Video Age

Video Age make breezy and timeless songs that are so ineffable, they can only be the result of a decades-long friendship and songwriting partnership. Across four albums, Ross Farbe and Ray Micarelli have gleefully worn their influences on their sleeve, writing inviting tunes that reference sounds ranging from disco to pop and indie rock. On their latest LP, "Away From The Castle," the New Orleans duo have strayed from nostalgia and instead have honed their own unique sense of musicality, making organic songs that sound like themselves with a taste of inspiration from classic singer-songwriters of the 60s and 70s. The album is a testament to the possibilities that come from getting out of your comfort zone, the freedom of writing vulnerably and unselfconsciously, and the joys of getting to work with your closest companions. After releasing their critically-acclaimed third album Pleasure Line in 2020, Farbe and Micarelli returned home from tour feeling creatively stuck. “When it came time to play the shows, it was so fun, but then we got home and I thought, ‘What do I want to make?’" says Farbe. “I felt disconnected from what we were doing before.” Micarelli, on the other hand, decided to write through the feeling of being unmoored. During this period, they took creative inspiration by collaborating with other people. They worked with Drugdealer on his album Hiding In Plain Sight, Micarelli gigged throughout New Orleans' jazz and blues scenes, and Farbe recorded local artists at his home studio, most recently producing Esther Rose's new album Safe to Run. This allowed them to give their own music a full refresh. “We realized we needed a breath of fresh air,” says Micarelli. Joined by touring members Nick Corson and Duncan Troast, they rented a cabin in Eunice, Louisiana where they spent eight days in August 2022 jamming, cooking, and writing together.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of the artist