On Se Casse Now Out on Youtube - December 27, 2023

On Se Casse is a teaser track from my upcoming EDM compilation album 'Vava Vol - Best of EDM (2014-2017), my take of the 90s techno scene.  Photos by Vortex Photographer.  Have a listen!  Thanks!

Vava Vol - Symbolic

Vava Vol Music

The Gift of Love - The Gift of Peace - The Gift of Happiness - December 23, 2023

 

May all these be yours at Christmas!

Have a safe and relaxing holiday season!

Cheers!

A Eureka Moment (Test B-2) ~ Video Now On YouTube - December 22, 2023

In celebration of our 2023 Winter Solstice, I present 'A Eureka Moment (TestB-2)', a track from my new experimental album I'm working on for 2024!  As I expand on the no in put mixer technique I've been using this year, I will create new surprising noises with the mixer and other instruments I plan to introduce!  

Have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy the Holidays!  Cheers!

Vava Vol Music

A Vava Vol Anecdote About Zilon Lazer - December 13, 2023

 

In the early 90s, a bunch of us would get together every Saturday at 11:30 pm to watch Saturday Night Live. No potluck event here, only snacks and brews were allowed. My turn came up on October 3, 1992, and lo and behold Sinead O'Connor was performing that night.  

Zilon stopped by to hang out and watch the show.

At the finale of Bob Marley's 'War' where Sinead proclaims "Fight the real enemy" and tears up that picture of Pope John Paul II, there was a collective gasp in my living room from us French Canadian Roman Catholic Montrealers for godsakes!!!  

Zilon's grin says it all!

Needless to say, SNL post haste cut to a commercial and the entire world was turned upside down by her action and hasn't recovered from it since.

Uncanny, how Zilon and Sinead left this mortal coil around the same time this year......

Miss ya' Z! You too, Sinead!

Zilon and Christian

Catalyst Girl Now Out On YouTube - December 12, 2023

Catalyst Girl is the closing track on my album Infrasound released in 2017 and will be included on my new compilation 'Vava Vol - Best of EDM/Techno - 2014 - 2017'!

Vava Vol - Infrasound

Vava Vol Official

Criatura New Video on YouTube - December 4, 2023

 

Criatura is track 4 on Celestial, my first album experimenting with 90s influenced EDM/techno released in April 2014.

While compiling my new compilation Projekt 'Best of Vava Vol - EDM/Techno 2014-2017', I will regularly publish more teaser videos, so stay tuned! Cheers!

Vava Vol Celestial

Bandcamp Friday Starts Tonite at Midnight - November 30, 2021

 

Another fabulous Bandcamp Friday is upon us!

Eclectic music, new artists, a friendly community,

listening parties, cool merch, pre-orders, 

name your price, high-quality downloads,

deals on digital discographies,

unlimited streaming, and the fun goes on!

Check it out!

Vava Vol Music

Vava Vol - Best of 2020-2021 In All Digital Stores - November 30, 2023

 

Here's my delightful Distrokid Promo Card polaroid shot for my latest release 'Vava Vol - Best of 2020-2021'! 

Vava Vol - Best of 2020-2021

Vava Vol Best 2020-2021 - Petit Party In My Head Now On Youtube - November 29, 2023

Oh Dear, My mother always told me not to show my colors in public!

Well, I guess I just blew it!

Enjoy the video!

Vava Vol Official

Vava Vol - Best of 2020-2021 Compilation Album On Bandcamp - November 26, 2023

 

Vava Vol – Best of 2020-2021 is Vol. 4 of my ‘Best of Vava Vol Digital Collection Series’.  The 20 tracks on this compilation are an aural selection from my albums Everlasting Freedom, Impressions, Mind Over Mind, For the Sensitives, My Divine Self-Expression, Cycles of Time and In Fluxus.

Cover and tracklist photos by Vortex © 2017.  Cover and tracklist designs by Vava Vol © 2023.

