Interview by Yuri Woodfall | Soundcheck Entertainment
With over ten years under their belt, millions of streams worldwide, and a brand-new record ROSSO CORSA that’s equal parts cinematic and raw, Violet Night are carving out their space in the indie rock universe. This interview dives into the band’s evolution, the making of ROSSO CORSA, and whether or not crying in the shower counts as a valid listening experience.
Yuri Woodfall: First things first — congrats on ROSSO CORSA! Ten years in, 4M+ streams, and a no-skips album… do you feel like veterans now, or are you still faking it ‘til you make it?
Connor: I don’t think we’re veterans, and we’re definitely not faking it either. Calling ourselves veterans risks falling into a mindset of complacency, like we’ve already proven something. I don’t ever want to feel like the work is done, I’m always trying to prove something to myself. The second this album came out, I was already thinking about what’s next. The difference between “faking it” and what we’re doing is that there’s real authenticity and belief behind it. When we’re writing, performing, creating — what you see is what you get. We’re not pretending. We believe in where we’re going, and we’re constantly trying to outdo who we were yesterday. It’s a weird kind of hunger — the more we feed it, the stronger it gets.
Yuri Woodfall: The new album was born from nearly 100 songs — be honest, how many of those were written in a coffee-fueled existential crisis at 2 a.m.?
Connor: None, honestly. I don’t drink coffee, and I do most of my writing in the morning. There’s something about that clear, fresh energy right after breakfast, it’s when I feel most creative.
Yuri Woodfall: ROSSO CORSA sounds like the name of a luxury car or a Bond villain. What’s the origin of the title — and does it come with custom leather seats?
Connor: The name goes back to the 1920s, all classic Ferraris were painted this specific shade of red. “Rosso Corsa” literally translates to “racing red.” The first single we dropped from the album was called FERRARI RED, so there’s a direct tie-in, but I’d rather let people connect the rest of the dots for themselves. This album will mean something different to everyone.
Yuri Woodfall: If someone listens to ROSSO CORSA start to finish, what emotional journey are they in for? And should they bring snacks?
Connor: This record spans a full emotional spectrum: grief, desire, chaos, self-reflection. It’s about confronting your past while chasing something just out of reach. You fall in and out of love, experience infatuation, confusion, wonder. It’s cinematic and raw at the same time. No two songs sound the same, yet it flows and is cohesive — and that unpredictability is the point. You’re not meant to coast through it, you’re meant to feel it.
Yuri Woodfall: You’ve been described as “atmospheric indie rock” — if your sound were a weather forecast, what would it be? (Light drizzle with dramatic thunder? Full-blown aurora borealis?)
Connor: The idea of aurora borealis is beautiful — but if that’s all we ever saw, we’d probably start dreaming of clear blue skies. I think the same way about our sound. You can’t pin it down. It shifts, evolves. Like the weather, it moves with its own rhythm. Some days it’s thunder, some days it’s calm, but it’s never static.
Yuri Woodfall: What was the pettiest argument you two had during the making of this album? Bonus points if it was about synth settings or burrito orders.
Connor: None really come to mind. We both just want what’s best for the album. If something’s not clicking, we’ll sit with it until it does.
Yuri Woodfall: After ten years together, how do you keep things fresh in the studio? Is there a ritual, a secret handshake, or do you just aggressively avoid eye contact until the album is done?
Connor: It’s about constantly raising the bar, never settling. You have to exceed your own expectations. Embracing new art, music, films, even just new life experiences — that all feeds the creative fire. I still try to keep that sense of wonder alive, like when you’re a kid discovering things for the first time. I also believe in making yourself uncomfortable in healthy ways. You don’t need drugs or alcohol to alter your perspective, even something like fasting for a few days while writing can completely shift your headspace. It’s all about stoking the fire, whatever that looks like.
Yuri Woodfall: Edmonton’s music scene doesn’t always get the love it deserves — what makes it a great launchpad for a band like Violet Night?
Connor: I’ve only lived in Edmonton for 8 months. I’m originally from northern British Columbia, and the band usually bills itself out of Toronto — that’s where we met in 2020. Edmonton has been supportive so far. It’s quiet enough to focus, it has a major airport to jet out and play festivals and tour, and the quality of life in western Canada is hard to beat. That said, I’ve got a lot of admiration for the people and community out east too, all love, always.
Yuri Woodfall: Who would be your dream third bandmate (alive, dead, or fictional)? And what role would they play: backup vocals, cowbell, or emotional support?
Connor: Most of the artists I admire would probably throw the band, they’re all such strong, visionary people. That kind of intensity can be both amazing and combustible. Just for fun, I’ll say David Bowie or Gerard Way. Let’s throw them on bass and have fun with it creatively.
Yuri Woodfall: Last one — finish this sentence: ROSSO CORSA is best listened to while…
a) Driving too fast
b) Crying in the shower
c) Stargazing on the hood of a car
d) All of the above, simultaneously
Connor: A and B. Drive too fast, cry in the shower. The closer is the only one made for shower-crying. Stargaze from the hood of a car that’s moving too fast. Disclaimer — Violet Night is not liable if you choose to do this. Enjoy the album. Thank you.
ROSSO CORSA is streaming everywhere now — and with this record, Violet Night prove that their story is far from finished. If anything, it’s only racing forward.
