Review Fix chats with Austin-based singer and guitarist Jackie Venson, who discusses her goals for the rest of 2017, creative process and what she has to do in order to make her dreams in music come true. Detailing her origin in the industry as well and getting the talented musician to really open up, Review Fix gets an inside look at the up and coming musician.
Review Fix: How’d you get involved in music?
Jackie Venson: I always had music in my house growing up, my father was a professional musician. However it all began when my mother signed me up for piano lessons. I just never stopped. Eventually, after 13 years of classical piano, I found myself in a slump where I didn’t want to play piano anymore but also wanted to keep playing music somehow. This is what led me to picking up a new instrument. It was like I was renewing my vows with music.
Review Fix: Who influences your sound the most?
Venson: Growing up listening to my father and my brother rubbed off on me pretty intensely. Playing classical music also had a huge influence on my musicality and my ability to focus when I practice. When it comes to other artists honestly I can’t choose just one, I’m influenced by whatever strikes me the most at the time. At one point it was Stevie Wonder, at another point it was Disney, later on it was Lauryn Hill and Amy Winehouse. It changes all the time. I listen to so many different genres of muscle I really can’t track it and I honestly don’t believe it can or should be tracked. Music is a language and one does not listen to only a few voices but several in their daily lives.
Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?
Venson: It all begins with sitting down to practice guitar. I start to practice and other things just come out, before I know it it’s been 4 hours and I have a few new songs in the pipeline. Sometimes I’ll be hanging out somewhere else and a melody will float into my head and I record it. I always record everything, I have recordings where you can barely hear what I’m singing because of airplane noise in the background. I am just open at all times and it leads me to great songs.
Review Fix: What makes your new work special?
Venson: The songwriting, the arrangements, the performances by the band and the dynamics. I find that a lot of modern music is severely lacking dynamics. Also these songs are very unique to me yet familiar at the same time.
Review Fix: How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard you before?
Venson: A plethora of genres revolving around soul and blues
Review Fix: Bottom line, why should someone buy your music?
Venson: It’s unique, it’s refreshing, it’s powerful, and you ain’t gonna find anything out there that sounds like it.
Review Fix: What are your goals for the rest of the year?
Venson: Bigger and better things but most importantly growth in my craft and skill. I also hope to get my music out on a wider platform.
Review Fix: What do you feel you have to do to make your dreams in music come true?
Venson: Work my arse off and stay creative in my approaches.
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