ↑ Review, by Mick Mercer
- ↑ Review by The Clockwork Wasteland
External links
- Vernian Process Official Site
- Vernian Process on MySpace.com
- Vernian Process on Facebook.com
- Interview with Sepiachord.com
- Interview from The Mick No. 30 (starts on page 160), by Mick Mercer
- Interview with Dieselpunks.org
- Interview with The Aether Emporium
- Interview with Livid Looking Glass Magazine