We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Paul Vinsonhaler. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Paul below.

Paul, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Aside from my new Black Metal project I started this year Blood Resignation, I would say the most meaningful project I’ve worked on has been my new band Susurra. We released our first EP last year and we have a new full length LP coming later this year (singles coming soon). I would consider this project meaningful because it is a very personal project for both of us. We (my bandmate Brian Matthew Kruzan and I) have both gone through some pretty drastic life changes over the last couple years. It’s been rewarding and healing for us to express those elements both emotionally and conceptually with this project. This band has helped me reflect on those things in my life specifically, whether it’s becoming a dad, finally getting some healing in some areas, or overhauling my entire worldview and how I see myself in it. Without giving too much away lyrically, we hope others are able to pick up on a similar path of reflection, longing, and desire for change. Aside from all that, it’s also been great to collaborate in a band context while trying something different compared to my previous work – more structured and mainstream while still keeping an experimental edge.

Paul, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My introduction to the music industry started with film composing roughly 10 or 12 years ago. I mostly work on independent short films but I’ve done some commercial work, animated films, documentaries, and feature films as well. I tend to gravitate towards a darker or dramatic cinematic tone with experimental electronic and classical minimalism. Most of the projects I’ve worked on are sci-fi, dramas & horror. In additional to film scores, I’ve later experimented with my own sound over the years releasing music under my own name. I also enjoy doing remixes for other artists. I have dabbled in providing sound design elements as well for film. The film work and remixes are my main areas as far as paid client work.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I think very simply, my mission or goal is to make music I want to hear while working with people I respect and inspire creatively. I try not to think about much else. I’ll continue to create as long as I stay inspired.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I think I can get too carried away with projects and ideas. Especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. I released so much music that was kind of all over the place conceptually. I’m still really proud of that work and I learned a lot, but I really needed to streamline how and what I chose to work on, whether its film work or my own solo work. I spend some time re-thinking my whole approach after that. Joining susurra band really has helped me focus my ideas in a much more practical way. I’m doing what I can to adjust how many projects I take on and what resources and time I dedicate to them. Having a few different projects that have a very specific dynamic creatively helps me compartmentalize vs tackling too many ideas throughout the year. I think being too schizophrenic can cause some identity problems down the road. I feel much better now about what I’m doing and where I’m headed.   

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.susurraband.com
• Instagram: @susurra_band @blood_resignation @pvnsnhlr
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgObEHls5AY
• Other: https://susurra1.bandcamp.com https://bloodresignation1.bandcamp.com/album/the-other-side-of-the-distant-sky https://paulvinsonhaler.bandcamp.com https://www.paulvinsonhaler.com

Image Credits
Sam Leathers Nathan Ross murphy Katie McKinney