Q&A: Vietta
IT’S AS IF SHE BELONGS IN THE PAGES OF A FAIRYTALE - Vietta’s soft lovestruck beats gently lure her listener in. As our main character she’s intelligent and practical, yet willing to throw caution to the wind to follow her dreams of music. With a recent single “Dizzy” and a new song “Let Him Go” out next Monday, Vietta’s dreams seem more like reality. She’s a storyteller and an artist, gathering from her inspirations to piece together the compelling collage that is her ever-evolving sound. Read ahead, and prepare yourself to dive into the world of the artist behind the magical music.
LUNA: In what ways has your cultural background played a role in your development as an artist?
VIETTA: There is so much in my life that has influenced me as a person which in turn has influenced my artistry. I think one main thing is the fact that I have never felt like I could exist in a single identity. I grew up in a bicultural household and my family moved every 3 years because my dad is in the army. So I could never put myself in any one category. I am American, I am Rwandan, I lived in Germany and in different US states. I think this has contributed to my reluctance to present myself with one image and as an artist, it's important for me to have the freedom to change. I don't want to be stuck writing songs about the same things or doing the same thing all the time. I want my art to exist without any limitations.
LUNA: Can you talk a little bit about the creative process for “Dizzy”?
VIETTA: I wrote the song and then showed it to my producer Nathan Chandra (Ox the Moron). We started working on the production for it immediately with the vision of a “first love/crush” feeling. When I originally wrote the song I didn't write a bridge for it and the chorus was a bit longer but we ended up cutting down the chorus and I wrote lyrics for a bridge and then the song came together. We worked on it for a long time, we started around April maybe and finished in October then released in November. It was the first song released just under my name, since the mini EP Parallel was released under us both (me and Ox the Moron). We did that purposely because Loveher and It Never Ends had a very chill and sad girl vibe and at the time I wasn’t sure if that was the type of music I wanted to release as a solo artist. But now my perspective on artist genre and image has changed and I have grown to realize that I don’t need to worry about some of those details and just need to focus on making the music that feels authentic to me.
Above all else I want my songs to be and feel genuine, because it's so important to me that I represent my truth, even if it changes a lot. As a young artist I change so much so fast and my music changes with me. I think that’s one thing people will realize as I release more music.
LUNA: Are there any common themes or narratives in your upcoming EP?
VIETTA: I have a habit of changing my mind a lot and I am also a bit of a perfectionist, especially when it comes to my own music. I really want my songs and projects to be crafted in the way I see them in my head, to take what is in my mind and bring it to reality. For my first EP I have a lot of ideas that I have been collecting for some time now because I want it to be something really special and really “me”. I want to tell a story and put as much creativity into it as possible, because all the details have meaning to me. I want to release something that people go back to and find new things in it that they didn’t realize before. I love hidden messages and foreshadowing and stuff like that so I definitely have been thinking about cool things to add into it that are a secret and only some people know about them. I love the freedom that comes with music, you can really make a musical project that is so artistic that it amplifies the listener's experience and that’s something I really want to accomplish.
I love both creation and execution, if I have a good idea then I want to present it in its entirety and make use of its potential. I often focus not only on the song itself but also on the cover art and if the song belongs to a storyline and if so how do I communicate the entire story. Basically I want to present something to an audience that can be dissected and taken for more than just face value. I think that's probably because I am a very “dissective” person and I try to find meaning in everything. I am a Philosophy, Politics, and Law major so I guess that makes sense.
LUNA: Sonically, are there any elements you’d like to explore more with new music?
VIETTA: I really want to explore presenting the range of my voice in my newer songs or on stage. A lot of the songs I write are in just my regular median range but I can hit higher notes and I usually practice doing so when I sing along to songs. Of course I don't just want to add in a high note just for the sake of doing so, the song has to call for it. Recently I have gotten into ad libs during songs that fill it up and also add to the songs that sort of “in my head” feel. The ad libs are all just passing thoughts and replicate how I personally think a lot of the time, the songs personify what goes on in my head if that makes sense. Overall I just want to explore everything because I like trying new things.
