Here at Mic Drop, we love supporting up-and-coming artists, giving them a platform to talk about their art. In this day and age, it always seems like a new “must see act” is emerging every day. We sat down with Lovers Guilt and got to know the artist.
Meet The Man Behind The Music
Lovers Guilt is the solo project of Brian Vega that debuted in 2020. Vega first got into music at a young age, going to shows regularly, making friends with other musicians. By the time he was a teenager, he was in his first band. For every hardcore band he was a member of, he was the drummer. He later joined post-punk band, Fearing, as a guitarist. While in Fearing, Vega also sang backing vocals, which allowed him to get comfortable singing in front of crowds.
Lovers Guilt is Vega’s solo project. Everything you hear comes from him. When creating, he’s very specific and critical of what he does. He shared with me that in some sessions, he creates dozens of songs, but sometimes only a small amount make the cut. When Vega was in a band, he and his bandmates would bounce ideas off one another, but now the creative process is a bit more isolated.
The name for the solo project came to Vega when he was working on his first EP A Trace of Light. While working on the EP, he was actively listening, trying to hear a name out in the world that could be a name for the project. One session, an episode of Dexter was playing quietly in the background. The phrase “lovers guilt” was said and caught his attention, officially naming the project.
After playing in multiple bands across numerous genres, Vega’s influences are just as diverse. He still finds himself inspired and influenced by gothic styles. Rap is another genre that influences and inspires Lovers Guilt. Behind the scenes, Vega has produced rap music for artists. Working with these artists is what got Vega into music production.
Vega describes his sound as dark, romantic, and atmospheric. Hypnotic and haunting are the words that come to mind whenever I hear a Lovers Guilt song. Not only is his sound unlike any other, but there is an undeniable rhythm that makes you want to dance. Each track is so intricate, so layered, that it transports you.
I was fortunate to catch Lovers Guilt live a while back. On stage is Vega alone, losing himself in the music he created. Every Lovers Guilt show, he has done solo. The entire project, live shows included, is all one big experiment that Vega buried himself in.
What’s to Come?
What’s next for Lovers Guilt? He is currently in the process of writing his debut album. I got to hear an unreleased track he was preparing for his upcoming live shows. As he keeps playing more and more live shows, he’s eager to stay on stage and keep playing. As of now, Lovers Guilt has a show coming up in Victorville on October 24th. Make sure to follow Lovers Guilt on socials to stay up to date with releases and shows.
