DM) Who are your musical influences?
VV) Thanks for your message. My influences are diverse and
many, from ragtime to heavy metal. They include family members,
Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, Robert Plant, Aretha Franklin, Steven
Tyler; and more currently Sheryl Crow, Sugar Ray, Ani DiFranco
and Paula Cole. I do not emulate myself after any of these artists,
but have gained knowledge and inspiration from all of them, as
well as many others.
DM) I once read a commentary which said women NEEDED female
singers as role models as male singers just didn't work. How
true is that?
VV) I don't believe that is true at all. I grew up with many
male influences and feel that women and men can learn a great
deal from each other every step of the way. Everyone is different
and it's important for individuals to decide what makes a good
role model to them, but I don't think it should ever be limited
in any way.
DM) What did you learn from the male influences?
VV) I guess what I've learned most from male influences in
my life is balance. Men and women can look at things so differently,
but we can learn a lot from each other.
DM) What is your writing style?
VV) I don't try to write in any particular style or genre,
I just write what comes from the heart and have been lucky enough
to receive a positive response from many different types of people.
I'm not sure how to exactly categorize our music (kind of funkified
roots music I guess). It is a high energy blend of many influences
that we hope will carry to the next century. I will be happy
to send a press kit and CD off to you, if Joe has not done that
yet, so you can check it out. What is your mailing address?
DM) What's more important to you, the live performance or
the recording?
VV) I enjoy aspects of both live performance and recording
very much. The live performance has an energy and spontaneity
that is unmatched because of the people that attend the shows
and the members of our band. It's different each time, depending
on who is in the audience and what the mood is that night, but
we always have a great time on stage with each other and with
the people that come to see us. The recording studio is a whole
different experience, which I enjoy very much as well. In the
studio you can create a song from beginning to end and make it
all your own. I can also explore my voice in a different way
because I can take the time to concentrate on making that particular
song as good as it can possibly be. I also love the challenge
of being singer and producer.
DM) How did you learn to be producer?
VV) I decided to produce my own music because I want to make
sure that our originality comes through. Even working with other
producers, I like to guide the overall focus. When I trust my
instincts, things seem to work out better. Since there has been
a lot of positive feedback on the production of our projects,
I gain more confidence and continue to explore and grow as a
producer. Like anything else though, no matter how far I come,
I know there is always so much more to learn.
In my last two projects, I was fortunate enough to hook up with
Ducky Carlisle, a very talented engineer and producer, owner
of Room 9 from Outerspace in So. Boston. He has given me a lot
of support as an artist and producer. He always has great ideas
and gives me things to think about. In our latest project, we
also worked with David Brown (ex-Billy Joel guitarist), who helped
me to focus more on myself as a singer in the studio instead
of concentrating mostly on the entire band as a producer. We
worked very well together on this project and I feel I have grown
as a producer and as an artist from his involvement as well.
I appreciate having other perspectives, it can only make the
final result better.
DM) Is music your first love?
VV) And to answer your third question, this has always been
my first love. Music has been a major part of my existence through
the influence of the musicians in my family, and it is the only
thing I have ever really wanted to pursue.
DM) Have you ever worked in a different career?
VV) I think most musicians have had at least one other career
and I am no exception. I have had many different jobs, from painter
to legal secretary, but am now able to concentrate solely on
my music. While there were many careers I had thought about and
explored when I was younger, everything brought me back to music.
DM) If music didn't work out, what would you do?
VV) If I had a Plan B to fall back on, I may not be as passionate
about making Plan A work, so I have to keep my focus on being
successful in music.
