Q: This may be a bit unfair; however, it can be telling! What are the 5 most influential SONGS that you have heard in your life? Also, can you explain what each one influenced?

A: How about I take this one song at a time? :)

I know that "You Were Here" by Sarah Harmer was pretty huge... it's just so lovely and spooky and different... and I'm a sucker for cello. :) That song made me really want to take the plunge and start to express myself as a songwriter.

I was also a huge Billy Joel fan growing up (still am)... my folks both loved him and he was always on in the car. I know it's cliche, but I just never got tired of Piano Man. The melody just runs around in your head for days, and I loved the stories he told... even as a small child, I would try to dissect each little short story about each person at the bar, and I would make up ancillary plots to their lives, how they got there and where they were headed after the song ended. It was probably my first brush with songwriting and short stories being analogous art forms.

I'll ponder this some more and come back with the rest of the five...
Answered on 04/15/2012 by Vanessa Peters

Q: Not so much a question as a plea to you to come to the Phoenix area. My 11 y/o daughter would just be in heaven to see you. You are one of her favorite singers.

Scott Ostdiek (and Rachel)

A: I hope to get out there later this year, or early next year! I'm long long LONG overdue for a west coast tour... I promise Phoenix will be one of the stops along the way. :) Tell Rachel I said thank you for listening!
Answered on 04/15/2012 by Vanessa Peters

Q: Have you ever thought of recording A Vinyl LP to accompany any future CD? The Texas Artist Phoenix Hart recorded her latest album on the basis of CD and LP.

A: I've thought about it, but it's pretty expensive - maybe for the next album, we'll build it into a Kickstarter package so that we can get an idea as to what the interest level would be... it's certainly something I've considered, but this album won't be released on vinyl.
Answered on 03/11/2012 by Vanessa Peters

Q: What is the difference bewteen the public in Texas and Europe with respect to your music?

A: I don't think there's a huge difference. The main difference is that I usually have bigger crowds at European shows, which makes sense. I'm kind of unusual or novel - I've traveled a long way to come to their country and do a show, and may not be back for a long time, so fans make a big effort to come out to a show. In the States, especially if it's an area I play often, I might have a harder time getting folks to come to the shows, because they know they can catch another show again soon.

But that's just on an attendance level. As far as feedback from fans, I feel like I get the same amount of love from my European fans and American fans. :)
Answered on 03/09/2012 by Vanessa Peters

Q: I am still waiting for your latest CD. When will it be released?

A: As soon as it's ready. :)
Seriously though... I hope it will be ready by April or May. It's taken a little longer than I thought it would, largely due to scheduling difficulties (hard to get the whole band together since everyone is a touring musician in other bands as well) but we're getting very close - in fact, we're headed back to the studio for 4 days starting tomorrow. I'm sorry it's taken longer than anticipated... but I hope it will be worth it in in the end!
Answered on 03/02/2012 by Vanessa Peters

Q: "medals" is a favorite of mine... what was the inspiration?

A: Thanks! It's one of my favorites as well.
One day I was digging around in old writings, looking for new thoughts, and I found this poem I had written as part of my senior thesis back in 2000 (I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I was an English major. :)

Medals is largely reconstructed from a part of that poem called "the jello heart debates a trip to madrid." (seriously).

The closing stanza of the poem was:

a few years after the games have passed,
I find it harder and harder
to strive for any sort of medal with you.
you have captured all the gold,
and I’m not so sure the silver and bronze
aren’t just tokens for the audiences at home.
sighing, I resign myself to the distance,
the million laps it would take to reach you.
the salt in my eyes. my weak jello heart.
I wonder if it’s even worth it.

After I found that, the rest of the song just opened up. And that's why I never throw ANYTHING away. :)
Answered on 03/02/2012 by Vanessa Peters

Q: If you could sing a duet with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and what song would you choose?

A: Elliott Smith, I think. And probably his song "Pitseleh," even though it's not a duet.

That was my knee-jerk answer (the one you give without thinking about at all).... but I would also love to sing with Gary Louris (of the Jayhawks), Jeff Tweedy, Dan Wilson (an amazing songwriter), Josh Ritter... And on the female side, it'd be great to sing with Patty Griffin, even though she'd kick my butt. :) Oh yes! Gram Parsons would have been awesome too.
Answered on 03/02/2012 by Vanessa Peters

Q: Thanks Vanessa,

A: sure!
Answered on 03/02/2012 by Vanessa Peters

Q: There is the possibility that I might visit Texas next year. Will you be doing any concerts around San Antonio or Austin?

A: Almost certainly! But I am not sure when/where. I will post shows as soon as I know the schedule!
Answered on 03/01/2012 by Vanessa Peters

Q: What inspires you to compose and record new music?

A: Heartbreak. :)
HA!
That's the easy answer (and it's true, of course).
But so many things do... nostalgia is a big one for me. I have heartstrings that are just dying to be pulled at by even the teeniest bit of nostalgia....

Traveling always gets me in the writing mood. Yesterday I was on a plane and I filled a (small) notebook with ideas....
Answered on 03/01/2012 by Vanessa Peters