Q: Hi there! I love the soothing aura that “Indigo” brings. The instrumental is so dreamy. Can you walk me a bit through the production process on this track?
MICHELLE VANDA: Of course! “Indigo” will always be special to me because it’s the first track I’ve released as the executive producer. It came together very quickly at home where I was sort of writing it and creating the atmosphere at the same time. I wanted the soundscape to feel like a dream state, grounded with lyrics from real life experiences. It was important for me to keep it pretty lo-fi, while making sure to keep the shimmer & sparkle in there, which is what I think makes it pretty unique!
Q: Your vocals bring an ultra-sultry vibe to “Indigo.” I’m curious, who are your biggest musical influences?
VANDA: I am a huge music lover in general with a wide variety of tastes but some of my biggest influences lately have been artists like Noah Cyrus, BENEE, Audrey Nuna, Sasha Sloan, Lennon Stella, Post Malone, Bazzi – and you’ll hear some harder sounds on the album influenced by artists like Ashnikko, Flo Milli & 100 Gecs 🙂
Q: “Indigo” already shows your distinct sound, unique from other dream pop songs. In your own words, how would you describe the type of music you typically create?
VANDA: “Indigo” steers a little more in the lo-fi /dream pop direction from my typical sound which is more indie pop/R&B. My upcoming album, Sober In Another Life, showcases a wide variety of sounds, which I’m hoping will surprise people in a great way! 🙂
Q: Do you remember when you first fell in love with music? I’m always intrigued by how music and art play a part in an artist’s childhood.
VANDA: I grew up in a household filled with music. Every person in my immediate family plays an instrument & my mom loves to tell everyone I was singing before I was talking. I performed in my first musical at 3 years old & completely fell in love with performing. When I got a little bit older, I realized I could turn my “big” feelings into songs, so I learned guitar & right then and there, songwriting became my passion, right next to singing & performing.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve received about the music industry, and how has it helped you navigate your journey thus far?
VANDA: Don’t try to please everyone! Following trends can be fun, but carving out your own path, no matter how big or small, can be even more internally rewarding for the artist and the people who really resonate with your art!
Q: “Indigo” is about a newly found relationship, which is long distance. Can you talk a bit about the inspiration behind the track? Is this song based on a real-life event?
VANDA: “Indigo” is inspired by memories of past relationships for sure, but I mostly wrote it from a place of fantasy & general life experiences. I was reflecting on the feeling of longing & desire – the idea of running to make someone a playlist the minute you start falling for them.. (psst: thats you’re cue, you’re in deep) ????????Then there’s the all-consuming nights of endless phone trivia, eager to learn every single thing about the other person. It’s one of the greatest parts of falling in love, imo!
Q: What has been one of the highlights of your music career so far?
VANDA: I would say creating and completing my first album! Creating a body of work I am extremely proud of is something I’ve been dreaming of since I was a teenager. That and also building a real connection with the people who listen to my music on social media has been such a blessing this year. Feeling like I am, even in a small way, contributing to someone’s day with music is something I hold super close to my heart and am grateful for every day. It motivates me to keep going when things seem impossible at times!
Q: Thanks for speaking with me today; I look forward to your debut album “Sober In Another Life.”, which “Indigo” will be featured on. What can listeners expect from this album?
VANDA: “Sober In Another Life” is a very electric album. There’s dreamy pieces like “Indigo” all the way at to hyper-pop/grunge vibes and a bunch of indie pop/r&b in between – I even squeezed a more “traditional” ballad track on there that I’ve been wanting to release for almost 2 years now. It’s going to be rooted in my writing and performance style but musically, it’s a wide variety which I think will make one hell of a live show!
Interviewed by Melissa Cusano
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