With a vixen look, star attitude and quality voice, Sye Spence's progress in the music industry is beyond the expected genre. The recent release of her EP Mad Mad World is a surprise look into her growth as an artist and talent as a singer. Her vocals provide an entrance into a world of rock, alternative, pop, and the hardest rhythm and blues you'll ever experience.
Miss Solow Dolow: Is Sye Spence your real name?
Sye Spence: Yes. My mom pretty much put letters together after I was born, which I think was pretty creative on her part.
MSD: What kind of performers do you look to inspire your performance?
SS: There are so many that I admire from many styles of music. My personal inspirations are a lot of the more dramatic, emotionally driven musicians from the 70s. Particularly Kate Bush, I learned so much about mixing eccentricity with grace from her.
MSD: What kind of emotion and feeling did you have while completing Mad Mad World?
SS: While writing these songs, it was so intense. I was filled with so many thoughts about past, present, and future. Every detail of my memory, mixed and all my hopes and dreams, were what I drew from as a muse. So it evoked a variety of emotions: passion, anger, strength being the most prominent of them all.
MSD: What does "Mad Mad World" mean to you and what should it mean to people who listen to the EP?
SS: Mad Mad World has a large powerful meaning. I started out very timid and shy with my gift, afraid of what I knew was inside of me to share. When I started recording this project, I realized that my gift was very powerful and I literally believed that I could take over the world. For anyone that listens to the record, I want them to feel the same way. That they can conquer anything, they can be bold, powerful, dream big, extrodinary dreams, be different, or just be.
MSD: What can people expect August 28th?
SS: August 28th will be centered around showcasing the great potential of creativity, my goal is for people to leave the show feeling like, "Man, I can do that!" or "Man, I can go ahead and go for my dream of being a doctor or a freaking astronaut, or whatever!" Really pumped and amped for life. The goal is to entertain and inspire. I am pretty confident the spirit and energy put into the show and the EP will do just that.
MSD: What are your upcoming projects?
SS: Right now, I am actually writing for my second EP. It is not yet titled and it will stay that way until I feel it. I wrote Mad Mad World in a matter of 6 months. I want to take even more time with this second project to nurture the sound and experiment with creativity. Also, I have been fortunate enough to be featured on a few compilation records, one being Noise Porn released by Nouveau Music and Ethereal's No Saliva Vol. 1 released by Greedmont Park.
The British truth when it comes to new emotional electronic r&b sounds, V.V. Brown is an entrepreneur in songwriting, fashion, music, storytelling and more.
Her inspirations are reflected in her art and her ambition reflects her many successful business ventures at age 26.
On tour with Grammy winners Maroon 5 and American Idol winner Kris Allen, she's taken her live show a step further to show America what they've been missing.
Check out the audio clips of the interview to hear an addition in the answer. (I felt it sounded better straight from her British accent)
Miss Solow Dolow: Describe geeki? VV Brown: Geeki is a name I created for when I write other people's song.
MSD: What is the difference between Geeki the writer and VV the artist musically? VV: It’s different when I write for the artist because it’s a different style of music and you have to get in a physiological place in order to write for them but as VV I’m pulling from my own experiences rather than writing for those people and making up experiences.
MSD: You did a tribute to ABBA, what does that group and their music mean to you from your childhood and as an inspiration? VV: I admire them because I think their very good songwriters. Their music is timeless and I hope my music can be like that.
MSD: What are you doing to make your music timeless? VV: I think timelessness is in the consumer’s hands. I really just started in this music game so only time will tell.
MSD: What other artists do you think are timeless and you are personally inspired by their music? VV: Frank Sinatra, timeless. Erykah Badu quite frankly is timeless. Ella Fitzgerald is quite timeless. Nirvana has a timelessness about it. It’s music that whenever it’s played it is relevant.