Photo By Sho Stewart
LUNA: You’ve mentioned artists like Lana Del Ray, Halsey and Tove Lo inspiring you to create music, so are there any other artists recently that have been inspiring you?
VIETTA: Yes yes yes.
Doja Cat because I love her sound, it's very unique to me. I also think she as a person and artist is very inspirational because of the way she presents herself. She is very genuine, like I want to be as well. She doesn't care what others think and she doesn't release only one type of music.
Nic Nim. She is a newer artist and I love all of her songs. I found her randomly on spotify and what really attracts me to her is her sound as well. Very sultry and new. She has the kind of songs that you try to find more of in other artists but no one does it quite the same. Looking forward to her releasing new music.
Personally, I get inspired by all artists because I love to learn through observation. Every song I listen to I think about why I like it or why I don't like it and keep it in mind for when I am making my own music. If I like certain sounds in the production of the song then I remember that song and show it to my producer for reference. That’s probably why the reason a lot of the artists are inspiring me right now is because of their sound. I am in the process of figuring out what I want my sound to be and hearing it allows me to communicate what I want in the production of my songs to my producer.
LUNA: Outside of musical artists, what inspires you to create?
VIETTA: Everything. More recently I have been getting inspired by those who are inspired by me. When I first started out I didn't worry much about all these technicalities and I was just doing it because I loved it and I just dove right in. Obviously I still love it but after people start to notice you and watch you, you feel like you need to live up to some expectation. A lot of people believe in me and support me and it's really wonderful and helpful, but it really comes down to believing in myself and letting go of all doubt. I once told myself that the best way for me to succeed is to go all in and have no plan B. That was so important to me because I have always been a cautious and practical person and I would always make sure I had something to fall back on. But with music I removed that safety net. I let myself be completely vulnerable. I think it is one of the scariest and most liberating things I have done and I definitely think it has been worth it.
So now that I am so vulnerable I feel like there have been no blockages on my creative side and I don't try to force anything. Creating for me has always been very natural and I think that’s what makes it easier to navigate the low points, the times when I feel unproductive or when I am going through something. I definitely think creating is my outlet. Creating lyrics, melodies, poems. The art of singing itself is also an outlet for me because I am a very vocal person, literally. I am always humming or making some sort of vocal noise and it's how I express my emotions. But going back to that support system, having people that believe in me and are vocal about it helps me get through bouts of anxiety over whether or not I am good enough and that helps me stay on track and maintain high spirits.
LUNA: Why is it important for you to really hone in on the live performance side of your music?
VIETTA: The performance side of music has been so important to me ever since I started getting into Halsey. I remember watching a youtube video of her performing her song “Colors” live and I fell in love with that song, but it hadn’t been released yet so I would always just go back to that video and watch it over and over.
When the song actually came out I loved it, but there was something about the live performance of it, this magic that really brought the song to life. That's what I think live performance does. It brings the song to life. And the wondrous thing about it is that it is so fleeting and so unique, because you can never sing a song the exact same way twice.
There is such a connection between yourself and the audience, and you’re all in the moment together which is really beautiful to me. I want to be a good performer. I want to give the audience something to hold on to, a special moment that can't be re-lived and only exists in memory. I guess that is something I will work towards one stage at a time.
LUNA: Your music is definitely personable, is there anything you’d like your listeners to take away from your music?
VIETTA: I want them to take whatever they feel they are taking from it. As long as they are feeling something then I think I have achieved something. I would hope that maybe it can help someone feel less alone, to feel understood, or just help them feel in general. I have been in a lot of situations where music has literally just saved me or it has given voice to the emotions I feel that are confusing to me. Music is just so versatile, but I think what gives it its versatility is the people who listen to it. A song can mean a lot to one person and not that much to another, but I just hope that my songs mean something to someone, at least one person.
LUNA: With an upcoming single & debut EP coming this sure is a big year for you! What did you hope the rest of 2020 has in store for you?
VIETTA: Honestly, this quarantine has given me time to work on getting better at my craft and growing. I don't have any particular goals except to work hard and be happy. I really think this year, like every year is just about personal growth. I have a feeling that if I want something to happen then it will happen, but it's all about timing. I am just letting everything fall into place.
