About the artist
William Vandermade, is a solo musician from Sydney who works under the name, Vander + The People, reinventing 80's new wave by merging retro synths with a modern alternative flavour.
He has performed with his band in many legendary Sydney venues, from The Annandale Hotel to The Basement to Campbelltown Sports Stadium, as well as festivals including The Cruelty Free Festival. He also had the privilege of supporting legendary 80’s band, Pseudo Echo on all seven Sydney legs of their 2014 ‘Ultraviolet’ Tour, as well as MI-SEX on their EP Launch and New Zealand band, Dragon across all four of their Sydney shows in 2016.
In 2013, the home demo of 'Back To The Sun’ garnered interest from companies and individuals in the industry, including two US publishing companies, Crucial Music and North Star Media, and record producer and former Senior Vice President of A&R for Warner Music, Jeff Blue.
In 2014, Vander + The People travelled to Los Angeles to work with Blue on three tracks, including 'Back To The Sun’ as well as new songs ‘Shine’ and ‘Take You Home’. Vander independently released his debut EP, ‘Venus’ which included these three tracks in October that year, and with help from former Senior Vice President of A&R at Warner Music Australia, Matt O’Connor, both Back To The Sun and Shine have received regular airplay on community radio across Australia and The UK.
Later that year, the EP was discovered by US company, A&R Worldwide, who offered to provide their services in marketing and promoting the follow-up EP into the Australian and US market. Vander + The People subsequently travelled back to Los Angeles in January 2017 and recorded the second EP, titled ‘Fools, Thieves & Patriots’, due for release later this year. The first single, the re-release of ‘Back To The Sun’, was released into the local and US market and successfully landed radio play on major radio stations around the world including KNRK Portland, KNDD Seattle, WKQX Chicago, KWSS Phoenix, KRZQ Reno, WLKK Buffalo and KROQ Los Angeles. The follow up single, ‘Ghost Of Hiroshima’, was released in June to similar radio success. The third single, ‘Human’ is was released recently in August.
Vander + The People most recently released his latest single, ‘Inflict Me’ in June this year and like it's previous releases, has received airplay from many radio stations around the world. The track has also garnered over 100 Shazam tags within the first two months of it's release.Vander + The People will be releasing his upcoming single, ‘Victorious’ in September this year.
"What a great artist with vision. I had a great time working with Will on these tracks. Putting together 80's-inspired music with modern elements was a satisfying challenge. Ultimately, we created something that captured his artistry and passion, and that we were very proud of.”
Jeff Blue - former Senior VP of A&R, Warner Music, Virgin and Capitol.
"Vander's songs were a joy to mix - the vocal performances, the hooks, the melodies - it's just great pop music!"
Michael McGlynn - Producer, Vienna People
"Vander's music is infectious pop with a beat that won't quit. If you like a bit of retro harmony work drizzled over your rhythmic backbone with a melodic twist: then Vander is here to serve just that!”
William Bowden - Mastering Engineer, King Willy Sound
"I've known Vander for the past 5 years, and watched him develop his songwriting and music. He's evolved into an artist with an undeniable sound and and style unique to him. He's taken the time to really create something special."
Matt O’Connor, former Senior VP of A&R at Warner Music Australia, CEO, The A&R Department
“The 80s vibes are strong in this one from Vander. Although it’s tagged as #Pop on Soundcloud, there are elements of funk, alternative, and even shades of rock in this cracker of a track from the Sydneysider. Having travelled to Los Angeles to work on his upcoming EP Venus, the future is looking bright for this Aussie.”
Thomas Flynn - The AU Review
Lyrics
Verse
We had a wild romance
But now your kisses don’t excite me anymore
Our love’s become too tame
And there’s a different kind of love I’m craving for
Pre-Chorus
I see it in the way you move
There are instincts that are clawing at you inside
You want to play out on the wild side tonight
Chorus
So come and hunt me down girl
Let the beast out of your cage
And take my body as your prey
Come inflict me
Come inflict me
Verse
I want the affliction and pain
Whatever it takes to feed my burning appetite
I’ll wear the marks that you leave
All over my skin after you’ve eaten me alive
Pre-Chorus
I see it in the way you move
There are instincts that are clawing at you inside
You want to play out on the wild side tonight
Chorus
So come and hunt me down girl
Let the beast out of your cage
And take my body as your prey
Come inflict me
Come inflict me
Bridge
The night we met, you were the queen of hearts
But I could see through your innocent eyes
Even then, I knew you‘d be the one
To tame the animal inside of me
Inside of me
Inside of me
Chorus
So come and hunt me down girl
Let the beast out of your cage
And take my body as your prey
Come inflict me
Come inflict me