Since the release of her debut album “Traveling Like The Light” back in July 2009 in her native England, the singer, born Vanessa Brown in Northampton, England, describes her music as “Doo Wop indie and 50’s synthesized madness.” Her influences, gospel and 50’s pop music, have drawn obvious comparisons with her fellow British artists Amy Winehouse and Duffy.
The singer is not new to music. When she was just 19 she moved to Los Angeles, where she recorded an R&B album under the name Vanessa. The album was never released. After writing songs for artists such as the Pussycat Dolls and the Sugabes, the 26 year-old singer decided that it was time to be in front of the camera to make the type of music that she loves. The artist has been busy making rounds on the music scene in England as well as touring in the US this past fall to promote her album. She was also nominated for a BBC Sound of 2009 Award. One of her songs, “Shark in The Water” has been placed on television in the reality show “The City” and other songs from the album have been heard on “The Vampire Diaries” and “CSI: NY” as well as in a promo spot for Desperate Housewives. Her single “Crying Blood,” about a relationship gone wrong, was a hit on her album.
Beside music, the singer is obsessed with fashion and uses it to represent her love for vintage clothes and accessories. Regarding her hair, a Fifties pinup hairdo which she styles herself, she says, “It’s just evolved to this giant thing on my head.” Her style is refined and she describes it as “Fifties glam couture.” Her fashion style has garnered her so much attention from the fashion industry that with her 5-foot, 11-inch frame, she was able to get a contract with Select Model Management. In February, 2009, she scored a gig performing at the spring show of outré London designer Ashish Gupta, and appeared in a fashion spread in the May issue of British Vogue. On top of that, she launched VV Vintage, an online shop, in June 2009 that sells mix-and-match pieces that cost less than $50.
Could 2010 be the year for this singer, songwriter and model to conquer the world? Let’s hope so! Her debut album will be release in the US in February.
Written by Roberte Varasse