Vava Vol - Best of 2020-2021

Blogger's Translate Feature - November 20, 2023

 

Did you know Blogger has a convenient translation feature enabling you the viewer to read my entire blog in your language of choice?  

Where is it?  It can be found on the right hand scroll bar of my blog between the Search This Blog and Bandcamp Fridays 2023 gadgets.  By tapping the down arrow and choosing your preferred language voilà, you're ready to enjoy Vavaland in your own language!  You can also hover over any text with your cursor and while reading the original text at the same time.  How cool is that!

When I published my first post in 2012, I translated it into French, my second language. The result was acceptable but needed some work.  

Fast forward to 2023.  Today as a test, I used this feature to translate Vavaland into French, German and Italian, the European countries that frequently visit Vavaland. I must say Google Translate is much better and has significantly improved over the years.  Next time you visit Vavaland, give it a try!  

In French - En Français

In German - Auf Deutsch

In Italian - In Italiano

Vava Vol on X - November 14, 2023

 

Vava Vol @vavavol - X

Nome Noma Compilation #2 - Quebec Post Punk and New Wave from 1979 - 1987 - November 07 , 2023

Nome Noma 2 is a 13 track vinyl compilation of Quebec Post Punk and New Wave from 1979 - 1987 released by the Montreal record label Les Disques du Trésor National.  

'You're Too Rude' is a song by Montreal's The Essentials, a band I co-founded with Mick Lynes, Carlos Soria, Anthony Chrumka and Rich Lacoste in 1979.  

It's previewed here on Track #5 of Nome Noma 2. 

The record launch for the compilation will be held on November 15th, 2023 at Le Cheval Blanc tavern in Montreal, QC. 

Tap the link below to preview "You're Too Rude' and 12 other amazing Quebec post punk and new wave artists from that era!

Nome Noma 2

Les Disques du Trésor National

It's Another Wonderful Bandcamp Friday Today - November 3, 2023

 

Have a boo at my 2023 digital releases on my Bandcamp site!

While you're at it, check out my eclectic back catalogue too!

Vava Vol Music

Vava & Zilon (1983-1987) Vol. 2

Vava Vol - Eternal Bond

Vava Vol - Organelle

Vava Vol - Euphomious Noise

Vava Vol - Euphonious Noise - Vol. 2

Paintings of Vava Vol by Montreal Artist Éric Boudreau - October 28, 2023

Welcome to my pop-up art gallery in the woods close to where I live!  Let's hear it for this series of paintings by Montréal Artist Éric Boudreau!

Self-taught mixed-media artist Éric Boudreau works in his rooftop studio apartment overlooking the Mountain and other picturesque Montreal, Quebec skyline sights.

Éric recycles and reuses all of his art supplies and has been painting for several years now.  He sources self-portraits online and paints those that catch his eye, sharing their start to finish progress via his Instagram.

He began working on this featured series of my self-portraits last year and most recently completed his 'pièce de résistance', the Long Painting herein as images #1 and #6, which proudly hangs in my home at the top of the staircase.  

Thank you very much dear friend for these dazzling paintings and the beautiful energy you have put into each and every one of them! I am a very lucky lady! @1969eb

Photos taken using the light of the October mid-day sun

No filters applied

Paintings by Éric Boudreau © 2023

Photos by Vava Vol © 2023

All rights reserved

Providence (2023) - A Compilation of Photos of Vava Vol - October 08, 2023

 

Providence is the intro track from my 2014 album Celestial.  This is a video compilation of photos taken by Pro-Photog Vortex between 2012 and 2019.  You might recognize some of these images as they were used for the cover art music compilations 'Best of Vava Vol' project. 

Happy Thanksgiving long weekend Canada & enjoy our terrific fall weather! Photos by Vortex Copyright © 2023.  Al rights reserved.

Vava Vol Providence

Celestial

Vava Vol Music

My Distrokid Cassette Promo Card for 'Euphonious Noise - Vol. 2' - October 07, 2023

 

Euphonious Noise - Vol. 2 is now out in all digital stores!  Cheers!  