MSD: You've stated in the past that artists like Lady Gaga, who insert fashion into their music are following the trend of Europe from years ago. How far behind do you think the music industry of the U.S. is behind Europe? VV: I don’t know how far behind they are but I know that Europe is much more forward when it comes to fashion. I can’t say that U.S. is behind two, three, four or five years but Europe has this trendsetting nature about it. All the music on the radio and in fashion at the moment, Europe was doing that two
years ago. I do think Europe is the trendsetter of the world when it comes to art.
MSD: Should inserting fashion into your music be a part of artist's career? VV: It’s a part of your identity. It’s just another form of expression.
MSD: What present female artists are doing well in the industry? VV: Janelle Monae is really talented. Amel Larrieux is doing really well. There’s not a lot of artists when you actually analyze it. I’m a huge fan of Vampire Weekend. Jay Electronica is the truth. I’d love to work with him. VV Brown Talks Artists by MISSSD
MSD: Who are some of your favorite hip hop artists right now? VV: I’m really lovin’ Jay Electronica right now. I’m a huge fan of Mos Def and Talib Kweli. I’m more into conscious hip hop than dance hip hop. I kinda feel like hip hop is losing a lot of its soul and we really need to go back to what it was like in the 90’s, when they had something to say about something. That’s why I really like Jay Electronica. I think he’s an absolute genius and he’s the best rapper to come out in the last 10 years.
MSD: As a fan, what do you think hip hop artists can do to put the soul and content back into it? VV: I think they shouldn’t be afraid to get political again and talk about what’s going on in society. They need to be less consumed by a lifestyle that doesn’t relate to the struggle. I’m tired of hearing about money, hoes, and medallions and how much their worth, how hot they are. People don’t want to hear that stuff, that’s boasting. People want to hear about their struggle and what’s going on in the world. Hip hop used to be about poetry and it’s not about that anymore. It’s one big boasting charade. It’s pushing the stereotype of what people perceive black man to be. We need to have much more consciousness that will bring back the ideal of the intellectual black man rather than the black man talking about issues that are not relevant to society.
MSD: Talk more about the City of Abacus project. VV: It’s really great. It’s a graphic novel and a project of love. The second edition is available to buy now. We’re fully on our way. You can find out more at www.Cityofabacus.com.
MSD: As far as fashion, what culture do you represent and where do you think you fit in? VV: I think I represent European culture and fashion. I fit into my own mold and I think that’s what fashion is about, individuality. You’re supposed to be yourself and because I’m myself and European I represent myself being a European.
MSD: Did runway walking come natural? VV: I think it came quite natural. As a kid I was always strutting around the house, being silly and prancing. I was always attracted to creativity in performance. I was always interested in my mom’s fashion magazines and her wardrobe.
MSD: Can you talk more about you were feeling through a lot of the songs like “Leave” and “Crying Blood”? VV: I was heart broken and I wanted to express my feelings of pain. At the same time I wanted to make people feel liberated that they could get out of the situation like I was. This is why the lyrics are like ‘crying blood’ and ‘shark in the water’ but the melodies are very happy and quite fun, up-tempo. It’s that contradiction in the place of me being very sad but showing women and anyone who’s had a broken heart that they even though you’re upset you can get out of the situation and everything’s fine. It’s kind of the liberation of a broken heart in those songs.
MSD: While on tour, what have you learned from the headliners Maroon 5?
VV: One thing I’ve learned from Maroon 5 is that every night they give it a 125%. It doesn’t matter how hot it is and even though they are very, very successful and sold millions of records, every night they play their show like it’s their last. Every show you do you are grateful that you are there and you have to play it like that because you don’t know if it’s your last.
MSD: What have you discovered about yourself? VV: I’m a control freak. I’m obsessed with music. I’ve also discovered not to validate myself by success and the only success is what you define it to be. I’ve realized that success equals happiness and being comfortable and fulfilled in your own heart. Before I was younger I would validate myself by how many records I’ve sold and how many awards I was going to get but now I’ve changed and have a much more mature outlook.
