Don't Worry, Be Happy

When Jim Finn of Art Vs Science first heard the news that he needed a kidney transplant, he simply didn't flounder. With nothing but time on his hands, he saw it as a rare opportunity to knuckle down and finish off a bunch of ideas he had lying around, ideas that would lay the foundation for a solo venture called Vydamo.

For such a short lifespan, the Vydamo journey has had many celebrated stops already: the incredibly hook-laden debut single Gonna Make It quickly received downloads in the tens of thousands and was one of the most played tracks on triple j. The very cruisey and equally likeable follow-up Hurricane did much the same and quickly built anticipation for Finn's debut album release, Becoming Human. Finn's upbeat nature obviously hasn't been tarnished by his six weeks hooked to a dialysis machine as demonstrated by the 13 new songs on this debut album.

“It's a very exciting journey and I hope it keeps going this way,” Finn exudes. “The whole notion of something like that happening to me reaffirms my belief of staying positive no matter what the situation – if worrying about the situation can't change the situation, then there's no point worrying. That connection and love you feel for your family and friends during a time like this – I think I felt it really strongly, so I think that really seeped into the album, too.

“In Art Vs Science, we have that overlap of where we all have our passions of music coming together and, liking different things, we all embrace the subject matter that can relate to all of us,” he continues. “But with Vydamo, it's very much a personal thing and my own view of things – the world – and that might not be the same as the other guys in Art Vs Science. So this is quite a step away from working with others and really looking – instead of outwardly for those influences, looking inwardly and working out what you want and embracing yourself. I'd definitely love to keep doing Vydamo, but Art Vs Science is my main project and I really enjoy that side of it. But at the same time… they're both really exciting, fun approaches to music and they're both so different that it's really good to have those two approaches as it keeps you really interested and entertained for your own sanity.”

Finn grew up in an idyllic household as one of six kids and admits the songs he was writing had influences rooted in his first memories of music. But when it came to actually recording the album with producer Tim Carr, Finn displayed incredible restraint in steering the sound and even holding back some of those moments that could've easily turned into layered harmonies akin to The Beach Boys.

“I was very aware that there were a lot of Beach Boys' and Beatles' harmonies coming through on the record so I think I didn't want to push it too far. Even though [they're great influences], I didn't want to embrace it too much,” he laughs. “I think it's better to at least try and be a bit more global with where you take your music from rather than focus specifically on one thing. I think keeping an open mind and open ears is a good thing, too.”

Carefully explaining that he didn't want to fully cross the pop line, Finn continues: “The melodies and the chord progressions and song structures very much lend themselves to that 'pop' aspect. I made sure on the production side that it wasn't too pop and that I was getting cool, roomy drum sounds and different effects. Tim knew exactly what I was going for, I like keeping that '70s edge to it while still doing a pop record, having a few psychedelic elements in there still. I think I have a pretty short attention span and I love those pop elements of it, so the whole notion of getting to the next section and getting to the bit people want to hear is pretty true to me.”

Those approaching Becoming Human looking for a record full of party anthems like Gonna Make It might be surprised. Tracks instead range from the mid-tempo (Every Now And Then, Bare Feet) to surprisingly confessional ballads (Becoming Human, Little Monster) and also, naturally, the more left of centre (Living In The Sunshine, Long Long Day). “The general vibe was to capture the honesty I felt in writing the songs,” Finn confesses. “I have fairly broad taste in music. That I think you can tell by going from a song like Long Long Day to Little Monster, which is [more] like a piano-ballad than a big, rollicking guitar riff. As long as I was honest with myself putting across my personality, then I thought it would work putting those extreme elements together. I wanted to capture that while maintaining my original view of the songs.

“Becoming Human refers to that notion of: we're all on the path to becoming better as people,” Finn summarises, explaining the album title without an ounce of pretension. “Little things like treating those around [you] better and spreading positivity rather than embracing negative emotions, and being more considerate of your environment and all living things. And spreading positivity and love rather than spreading jealousy, greed and power and those sort of things, and connect back to more what tribal communities used to embrace thousands of years ago. They had a much better understanding of their environment and how they connected to it, whereas now we seem to have become a bit more removed from it.”

Vydamo tours as a five-piece live outfit and have already traversed the country a couple of times on the strength of the singles. Finn explains that because the album was conceived with family love firmly in sight, that it was equally important to grasp that love when selecting band members. “The most important thing was not to have the best musicians in the world, but to have people who are close friends of mine. The album is about connection to those around you so, to go on tour, I wanted that on stage also – I thought it was really important in helping the audience connect, too.”