Local DJ/electronic producer Lucy Vardøgr represents one half of the heavy-bass thrash DJ duo Blood Eagle, which formed in 2009 when she and fellow DJ/producer Ivar the Boneless discovered that they shared a love for "synthesizers, grindcore and obscure dance music." More recently, Vardøgr and Ivar also formed the nu-disco DJ duo Galactique. Vardøgr also has a solo witch house DJ project called Laser Coffins, and she plays synths in the punk/goth band Ferals. She took time out over the weekend to discuss her various projects with us.
Orlando Weekly: How did you start working with Ivar the Boneless?
Lucy Vardøgr: In 2009, Ivar and I had a mutual friend who he was making music with at the time. Our mutual friend suggested we all hang out together, and we just hit it off. Our friend went on to play guitar in an awesome local band called Abuse, and Ivar and I continued to produce and DJ together.
Three DJ projects and a band is quite an undertaking. How do you juggle all of your projects?
Music has always been a huge part of my life. It's not something I just want to do; it's simply something I have to do. I've had so many miscellaneous projects over the years. I don't really think of it in terms of juggling, it kind of just comes naturally.
Blood Eagle is definitely my main project and focus, but everything I do musically fulfills me in different ways. I love collaborating and playing live music, but I also enjoy having my solo project as a personal outlet and something I can call 100 percent my own creation.
Ferals is a big departure from your other endeavors. How did you become involved with that band?
I've been playing guitar for nearly 10 years now and had a couple bands here and there, but it was never anything serious. My friend Jessica Knight mentioned she wanted to start a band and had already written a bunch of songs, and I thought it would be fun to play live and do something other than stare at a computer screen and monitors for hours on end. I love electronic music, but I'm also heavily influenced and into underground punk and metal bands.
Have video games had an impact on the way you think about producing dance music?
Absolutely. I have huge respect for the music composers of the old school platforms like SNES, Sega Genesis, Commodore 64 and Amiga. I enjoy the idea of working within archaic, very strict and minimal capabilities and creating something completely new. Old technology in general fascinates me because its full potential isn't usually discovered before everyone has moved on to the next big thing.
Blood Eagle has a track called "Transvestite Fistfight" – people go crazy when you play it. What's the story behind it?
A couple years ago I saw a news segment about this group of drag queens who attacked the employees at a McDonalds restaurant with a tire iron, their acrylic nails and a "caution wet floor" sign. I think they were probably provoked, but I just thought it was too awesome to not name a song after.
Listen to Blood Eagle at soundcloud.com/bloodeagle or keep up with them at facebook.com/bloodeaglemusic.