Dark Alternative Pop Artist VIANA Discusses Her Latest Single ‘Wine & Roses’ and More!

Meet the dark alternative pop artist Viana! Her debut single, “Wine & Roses,”was released on June 7th. This track is a beautiful introduction to her enchanting artistry as Viana, unapologetically shedding her rock-tinged skin and morphing into a dark pop siren.

Check out the video for “Wine & Roses” here- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K-3Scnnqdo

Although a new solo artist, Viana spent the last few years actively touring and releasing music with her band Royal Street, now disbanded.

Viana has been singing ever since she can remember. Raised on church gospel, classic rock and a touch of jazz, her vocals have morphed through the years into a sound uniquely hers. A decade of fronting pop-punk bands, starring in local musical productions and dabbling in some moderate witchcraft have been integral in the formation of the ethereal melody-machine that is Viana.

Her sound can best be described as dark alternative-pop. Enchanting beats, flawless vocal runs and syrupy sweet lyrics are enough to wake the dead and get even the saddest bones moving. Her influences include other unique and strong female singer-songwriters such as Maggie Rogers, FKA Twigs, Billie Eilish, Phoebe Bridgers and Beyoncé.

With a style influenced by a combination of being a sucker for a catchy melody, yet still bringing a natural edge brought on by years of fronting rock bands, paired with her giant doe-eyes and freckles, Viana’s presence is one to pay attention to. Her gifts were shared while touring with past bands Sienna and Royal Street, playing to small groups in basements, and to crowds of 2,000+ enthusiastic and captivated show-goers.

Viana’s mission through music is to connect with all people and remember that self expression should be about going with your gut and listening to your own instincts. Growing up in a female fronted band always striving to be the next big thing brings an unnecessary pressure. These days, she creates what she wants and what feels most comfortable for her, and wants to help her listeners do the same. After ten years of collaborative work, Viana’s fierce independence has led to the shedding of her past skin and the incubation of this unapologetically Viana project: new, strange, and no-fucks-given.

CONNECT WITH VIANA HERE:

Twitter – @vianavalentine

Instagram – @vianavalentine

Learn more about Viana in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time today! Where does this interview find you?

Hey hey! Thanks for taking your time to chat. I’m feeling good! I just recorded an idea for a song, and now I’m sitting outside with a coffee and my dogs.

Now that we are half-way through the year, how has 2019 been treating you? What are some goals that you have for yourself this year? How close are you to reaching them?

WELL 2019 has been friggin incredible so far. I set goals for myself to release music and keep up with creating and making the type of music that I want to without worrying about anything else besides how I’m feeling. I just released Wine & Roses, my first single along with a video for the song. Before I know it, I’ll be releasing the next song, and I’m happy to be busy. One goal I’m working on now is getting my live act together so I can start playing shows again. I’m soooo ready for that.

Growing up, how important was music in your life? Can you recall the moment when you decided that you wanted to be a musician? Was it an easy or difficult choice to make?

I grew up in a musical family, so it definitely made sense that I turned out the way I did! The moment I actually decided that I wanted to pursue music as my livelihood, I remember being like, well shit, time to get ready to work my butt off and probably be broke for a long time… but it’s so worth it. I wouldn’t want to do anything else. For me, this is my only option. I have no back up plan.

Was there ever a time when you thought about doing something else? If you weren’t a musician today, what else could you see yourself doing? Would you be as fulfilled in life?

Although the life of a musician definitely has low points, I could never walk away. There is no other path for me.

What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? What has been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all?

The biggest surprise with doing all of this is always the people that take time out of their day to listen and be part of the journey. I’m always blown away by that. But, with every positive person, there’s someone negative waiting just around the corner to level out your ego. That’s been a challenge for sure. Finding ways to deal with or block out negativity gets easier as you get older, but you never completely don’t notice it.

Let’s talk about your debut single, “Wine & Roses.” What was it like finally releasing it? What was the inspiration for this track?

Wine & Roses. Dealing with your past, and learning how to acknowledge that it’s always a part of you, but doesn’t have to define you. Releasing this track was super exciting for me, because with it being my first single, no one really knew what to expect. The suspense was pretty damn cool.

What was it like making the music video for “Wine & Roses”? How creatively involved with the making of it were you?

Making the video with Burke Cullinane was an absolute breeze. I had a couple of ideas for things that I wanted, and then he took it and ran with it. Seeing everything we shot, and then seeing the final product made the process really fun for me. He absolutely killed it.

Do you plan to release more new music soon and a full collection of new songs?

Yes!!! I’ll be releasing another single before you know it. I have a few lined up and ready to go. I’ll likely start working on an EP later this year.

How is your sound as a solo artist different then your music with your previous band, Royal Street?

My sound is definitely more pop, and more produced than Royal Street was. One of the things I love about my solo sound is my ability to have fun and mess around with different vocal effects and samples and stuff. I write all the songs on keys first, which is way different than we used to do with the band, so it’s been a fun learning curve.

Where can people see you perform next? Do you plan to tour at all this summer or later this year? What has been a favorite performance of yours so far?

I actually have no live shows lined up right now, but I’m working on it! I would have to say, while in my band, my favorite performances were definitely Warped Tour and a gig we played with Bad Rabbits in Providence. Sometimes the crowd just brings a show to another level, and that happened on both those days. It was magic.

How do you think you have grown as a musician since you first started singing and writing songs?

Oh, I could write a novel on this one. But, to wrap it all up, the biggest thing I’ve seen myself grow on is my confidence and ability to stick with my gut with decisions I need to make. I’ve learned to trust my instincts.

What has it been like keeping up with your social media accounts and all of the different platforms? Is it hard to stay up to date on it all? What would you say is your favorite way to connect with your fans now? What has social media done for your career?

Social media is pretty much the bane of my existence but it’s SO necessary. I just recently got my Twitter back, and am trying to remember to put all the random thoughts I have out into the Internet. It’s hard to keep up with for sure, but social media allows us to connect with people we never would’ve been able to in the past, so it’s an important tool for musicians. Instagram is definitely my favorite social media platform though, I love the stories and being able to see what people are up to.

Who are some of your favorite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you absolutely love to work with in the future?

Growing up, I was always listening to a little bit of everything. I love Beyonce. I’ve always listened to her, and admired her vocal abilities. I tend to lean towards listening to people that have incredible voices. Hayley Williams was someone I was always inspired by. I would love to work with Bruno Mars in the future. He just has such a cool vibe with the music he creates.

If you had an unlimited budget and your schedule was free, what would your dream music video look like?

OMG. I’ve actually never thought of this before… GOLD EVERYTHING.

Where would you absolutely love to hear one of your songs? On a TV show, in a movie or elsewhere?

Any and all of the above would be great. It’d be awesome to write a song for a soundtrack though. I’ve always wanted to do that.

At the end of the day, what do you hope people take away from your music?

I hope people take away whatever they need to from my music. It’s all up for interpretation and that’s what I love about creating.

Would you like to share anything else with our readers about your music?

Just to listen and share, and remember to create what YOU want to. Don’t worry about anyone else’s standards, you have to make yourself happy. Keep on doing your thing!