Vava Vol - Euphonious Noise - Vol. 2

My New Album 'Euphonious Noise - Vol. 2' Now Available on Bandcamp - October 06, 2023

 

Please welcome my new album 'Euphonious Noise - Vol. 2', the follow-up to Euphonious Noise released August 12, 2023 under the umbrella 'Euphonious Noise Music Projekt 2023'.  Enjoy Vol. 2, which I took great pleasure in creating!  

Euphonious Noise - Vol. 2

Euphonious Noise

Vava Vol Music

It's Bandcamp Friday - October 06, 2023

 

It's not just Friday today, but Bandcamp Friday!  Have a listen to my new release 'Euphonious Noise - Vol. 2' and other 2023 releases.  Cheers!

Vava Vol Music

Euphonious Music - Vol. 2

Epic Company sells Bandcamp to Songtradr

Epic Company sells Bandcamp

ENV#9 - Transpositions Teaser Track - September 21, 2023

 

ENV#9 - Transpositions is a teaser track from my upcoming new album Euphonious Noise Music Volume 2!  Enjoy! 

My Track 'Sky Goddess' on THE EXPLOSIVE AEP LAB - September 20, 2023

 

Welcome my track 'Sky Goddess' for Antonella Eye Porcelluzzi's THE EXPLOSIVE AEP LAB open call project 'FEMMES theater for unique plays". 

Get your does of electro noise, punk, avant-garde, spoken word and poetry all in this fantastic collaboration!  Enjoy!

Sky Goddess

AEP LAB FEMMES

Remembering Raymond Pilon aka Zilon Lazer aka Lion Lazer (July 25, 1956 - July 26, 2023) - September 17, 2023

Raymond Pilon aka Zilon Lazer was born on July 25, 1956, in Sainte Rose, Laval, Quebec, where he lived and went to school.  During the late 70s, he began spraying his graffiti art on Sainte Rose's empty outdoor surfaces.  In 1980, he moved to Montreal where he would meet Diane Lassonde and Daniel Marcoux, two important people in his personal and public life and the beginning of a 43 year friendship between them. 

 

Rewind to the fall of 1978.  While I was on a  flight to Montreal, Quebec in search of a new life, Zilon Lazer was busy covering the dark streets, back alleys and nightclubs of Montreal with his signature black graffiti slogans and screaming faces.  He regularly held midnight candlelight Graffiti Cocktail parties in dark tunnels, abandoned buildings and outdoor disused places he uncovered.  Via word of mouth, Zilon invited others to participate in the impromptu jams, which he continued to hold court into 1986. 

Zilon en Action
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Graffiti Cocktail Happening
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

In an abandoned warehouse
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

The Tunnel
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Paul Antoniades (Simon Eyes) and Diane Lassonde (Yana Tape) were a super team of multi-media artists who collaborated with Zilon on his graffiti paintings exhibitions and their own video art installations and live video taping of Montreal's 1980s subculture.  In 1983, when Zilon and I began to perform live, I was warmly invited to join this power team of pioneering movers and shakers.  What an honor! A feather in our cap was the successful exhibition 'Montréal Est au Centre', a musical performance by myself, a live action graffiti performance by Zilon and a bevy of other multimedia installations event which took place at the Sayde Bronfman Centre in 1985.

Montréal Est Au Centre 1986
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Zilon and I travelled parallel paths in those raw, wonderful 1980s Montreal counterculture underground scene until our paths crossed in late 1983. One night while at Les Foufounes, he dropped by and we began talking synths and music.  In his words: "I had heard about Duotang and wanted to plug in my synthesizer and make music with you". 

Zilon's EMS Synthi
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

At Le St-Sulpice Patio after recording all day
Photo Daniel Coté © 1983

We rented time in a fully equipped home studio on the Plateau and began recording and rehearsing for our first show, which would be at the club and would continue for many more over the years. 

