Printed Spring 2004
Beth: What made you first get into singing? Who were your role models?
Vanessa Carlton: I really didn’t like a lot singers growing up. I mean, I grew up watching a lot of 80s MTV videos, so there a lot of a-Ha and N’company, but I never wanted to be famous, never wanted to be a star; I just wanted to perform, I wanted to be creative. It just made me happy. There was never one person that I was – you know even like a Madonna, it was kind of every little girl’s dreams to capture some of her elements. I was always entertained by her, but never wanted to be in her shoes.
BR: What would be your gig? Who would you love to play with or for?
VC: I had my dream gig, but I wouldn’t mind having it again. I got to perform with one of my heroes. Neil Young invited me to pay the bridge that they picked and I ended up sharing the stage with Neil and James Taylor, and other contemporary artists, like Blue Fire, and Chuck Johnson, and there was me, it was really great. It was great company; they were all really cool people. It’s hard; I found a lot of celebrity musicians pretty lame.
BR: I remember you played with Elton John a while back. What was that like?
VC: Actually, I was very unprepared that concert. I did a benefit for Elton. Meeting Elton was great, but I was kind of bummed out because I didn’t feel like I prepared myself for that. I did a cover, and I was scared out of my mind.
BR: What have been the best moments or maybe the craziest moment so far in your career?
VC: Its hard, because my life over the past two years never been defined by one night, one moment, there are moments in shows where I’m just like ‘ahh I’m just so happy that this is my job,’ but its more a progression of success and regaining perspective on things. I’m proud of the development over the past couple months I’m really looking forward to where it’s going and growing and all that
BR: What do you want people to take from your music?
VC: I think that in general that when it comes to being a live performance I think that’s my strongest suit, people look at musicians and performers as almost preachers in a way, you’re following what these people are saying, and you’re really buying everything that you’re hearing and creating and you have to know that that’s you’re responsibility and I think that in that relationship that people that are listening, they’re looking to me moved and be more comfortable in their moment. It’s hard just being alive – it’s really hard. Music, I think, soothes people like nothing else; it’s one of those things that whether you just play in your car or whether you’re having a really high moment in your life, or if everything has gone wrong for you, it’s just always there and hopefully it blocks them from the things and can transcends whole moods.
BR: What kinds of things do you do to take off the stress and the pressures of the industry?
VC: I like to run, and I like to do nothing. I’m actually one of those people who can sleep 14 hours, wake up and watch TV and continue to do nothing. <All laugh> People sometimes bug me, they don’t know what’s wrong with me, ‘Are you still growing? What’s the deal here?’ But I really value trivial things, like me being able to go to New York, and be worried about painting my wall, I love being able to have a break and not have to worry about those mundane things.
BR: Oneonta has a pretty big music industry program. What advice do you have for people looking to get into the business?
VC: I would say study your ethics, as thoroughly as you can. I mean, it’s a really slimy business. Your backbone has to be really strong, and you also have to have a really strong vision of what you want to accomplish. I don’t know whether it’s art development or you’re trying to start your own record label, it’s all really a matter of just being a rock and have your vision and don’t really alter it.