Five Fun Facts with Paco Versailles
Los Angeles-based act Paco Versailles often describes themselves as Dancemenco, a blend of electronic with flamenco guitar, created by singer and musician Ryan Merchant and guitarist/musician Vahagni. 'Dancemenco' also happens to be the name of their debut album out March 26. Though it's clear the guys are meticulous in creating their songs, Paco Versailles actually doesn't take things too seriously. They developed their new music project with a mindset void of pressure, and they turn songs around rather quickly in the studio.
The two talents met while Merchant (one-half of Capital Cities) was touring, and Vahagni joined the "Safe And Sound" band for their 2016 tour. They struck up a friendship, and likely a shorthand coming up with numerous alluring songs as the new duo Paco Versailles, which is a nod to their shared appreciation of Spanish guitarist Paco de Lucia and French electronic artists like Daft Punk and Air. Paco Versailles kicked off in 2019 with the duo testing out songs at The Peppermint Club in LA, and in June of that year, they released the groovy lead single "Unwind". Numerous nu-disco singles later, including "Shangri La", "Lilac Moon", the ballad "Brave New World" (released earlier this year), and "Your Love" (released this month), Paco Versailles are headed for the dancefloor, and the airwaves as the world starts to look up. If your ears are looking for a vacation, all their music is recommended, and of course, the forthcoming single, "Something New", also coming Friday, March 26.
Check back next week for our full interview with Paco Versailles and to discover the new single. Until then, enjoy Five Fun Facts with Paco Versailles:
We are both really picky about coffee. We are coffee addicts. It just has to be really good; we are very snobby, I guess.
Vahagni is a wealth of historical information. He's a history buff and knows about every period of history. We have conversations, and he's educating me, and I'm like, how the fuck do you know all of this? The answer is that he used to watch documentaries in practice all the time.
Ryan is really good at impersonations and accents. He can talk like he's from Glasgow, Scotland. He can do an Irish accent and an Australian one as well.
The wood called Palo Santo (it's an incense thing) is always burning when the Paco Versailles guys are in the studio. Vahagni says it smells exactly like what you would smell in a Luthier guitar shop.
We both have a nervous tick where we sometimes clear our throats too much. We have phlegm problems or something.
- Paco Versailles
Written by Michael Menachem
Photo by Lia Bekyan