White Light from a BlackStar

White Light From A Black Star were formed in September 2004 in Toronto. Comprised of Gomez, Viggo and Sillabyss, the initial aim of this band was to combine the elemental sounds of ambience and noise within the structures of traditional scores and movements.

Viggo had met Gomez at the age of 12 while playing soccer. In the 90’s he had been involved in various bands which also played around Hamilton. Later on he decided to develop his own style and sound and began experimenting with guitar sounds, minimal lyrics and colour in a solo project called KeroseneDayDream. His latter influences came from bands such as Godspeed, Sigur Ros and Phillip Glass

With a background in sound engineering, Sillabyss places creative emphasis on building walls of sound using traditional and modern instrumentation. He began collaborating with local talent in various bands and projects until finding his sound through extensive research in algorithmic and harmonic synthesis. Influenced by such artists as Brian Eno, My Bloody Valentine and The Velvet Underground, his past efforts have seen completion within his solo project “Fortean Halo”.

Gomez took up the bass guitar upon formation of the band. Influenced specifically by Pink Floyd, Ride and The Stone Roses, Gomez played a pivotal role in the bands creation. “From the first rehearsal the chemistry was apparent to everyone – the songs almost wrote themselves every time we played together”, Gomez confidently states.

The name of the band was derived by the process in which the sounds and arrangements came together: “From the first time we started playing, we felt directed by something channeled from somewhere else - it was like a blinding light emanating from a place we couldn’t see”, Sillabyss states.