Vanessa Anne Redd has been through various incarnations, explored various iterations of her musical obsession. Previously one-half of folk duo Six Years, and before that in electro band Rubicks, she’s now ready to start out on her own. Comparisons could be made to PJ Harvey’s imperial phase, but really Vanessa Anne Redd stands apart.
Can you tell us about yourself? Where you’re from and what you’ve been up to over the past few years?
I’m a Londoner been in bands Rubicks and Six Years and running my own label Sharp Attack records with cohort Marc Makarov and now I’ve just made my first solo record
How would you describe your music?
Sparkly grungy dark folky tales
Can you tell us a little bit about your influences?
That MTV un-plugged session with Kurt Cobain, Nico’s husk, Holly Go-Lightly’s effortless cool, Syd Barrett’s strum and psychedelic brain, Joe Strummer’s attitude, Carole King’s gift of songwriting, Elliot Smith’s uplifting melancholic cool grunge, John Lennon’s serenity, William Blake’s imagery, Byron’s lyricism. On the record two songs were influenced by photos by Daido Moriyama and Duane Michals.
What are you currently promoting?
My new solo album ‘Behind the Wall’
Have you got a particular song you’ve done that you’re particularly proud of, one that might define you?
Don’t think can be defined by one song, each’s just a snap shot of time, like a photo capturing a moment, hopefully I’m changing constantly! The track ‘Behind the Wall’ on my album I love as it took me so long to do the string arrangement and I’m proud of that
What are you currently listening to?
Love the M-Craft album Blood Moon and songs I’ve been working on for Sharp Attack Records by Phoebe Coco, Marc Makarov and Americana band The Du-Rell Family
And your favourite album of all time, the one you couldn’t do without?
Difficult to pick one but it would be a sad day the thought of never hearing those tracks on ‘The Velvet Underground and Nico’ again
What are your hopes for your future career?
To keep writing songs and producing records for me and others and to spread the love baby
If money were no object what would be your dream project?
An orchestral Scott Walker styley recording in Abbey Road
What’s the best thing about being a musician?
The ability to express yourself, channel the muse into everyday life and make other people’s lives a little more fun along the way
And the worst?
Lugging gear around
Finally, have you anything you’d like to say to the readers of Americana UK
Keep digging.
https://vanessaanneredd.com/
