Robby Vena (Spanaway)
photo by Coffin Blossom
What are your top five albums that were released in 2024? (In order 1-5)
- DIIV - Frog In Boiling Water
- Fontaines D.C. - Romance
- The Hope Conspiracy - Tools of Oppression/Rule by Deception
- Uniform - American Standard
- Still In Love - Withdrawal Symptoms Pt. II
What band did you discover in 2024 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? How so?
I’d recently seen Pharmakon in a small club in Bethlehem, PA. It was my introduction to their music and I was genuinely blown away. I felt as though I’d ran the gauntlet… Heavy dissociation turned to palpable discomfort. It was as confrontational as it was cathartic. I haven’t felt that strongly about a live show in quite some time. If I was allowed one more top album, their recent Maggot Mass would be an instant pick. Holy shit.
How will you remember 2024 (in terms of music)?
I feel as though 2024 was a watershed year for a lot artists. It was the year of the "return to form," whether that involved a new release or just a run of shows. We saw it with The Hope Conspiracy, The Blood Brothers, Orchid, Pygmy Lush, the list goes on… In terms of output, I saw so many of my favorite artists really begin to paint with broader strokes. Emerging from the cocoon and abandoning all expectation. I can’t help but feel the socioeconomic state of the world has instilled a renewed and profound urgency. It’s poetic and it’s dire. I see this continuing into 2025 with vigor.
What can we look forward to from you in 2025?
As many Spanaway shows as we can possibly manage in support of Songs Of Yesteryear, while approaching new material somewhere in the background… I’ll also be focusing my attention on small-batch literary releases via my imprint Burial Whisper!
What records are you looking forward to most in 2025?
Maybe this is an odd answer, but I actively try to distance myself from news of artists in the studio/different stages of the recording process. I love to see a formal album announcement somewhat out of the blue, as this kind of definitive "here it is" in its most realized state. This mostly leaves me in the dark when it comes to anticipatory news. That feeling of organically coming across something new is a high I’ve chased my whole life. I look forward to 2025 as it unfolds.
How do you try to get your news to fans as media platforms and algorithms change?
I’ve always viewed social media as a necessary evil. I think that in most ways, platforms and their algorithms are progressively turning their back on small artists/businesses. In lieu of playing the algorithmic lotto, it’s imperative to meet fans "where they live." That means treating fans as human beings and not as transactions. I think Spanaway is most effective when we take a vested interest into who exactly is listening. This manifests as a grassroots "talking to people at shows," etc. But also connecting with and understanding peoples material conditions. Maybe their participation is limited as a result, that doesn’t make them any less of a fan. When you forge human relationships with your fans, dispersing news becomes easy. It’s almost second nature.
Robby Vena – social media links
- Instagram: @spanawayalt
