The Treasury. This is about as far as I can go as far as an introduction goes as this is probably the first time I’m hearing about this band. But there’s a lot of jewels and gems to be uncovered from this act as I recently discovered given my sneak peek of the solo artist’s forthcoming album Permanent District. Lovely EBM beats to make you want shake your booty…Or, in my case, lift some weights. Discover The Treasury just as I have in this edition of INTRODUCING.
Give us a brief about your band. Who are you and what do you do?
My Name is Troy, from Richmond Virginia, and play everything as The Treasury. (Synth, Drum Machine, Vocals, And Samples)
When did you first launch the project and how has it come along since?
I started The Treasury early to like mid-October 2022. I played my first show in Baltimore, actually on November 18th, 2022. Yeah! It’s come a decent way so far I would say! I was able to open up for some great influential current artists over the past few years, do some really inspiring tours while learning along the way, and now I have the opportunity to release music through a label I genuinely respect and appreciate.
What bands and artists influenced you the most and why?
Hmmm I really take away from a lot of different music when I write. I’ve always been that way. I guess specifically I would say Ministry, Depeche mode, Nine Inch Nails, Suicide, Wire, The Stone Roses, The Cure, Filmmaker, DJ Umfang. I feel like these are like a handful of artists I listen to usually on any given day. Too much to say about all of them but they for sure inspire me when it comes down to it.
If you could pick a single song from your discography to explain your music, which song would you pick and why?
I would say Novice Cycle from my EP. I think that song encompasses a lot of influence from techno to EBM to 90s darkwave. I feel like it’s a good mix of usually what’s going on in my head. I feel like to me that song stands out from the others because of that reason.
What is your most recent release and what is it about?
Well it’s gotta be Permanent District, right? Haha. This ep is about a lot of things really. But I’ll say the title track kinda explains it all. Being confined to one place to that one thing you are “supposed” to do. You can take it in many different ways I guess but when I was living in North Carolina I felt trapped and I knew I needed to leave to feed this constant urge of creativity that I needed to explore. I feel like this most of the time and I feel strongly that your environment mainly reflects that. I felt that Richmond had that escape for me and it still does. So the EP is about those mental and social struggles and other things I went through to get to the place that I am right now.
Take us through your creative process. How do you compose a song from start to finish? Where do the ideas come from?
So the ideas really just come from my environment and what kind of day I’m having. Musically ideas are always popping off in my head, you should take a look in there. But the creativity part is how can I relay this into a feline, story, message, etc, etc…I usually start with some samples and lay down a pattern with a percussion to follow, then I just start writing on how I feel at that moment. It can come from past events, shit I have to do that day, how friends in my life are doing, things like that. Then I usually create the melody on synths and add little parts to the program on my MPC then go back and forth with the structure till it feels right. Then I start to see the actual song and then polish it out from there.
What’s your current favorite song, band, or album within your scene? And vice versa, what do you enjoy the most that’s completely opposite of what you make?
Ohhh man. There’s so many artists here I can’t pull out a favorite, but currently who I’ve been really enjoying is a band from here in Richmond called Circuit Preacher. They may kill me for saying this but they are like the NIN of our generation. They are gonna do incredible things soon for sure. Best live set in the city I’ve seen so far.
Ohhh ummmm this is kinda difficult because I love a lot of stuff. I would say like older folk stuff. Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, The Roaches etc, etc.
What is on the horizon for your project? Upcoming gigs, tours, merch, videos, etc. Name it, link it, show it off.
Well definitely more touring. Planning out some west coast tour dates for next year and hopefully Europe in the fall of next year. In between that I’ll be writing for a full length that hopefully will be ready mid to late next year. Trying to work in a music video for early next year as well. But for now catch me on tour this fall in the north east and midwest with my dear friend Andrew Of Clock Serum, he rocks.
