Vykki Vox Interview

INTERVIEW WITH VYKKI VOX FROM TheCelebrityCafe.com ARCHIVES

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.