At Les Foufounes 1984
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

At Les Foufounes 1984
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

This was the beginning of an unconditional, incredible 4 year journey of impromptu live shows, art exhibitions, and an adventurous, no-holds-barred 40 year friendship between us.  Zilon was a real futurist, in his art and in his music.  He lived by his creed "Do it for yourself".

Zilon took a lot of risks getting his message across, was fearless, bold and never stopped working for a moment.  He was fueled by an inner furnace of energy and the love for his work.  I'm forever grateful and honored to have met and worked with him.  

"March 2023 - We're living in granny times, Vava.  Not like the good 'ole 70s and 80s." 

At Danceteria, NYC
Photo Daniel Falgerho © 1983

At the original Club Soda on Parc for the
First Anniverssary of the Montreal Mirror
Photo by Guy L'Heureux 1986

At Save The Robots, NYC May 1984
Photo by Daniel Falgerho 

◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙

Thank you very much to Diane Lassonde for generously sharing her private and personal photos of Zilon taken in the 1980s in Montreal.  These photos show a very different side of him, which very few people were privy to.  What wonderful memories you must have of him Diane and now we have those memories of him too!  Such a beautiful gift!  

Diane took the following photo of Zilon at the McGill University faculty of music between 1980-83.  

"When we lived together we would go to the music building and wait outside the doors to access the floor where the pianos were.  We didn't have the code to unlock the door so we would pretend we were shuffling through our stuff waiting for a student to come out so we could slip in.  Then we would go to an empty room with the cassette recorder and Raymond would record some piano sequences he would then work on once we were back home.  This brings back such beautiful and emotional memories."

At the McGill faculty of Music
Photo by Diane Lassonde © 1980-1983

Photo by Diane Lassonde © 1980

Photo by Diane Lassonde © 1980

Photo by Diane Lassonde © 1980

Photo by Diane Lassonde © 1980

Photo by Diane Lassonde © 1980

Photo by Diane Lassonde © 1980

Photo by Diane Lassonde © Circa 1980

Photo by Diane Lassonde © 1980

Photo by Diane Lassonde © Circa 1981-1982

Photo by Diane Lassonde © 2014 

Photo by Diane Lassonde © 2014

┴╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤┴

"Pourquoi j'aime la musique? Parce que ça m'inspire à dessiner.

Quand j’écoute de la musique je danse avec mon crayon.”

Anecdote by Daniel Marcoux

We lived in the same suburb, the same neighborhood. It was there that I discovered his talent, thanks to his graffiti attacks and paintings on the walls of the chalet in the park in front of his home.

I didn't meet him until the spring of 1980, just like Diane...

François Alfred Mignault aka ''moon / dog'' and I went to see the Urbanzz Project Phase 2 performance at Véhicule Art. We brought things to offer them. Afterwards, "lion / lazer" contacted us and invited us to his place. That's where we became friends for the next 43 years.

I became his confidant because I was a good listener and I was rather reserved and impressed by his charisma. Then, little by little, I became his archivist, by force of circumstance. My nickname was ''hermes / hermetic'', I took photos and recorded as much as I could with the means available at the time. The '80s were quite eventful, and you know something about it, you were part of that intense movement. A whole series of ephemeral formations followed one another to the rhythm of Raymond's teeming imagination. The Neonz, Urbanzz, Herksss, Fake Dancers, Philip Save and the Roomz, etc etc etc.... Sometimes it only lasted for an evening, or a recording... improvisation and spontaneity were Raymond's mottos throughout his life. He was in a perpetual state of creation, either in the heat of the moment or in his thoughts, always with his brain on ON night and day.

I wasn't always there to witness all his adventures. He was hard to follow, like a free electron. He moved around in different circles with people who didn't necessarily know each other. He always compartmentalized his friendships, his artistic and personal relationships. But there were also some wonderful encounters between the people who gravitated around him. (I have a special thought for Paul Antoniades, whom I would never have met without my friendship with Raymond).

In the 90s, as he became more popular and recognized, I let go of the now impossible task of archiving everything. Others took over, especially on the visual art, painting and mural side. Nevertheless, we kept in touch and continued to see each other through all this turmoil and his atypical trajectory.

