The harshness and persistence of winter symbolize life’s difficulties, capturing the essence of enduring through challenging times. Like Demeter waiting for her daughter Persephone to return from the underworld, we endure the bitter cold and nip of frost in hopeful anticipation of brighter days. Blush, a new song from Detroit deathgaze duo VAZUM, ultimately transforms these lamentations into a tender, uplifting promise of comfort, offering a serene respite in the form of sunny days…and with them, love’s warm embrace.
In VAZUM’s latest creation, the band melds the spectral grace of the Cocteau Twins with the buoyant New Wave energy of the Go-Gos and Blondie, all while channeling the raw essence of 45 Grave and Christian Death. This fusion births a vibrant punk rock spirit, propelled by an invigorating beat and a deep, pulsating bassline. Emily Sturm’s vocals, ethereal yet poignant, intertwine with the rhythm, casting an iridescent sheen over their dynamic tableau.
The music video for Blush unfolds as a visual odyssey, a whirlwind of psychedelic, kaleidoscopic imagery. It depicts a metamorphosis from the barren chill of winter’s isolation to the splendid rebirth of spring—a vivid allegory for the resurgence of life and the rekindling of hope. The killer hook will certainly thaw any icy heart.
Watch the video for “Blush” below:
Blush is the first single from VAZUM’s forthcoming album Western Violence.
VAZUM, comprised of Zach Pliska and Emily Sturm, formed in 2017. With a plethora of albums and music videos under their belt, all produced from their own Light Echo Studio, VAZUM has garnered a loyal following with their distinctive sound and uncompromising aesthetic.
Zach Pliska, who started as a drummer in various Detroit bands, decided to become a bandleader and chose the name VAZUM, inspired by the predatory sea snail genus Vasum. With the release of their debut single Fall Guy in 2017, VAZUM quickly gained attention and recorded three albums – VAZUM (2018), Void (2018), and Variant (2019) – with the help of some friends who joined the band for live shows.
In 2019, Zach met Emily Sturm, a visual artist with a background in costume and jewelry design, at Leland City Club in Detroit. The two bonded over their shared love for music and art, and Emily joined VAZUM to contribute her own unique vision to the band.
As a duo, Zach and Emily have released an impressive four albums, one EP, and multiple singles. In 2020, they introduced their signature deathgaze sound with the acclaimed album Vampyre Villa. They followed up with the Halloween-themed album Rated V, a haunting blend of doomgaze, stoner-rock, and ambient textures; and Vazumnacht, a Krampus-inspired EP that transformed traditional Christmas carols into gothic industrial dirges.
VAZUM is playing select live dates in the Southern US to promote the release of Blush in January 2024:
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