Ahead of their ‘Mycelium Bloom album release on NuNorthern Soul, we caught up with Muzka, Dan, and Simon to talk about imaginary landscapes, cosmic connections, Ibiza sunsets, creative curveballs, and the strange worlds that grow when three likeminded musicians give each other complete freedom. 

From mystical forests and star filled skies to Dutch vocals, Parisian coffee shops and the ever- expanding roots of ‘Mycelium Bloom’  this is a conversation that perfectly reflects the spirit of Visions Of Light.

WWD: If Visions of Light had to describe your sound using only objects found in a very strange Balearic lost property box, what would be in there?

Muzka: An old Super 8 camera and projector showing night drives, dancing, sunsets and ocean views. Add a broken Roland 303, cheap headphones, worn guitar picks, a blanket that smells of summer, a travel pass with a phone number on it, three mixtapes called ‘Shroomvibes’, ‘Newstuff’ and ‘Oldstuff’, and a Mycelium Bloom T shirt.

WWD: Your no egos, no rules, no restrictions motto feels wonderfully chaotic. What is the most delightfully unplanned moment that has ever shaped a track?

Muzka: Everything is mostly unplanned. We send each other tracks to use, chop up or rebuild. The biggest transformations happen when one of us strips away the beats from a rhythm driven track and suddenly it becomes a slow, emotional ambient piece.

WWD: You make music for imaginary places, so what is the weirdest imaginary place you have ever soundtracked in your heads?

Muzka: It is different for all of us because music takes everyone somewhere different. For me, one setting is a forest where friends connect through music and nature. Another is deep in the cosmos, among stars and black holes, soundtracking light as it travels through space and time. 

WWD: When you first got together, which of you was the biggest curveball in the studio, the one who kept surprising the others with unexpected ideas?

Muzka: The other two would probably say me. We all bring unexpected ideas because we try not to have expectations of each other. I have learned to refine my curveballs a bit more, but I still love throwing in an idea nobody sees coming.

WWD: NuNorthern Soul has a reputation for Balearic openness. If the label were a character in your studio, what role would it play: the wise mentor, the cosmic wanderer, or the friend who brings snacks?

Muzka: Probably all three. They give us confidence, freedom and guidance without telling us what to do. They would be great company, full of stories, music chat and nonsense, and hopefully willing to sing and dance when needed. 

WWD: Your sunset set in Santa Eularia has become part of your mythology. What is one moment from that night you wish you could bottle and keep forever?

Muzka: Looking up near the end and seeing friends old and new completely locked into the music. Everyone was smiling, swaying and cheering. That feeling of connection ended up influencing our second album. 

WWD: If Ibiza sunsets could talk, what do you think they would say about your music?

Muzka: They would probably tell venues to book us because our music belongs at sunset. Then they would thank us for helping them switch off at the end of the day. 

WWD: On ‘Dedications,’ you rebuilt iconic tracks in your own image. Which original track fought back the hardest before finally surrendering to the Visions of Light treatment?

Muzka:None of them fought back, but Born Slippy sparked the most discussion. We tried different vocal ideas before stripping them away. Blue Monday changed the most, evolving from an up tempo cover into a slow, dubby rework. 

WWD: You have said you do not want to be trapped by nostalgia. What is one nostalgic music moment you secretly love anyway?

Dan: I still love reconnecting with the kind of music that draws you into a state of total relaxation. Getting lost in a sound can feel almost meditative and healing. 

WWD: ‘Mycelium Bloom’ dives deeper into psychedelic territory. What is the most psychedelic thing that happened during the making of the album, musical or otherwise?

Dan: While working on ‘Let Go’, I parked by a lake in the Fermanagh Lakelands on a clear night and watched the stars reflecting on the water. Listening to the track in that moment felt magical and convinced me we had something special. 

WWD: If each track on Mycelium Bloom were a creature in a Balearic ecosystem, which one would be the friendliest and which one would bite?

Dan: ‘Let Go’ would be the friendliest because it feels magical and uplifting. ‘All The Best Things’ would bite because it developed into a darker, mysterious track with a slight Spaghetti Western feel. 

WWD: Your textures feel alive, guitars breathing, electronics shimmering, basslines stretching out like vines. Which element of your sound is the biggest troublemaker?

Dan: The challenge is balancing everything. We layer guitars, bass, synths, vocals, drums and guest musicians, but the key is knowing when something is too much and keeping the original idea clear. 

WWD: ‘Perfect’ You brings in Richard Dormer and Luis Vilca. What was the moment you realized this collaboration was going to get interesting?

Dan: The track went through a lot of changes, which made it challenging. That process pushed us creatively and in the end it became a piece that sits perfectly within the album. 

WWD: Between the three of you, who is most likely to say, ‘Let’s try something completely ridiculous,’ and who is most likely to say, ‘Actually, that might work?’

Dan: Nik is usually the adventurous one. Simon is often the voice deciding whether something works or not. Ultimately though, every decision is shared and there are no egos involved. 

WWD: What is one musical instinct each of you has that the others have learned to trust, even when it seems odd at first?

Simon: Dan and I tend to stay closer to the downtempo side of things, while Nik likes pushing ideas somewhere unexpected. It can be scary handing him something you love, but he always finds possibilities we would not have discovered ourselves. 

WWD: If Visions of Light had a house motto, Game of Thrones style, what would it be?

Simon: “From Deep Roots, Strange Worlds Grow.” Rooted in dub, connected like mycelium, always growing towards something unexpected. 

WWD: Balearic openness means anything can coexist: dub, psychedelia, ambient guitars,  electronics. What is the strangest combination you have tried that actually worked?

Simon & Muzka: Working with Richard Dormer was unexpected and surreal. We have also combined very different instruments with French narration simply because the music felt like it belonged in a Parisian café. 

WWD: What is one sound, instrument or texture you have not used yet but are itching to experiment with?

Simon & Muzka: I would love more live strings, vocalists and percussion. I would also enjoy experimenting with turntable cuts and scratches inspired by artists like DJ Krush and DJ Shadow. 

WWD: When a new track begins, what is usually the spark: a bassline, a mood, a weird sample or someone saying ‘listen to this?’

Simon & Muzka: Anything can spark a track. Sometimes it starts with keys, other times with an old unfinished idea that we recycle and reinvent.

WWD: If ‘Mycelium Bloom’ were a journey, what is the moment where listeners should close their eyes and fully give in?

Simon & Muzka: Immediately. The album starts with ‘Split The Scene’, which is designed to pull you in from the first note and set the tone for the journey ahead.

WWD: Where do you feel Visions of Light is heading next and what playful detours might you take along the way?

Simon & Muzka: We are already deep into writing our third LP, alongside a number of remixes. We also want to develop the live show further, especially with visuals and more immersive experiences.

WWD: We can’t wait to see and hear it! Thanks for the chat 🙂 

The ‘Mycelium Bloom’ album is available here