Name: Veronica Burnuthian
Occupation: Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist
Nationality: Armenian-Belgian
Recent release: Veronica Burnuthian joins up with Sophie Neudecker for their duo project Spinnen (“Spiders”). Their debut full-length album Warmes Licht (“Warm Light”) is out via Alien Transistor.
Topics that I am passionate about but rarely get to talk about: There are definitely topics Iʼm deeply passionate about that rarely come up in conversations or interviews. Iʼd love to discuss how I use my machines, how I apply effects to my voice, or how I experience music in terms of colors and shapes—whether a tone feels jagged and zig-zagging or smooth and flowing.
Beyond music, Iʼm fascinated by things like cartoons or horror movies. For instance, have you seen Us?

[Read our Sophie Neudecker of Spinnen interview]

If you enjoyed this Veronica Burnuthian interview and would like to find out more about her music, visit the official Spinnen homepage.



Do you think that some of your earliest musical experiences planted a seed for your interest in writing lyrics or poetry? How and when did you start writing?

My early passions have definitely shaped how I write lyrics.

Growing up during the MTV era, I came across Nirvana, and they completely blew me away. Their songwriting, the raw emotion in their words, the heaviness of their sound, the depth of their music, and their rebellious energy all hit me hard and left a lasting impact.

What were some of the artists and albums which inspired you early on purely on the strength of their lyrics? What moves you in the lyrics of other artists?

A big moment for me was hearing Sinéad OʼConnorʼs version of “All Apologies.” It hit me in a completely different way and made me realize how much the identity behind the voice can transform the meaning of a song.



That realization got me thinking about the unique power of my voice—our voices—and how that adds another layer of significance when writing lyrics.

I started writing back in school, inspired by French poetry—especially Rimbaud, Verlaine, and Baudelaire. Their work really drew me in, and I wanted to follow in the footsteps of my idols. Growing up in a French-speaking country, I was surrounded by the language and its literature. Later on, I learned English and German, and each of those languages came with its own rhythm and flow.

Every language has its own vibe—its harmonies, tones, and textures—and thatʼs shaped how I approach music. Iʼm really focused on finding the right rhythm when I sing, whether itʼs the length of the words, how they fit together, or even using my voice as another instrument to add depth to the meaning.

The artists that inspired me the most are Cat Power and Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), John Frusciante (Ataxia) and Modest Mouse - especially the Album Lonesome Crowded West.



Kai Tempest is also the queer god that I have been waiting for my whole life, their lyrics and flow are truly mind-blowing and speak so much to me.

One lyric that sticks with me forever because of the message, the emotions and the song all together is Anne Clarkʼs “Wallies:”

“Against the power of their misguidance We must learn to fight
To be just what we want to be Morning, noon, and night
Night is for the hunters And the hunted are you and me
Hunted for just having Some form of identity.”



It is sometimes said that “music begins where words end.” What do you make of that?

"Magic begins where words end" speaks to the idea that words hold immense power.

When something is spoken aloud, emotions are released, and meaning is transmitted— like a shimmering light that enters through the ears and permeates the body. This light intertwines with our humanity, transforming us into something new, something changed.

The relationship between words and music has always intrigued me. How do you see it? In how far can music take you to places with your writing you would possibly not have visited without it?

Music has the power to transform sentences, altering their tone entirely—shifting from serious to ironic, or imbuing them with entirely new emotional weight.

Through recording, whether with music or spoken text, you can use your voice to strike a particular tone, emphasize specific words, or subtly layer meaning beneath the surface. This creates a sense of freedom, allowing you to work with the "background" forces— the magic that exists between the lines.

What are areas/themes/topics that you keep returning to in your lyrics?

Recurring themes in my work often revolve around moments of vulnerability—times when I donʼt feel strong enough, moments of self-soothing, or dreams of a utopia.

These ideas find their way into my notes as scattered words, phrases, or punchlines. I might forget about them for a while, only to rediscover them later and expand on them. These fragments often become strong titles or impactful lines.

I'd love to know how you think the meaning or effect of an individual song is enhanced, clarified or possibly contradicted by the EPs, or albums it is part of. Does the song, for example, need to be consistent with the larger whole?

A song doesnʼt always have to align thematically with the rest of an album, but the overall sequence—including instrumental interludes, intros, and outros—should create a cohesive, dramaturgical flow.