During my cultural journey through Texas, I discovered the music of Vanessa Lively. Vanessa Lively and her husband Jason are examples of the globalization of music. After hearing Vanessa Lively, I invited her and she accepted to be interviewed. The rest is history.

 

1. What inspired you to record «Uncovering Stones»?

 

 

The songs more than anything inspired the record, and I recently had an outpouring of new songs in 2010. I felt that those songs, along with others that had been waiting for a while to be on an album, fit very nicely together. I had originally wanted to record my third full length album with my new material on it for a couple of years, but the project went on hold when Mercedes Sosa passed away in 2009. I decided to do a tribute to her life and to the movement she was a part of called «Nueva Trova» or «Nueva Canción.» That album was called ‘Canto y Cantera.’ So when November rolled around last year, I felt that creative energy resurfacing and decided to just go for it and record another full length with my own songs. I work side by side with my husband, Jason Lively. Jason is a multi-instrumentalist and has experience with audio engineering as well. He was completely on board with the idea, so we just went for it full force.

 

 

2. How long did it take you to record «Uncovering Stones»?

 

 

The actual recording only took about 7 days. We had worked out what we envisioned for each song, and lined up all of the musicians ahead of time. We also had a couple of rehearsals to make sure we liked the way it was all sounding. So by the time the recording began in late February of this year, we had many of the kinks works out, and many of the decisions made. We were working with a fantastic engineer named Keith Gary who brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the project. When I decided to make the album, it was around November of last year, and the first thing I did was paint the cover art. Then we sold the individual canvases to people who wanted to help us make the album and had the money to start the project. Everything was completely finished by March and we had it mastered and sent out in April. So from absolute start to finish, the project took about 6 months.

 

 

3. Which will be the places where you will perform «Uncovering Stones»?

 

 

We are leaving next week to go on the CD Release tour which will take us through the Midwest, Great Plains and Southeast. We will be performing in Dallas, Topeka, Eureka Springs, Excelsior, Chicago, Cleveland, Nashville, Memphis and Little Rock. Later this year, we might be travelling to the Southwest & West Coast areas.

 

4. Will you ever do a concert in Florida or other parts of the world?

 

 

I have not played in Florida yet, but would love to make it over there someday soon. I tend to perform mainly around the Texas region, Southwest and West Coast. I have toured England in the past and would like to return there and also perform in The Netherlands and Denmark. I am also interested in touring Latin America someday in the near future.

 

5. In the «Uncovering Stones» tour, will you be performing with other artists?

 

 

My husband Jason Lively and I will tour together as a duo. Jason plays the Charango, which is a small Andean instrument similar to the ukelele and mandolin. He also plays the bass and guitar. A few of our shows will have other artists, including one show in Minnesota with our friend Mother Banjo.

 

6. What inspired you to start a career in music?

 

 

I have always loved to sing and perform both with music and theatre. I was a singer in two different bands as a young girl, but did not start writing my own songs until later. I think my first songs were written when I was 23 or 24 years old. Then shortly after I started writing songs, Jason and I moved to South America. This journey had music woven in and out of every experience and I felt more and more drawn to writing songs and singing. While I was living in Ecuador in 2006, I began recording some of my songs in a studio in Quito. I decided to go ahead and record a full length album there, and asked friends who we had met there to come in and record some musical parts. So many of our new friends were incredible musicians

 

7. What artists and genres have influenced you?

 

 

I have been inspired by many artists including Tori Amos, Ani DiFranco, Bob Marley, Tracy Chapman, Ben Harper, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Sarah McLaughlin, The Indigo Girls and so many more! As far as genres go, I have been influenced by folk music, reggae, music from around the world, some pop & rock, and all my peers who are out there hitting the pavement every day sharing their music with the world.

 

8. Do you have any advice for those who seek a career in the music business?

 

 

I say that if you feel that music is your passion and what you really want to do with your life, that go for it 100%, believe in yourself even when no one else does, and have faith that things will work out for you. It is hard work, and it is constant work, but when you are doing something you love, every bit of it is worth it. Getting to live every day doing what you love is priceless and worth all the struggle. Building a community and a support system is vital. There are many times where it can feel overwhelming to do this sort of work where you are responsible for every aspect of your career – the business side, the financial side, performing, creating, etc. So having a community that helps and supports you will get you through the rough spots, and having folks around you that have done this sort of work is really helpful.

 

9. How do you see the Texas Music Scene in the present and the future?

 

 

I think that the Texas Music Scene is thriving! Austin in particular is a hotbed for creative artists and brings with it all those support systems I was just referring to. You are surrounded by other artists, by organizations put into place just for musicians, and the city is supportive of musicians as well. This community is so alive and is growing every single day, and I think that it will continue to do so for a long time.

 

10. Do you have any words for the general public.

 

 

I would encourage people out there to support local artists as much as they can. Instead of buying a gift at a big store, they should consider going to the local farmers’ market or artisan market and getting something from someone who made a beautiful work of art. It will help them to continue doing what they love, and will be so much more special to the person receiving it! And go see some live music once in a while…tip your musicians, and if you like what they are doing, buy their CD and pass the word to your friends. This is a grassroots effort and word of mouth is how each artist grows. Organically and slowly, so people who are art and music lovers are incredibly important to those who are the artists and musicians. Thank you!!

 

 

I would like to thank Vanessa Lively for accepting my invitation to be interviewed. My best wishes for her and her music. The sites where her music can be purchased can be appreciated in the bottom of the page. Until next time.

 

 

 

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Artist Website: http://www.vanessalively.com

 

Online Press Kit: http://www.sonicbids.com/vanessalively

Social Networks: myspace + facebook + twitter /vanessalively

Booking: Talia Bryce – Good Bookin’ | talia@goodbookin.com

Management: Charlie Stewart – Handshake Management  |  handshakemgt@aol.com