Rising pop star Violet Whimsey encourages people to reclaim their sunshine, joy, and peace in her recent release, “Can’t Remember,” dropped on April 12, 2024.
Backed by a solid bass line, Whimsey confidently declares her forward-looking stance after a breakup in the first verse, a sentiment echoed by the jazzy percussion and keyboard chords that accompany her in the chorus, creating a captivating musical journey.
‘Can’t Remember’ serves as a poignant reminder that the pain of losing a former lover, though intense in the moment, is not eternal. In fact, some of us can’t even recall the names of those who once had us seeking solace in a tub of Ben & Jerry’s.
Violet Whimsey’s talent shines through in ‘Can’t Remember ‘, showcasing her incredible vocal mastery and knack for penning relatable material. This leaves us eagerly anticipating her future releases, a testament to her potential and the excitement she brings to the music scene.
Q&A with Violet Whimsey
Q: Hi! Thank you for agreeing to interview with Rising Artists. Before we dive in, I wanted to start with an icebreaker. What’s one lyric or quote that has stuck with you for a while?
VIOLET WHIMSEY: “While we’re on the subject, could we change the subject now? / I was knocking on your ear’s door, but you were always out / Looking towards the future, we were begging for the past / Well, we knew we had the good things, but those never seemed to last / Oh, please, just last”
—from “Missed the Boat” by Modest Mouse.
Q: Again, thank you so much for doing this interview. Why don’t you introduce yourself to our readers? Who is Violet Whimsey?
VIOLET: Hi! My name is Ann – I’m a singer/songwriter from New Jersey. Violet Whimsey was the name I went with since it sounded like it could be a good band name but also work as a solo project. Which is perfect because sometimes I’m a band, sometimes I’m not. And as I leaned more into my artistic vision – the name felt like a good representation of the world I want to make for my music and listeners. One that represents honesty as an art form, a joy for the unknown, and a birthplace for creativity and collaboration.
Q: In April, you released “Can’t Remember.” And it’s like a “moving on” anthem. What inspired you to write it, and what pushed you to share it with the masses?
VIOLET: Writing “Can’t Remember” was interesting because, like most of my other songs, it really flowed out all at once. Melody and lyrics together, I just sang my feelings – which, [at] that moment, were from an excitement when I realized I could move on and let go.
We all have that one person in life we think we will never forget, which is a sad thing initially because maybe you wanted it to work out, or maybe you actually wanted it to end A LOT sooner, but in a much different way where you didn’t have to get so damn hurt first. But then the day finally comes [when] you’re like, “What was that person’s name again…?” And that moment is a win to celebrate.
Q: How has writing and recording “Can’t Remember” impacted you?
VIOLET: Funny enough, as much as I knew what the song was meant for and what it was meant to celebrate – the reality of letting go was a lot more nuanced because moving on is actually a day-to-day choice since it’s actually a mindset. Sometimes, really difficult experiences don’t just leave you in a day or with one song. You have to hold space for the fact that it comes and goes in waves. And in my case, “Can’t Remember” was actually the destination of where I’d like to be one day for good.
But the process of releasing the song was ironically longer than any song that I released prior. I was second-guessing a lot, asking around for feedback, trying to rework it, and I had moments of wanting to scrap it completely. In the end, I realized it was as it was meant to be, and became really attached through the acceptance process. It’s actually a pretty strong metaphor for the process of learning to love yourself.
At first, you can’t accept some things that happened to you, and as a result, you reject yourself and your story, thinking it’s not how it was supposed to be. Once you come to terms with understanding it’s a part of your own very unique journey, and that only you can love yourself enough to heal, you find that the only acceptance you ever needed is from within.
Q: You had your first LA performance at Kulak’s Woodshed. What was that like?
VIOLET: It was so nerve-wracking, mainly because I never sang my songs live before acoustically, so of course, the sound is gonna be so different compared to being accompanied [by] drums and the whole nine. You could probably hear it all over my voice that I was shook but also amused at the experience of sounding so raw. Thankfully my husband was able to play guitar and keys that day, so that was a huge help. But it was a necessary learning experience to be much more ready and confident for the next time.
Q: You gave a little BTS look into the making of “Can’t Remember,” and I believe you stated you were also working on your upcoming album. Can you talk more about that?
VIOLET: Ah yes – thank you for asking! My debut album is a long time coming. I was hoping to drop the full album last year, but I realized that it needed a few more songs to really tell the full story of its title, “Love, Love.” These songs span many angles of what different kinds of love feel like – whether it’s the anticipation of, excitement for, disappointment from, or even when it’s found within spirituality.
This first album is essentially a collection of love letters written by my own experiences as a woman trying to come to terms with my own feelings and expectations for what love is and “coulda, woulda, shoulda” been. And it’s a theme that I anticipate will be sort of ongoing in all future albums as well.
Q: You dropped your debut single, “Loving You (Was Killing Me),” in October 2020. What was it like working on your music during the pandemic versus now?
VIOLET: Man, having music and songwriting to turn to during the pandemic was everything. I was so grateful to come into that newfound hobby at a time when there was mostly panic and dread in the world. It was such a strange time for everyone, but the period of forced solitude became the driving force for songwriting because I finally was made to see that I had the time and space for music.
I’m so lucky, too, that I found bandmates at the time who were more than happy to jam and record with me. It was an exciting season to release songs with a band, and I’ll always cherish those memories. These days it’s way more structured, I have to mindfully carve out time in my daily routine to make sure I get to all the things I need to, like practice, writing, jamming, recording, content creating, etc.
Q: What has support been like for you as you pursue music?
VIOLET: This is a layered topic for me because I think, to some degree, an artist needs to experience solitude and oneliness to really wrestle with what they stand for and what their values are in order for those truths to be heard in their art. Like I had mentioned, it was so fun with a band, and even now, as I work on songs solo, I know I still have the full support of my friends and family.
I think the thing I’ve been working on the most these days is finding the support and safety within my own self to be seen and not shy away from the promotional aspect that is necessary for the music to have the chance to be heard. Strange to say that being my own support is actually the part I’m working on most every day because sometimes it feels like the hardest part.
Interviewed & Written by Taylor Berry
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