In 1998, when our apartment burned down, I lost many documents and archives from those two decades, but the most precious things, like all his tapes, films and videos, were miraculously saved.

Then, in the early 2000s, we formed a sound duo, Zïlon / Dantenax = Ville Froide. We met almost every weekend for our Sunday sessions, and gave several performances in various alternative venues: Atom Heart the record store, Memoria for an all-nighter and at all his gallery openings, then for several performances by François Alfred at Les Foufounes Électriques... The list goes on... but the most memorable moments were those spent just between us, improvising simply for the fun of it, and raving about hypothetical future projects that we knew were totally unrealistic. Our last sound session was in May 2023, undoubtedly his last performance ever, and he concluded after listening to the whole thing that it was really crap 💩 apart from one or two brief passages that seemed interesting... He was very aware and self-critical of his good or bad moves, but more than anything else what I remember about my sound-mate, by brother-in-art was his sense of humor and self-derision.

I'm going to miss that big grumpy lion 🦁...

Zilon/Christ embracing his revisited suburban land
Photo by Daniel Marcoux © 2022

Early Neonz graffiti appearance in the night
Photo by Daniel Marcoux © circa 1979

Last & horizontal posture of Zilon appreciating quiet nature
& a Martini in March
Photo by Daniel Marcoux © 2023

Anecdote by Jenny Tousignant

I discovered Zilon's work during my visits to Montreal before moving to the city a few years later.

Starting in 2010, using my creations under the pseudonym Hybrid Boy, I flirted with the artistic and underground art scene of the city.  Zilon thus became one of these virtual acquaintances, a friend of friends that I met here and there. 

We have spoken a few times, especially in recent years. I felt privileged that he appreciated my photographs, each of his "likes" encouraging my creations.  He also liked the pictures of my "godchild cat" shared on social media; he told me he missed the presence of felines after losing his ginger cat in 2018. 

As a human artist living with melancholic nostalgia, he undoubtedly liked to have his talent recognized.  So I took pleasure in telling him that I thought of him after seeing his works. 

In March 2023, I asked him if he would like to participate in the "David en Arts" project of the Fonds  David S. Coquereau.  I believed that Zilon's interpretation of David would be magnificent and important. We discussed it briefly, arranging to meet another time to discuss the details and the price of such an order.  Unfortunately, he left us before this and that remains a regret for me. 

I can't speak of him as a close friend, but I would have liked to known him better.  I feel we could have chatted transparently if we could have gotten past the shyness stage. 

Jenny Tousignant

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

The following photos are from Zilon's personal archives which he graciously sent to me in March of this year while working on videos for the Vava Vol & Zilon Lazer Legacy Album - Vol. 2.

Abandoned warehouse
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Abandoned Montreal Hotel
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Zilon with his mom
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Cover of the Montreal Mirror
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Zilon with good friend Chris
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Zilon at his old apartment on deBordeaux
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

One of Zilon's creeds
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Zilon in action
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Zilon in action
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Courtesy of Zilon

Zilon at a jam
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Zilon's cat Mephisto
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Photo Guy L'Heureux © 1986

Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Tools of the trade
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Plugged in
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

1980s Multitracker Fostex 
Courtesy of Zilon Lazer

Courtesy of Francis Trancis DesRuisseaux

Self-Portrait by Zilon Lazer
Courtesy of Francis Trancis DesRuisseaux

Francis at Les Foufounes Électriques
Make up by Zilon
That's Elyse off to the left!

Francis' make up by Zilon Lazer for an Alex Espinoza fashion show
Courtesy of Francis Trancis Des Ruisseaux

Thanks to Diane Lassonde, Jenny Tousignant, Daniel Marcoux and Francis Trancis DesRuisseaux for contributing their time, personal anecdotes and precious archives for Zilon's Memorial here on Vavaland. 

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

"Blessings to you our dear Zilon

 on your journey and final peaceful resting place 

in Nirvana - Namasté"