So let me tell you about Vanda, the indie-pop artist dazzling music lovers from Chicago to LA. After the release of her highly successful ‘Sober In Another Life’ album, she is back with ‘Stranger’ – a great break-up song that has people dancing while crying at the same time.
From a very young age – Vanda has been involved in music and started dancing on stage at the age of three. Talk about starting young!Her love for real songs can be seen or heard in all she does or performs. This is not different from “Stranger”, where she overlays her distinct vocals over energetic instrumentals that you cannot help but sing along to for the next couple of days.
Here, Vanda is revealing what influenced her, how she works, and her development as an artist in our live talk. She goes raw on effects of being an independent artist in the music industry, the artists who influenced her, and what she is looking forward to. For all her tattletaling, though, Vanda’s appealing to fans like nobody’s business. Just watch this one – she’ll be big in 2024!
Listen to Stranger
Follow Vanda on
What is your stage name
Vanda
Is there a story behind your stage name?
Vanda is my last name, actually. My full name is Michelle Vanda.
Where do you find inspiration?
Depending on what I am writing about, I find inspiration from my own interpersonal relationships. I also get inspired by other’s art, by psychedelics, connecting with universe, sadness, loss, love, the fact that we as humans experience such a range of all of these things in our lifetime. Its beautiful.
What was the role of music in the early years of your life?
I started singing at three years old so my parents put me in my first musical the same year and my entire childhood/teen years were spent on stage/in my dad’s recording studio singing and writing.
Are you from a musical or artistic family?
Absolutely. Every person in my immediate and extended family play an instrument. My dad is an audio engineer/guitar player, my mom is a singer. Both of my brothers play an instrument. I was the only lunatic to pursue an artist career 🙂
Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry?
I don’t think it was a particular person, but rather my obsession with music itself. I never could have imagined being happy doing anything else with my life since I was a little girl.
How did you learn to sing/write/to play?
I was in theater since 3 years old, so lots of practice but I taught myself the guitar at 12 and began writing around that time.
What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform? The Spice Girls – LEGENDS!
How could you describe your music?
I would say I am still experimenting and evolving but maybe a cross between Alt r&b hyper-pop. I released a pretty ballad heavy album last year called, Sober In Another Life, so I would say I still am all over the place – depending on what I am going through at that time in my life.
Describe your creative process.
I like to lock into a sort of concentrated/channeled state when I enter a writing session, whether that be with someone else or myself, I treat the space/time with a lot of respect and ultimately attempt to let go of all of my preconceived notions of what I THINK a song should be and just feel where its taking me. My favorite place to be (and why I think I fell in love with writing so much) is entering that sacred flow space that any artist can relate to – there’s nothing quite like it – it’s quite therapeutic.
What musician do you admire most and why?
So many musicians I deeply admire – currently in a choke hold by Chappell Roan – not only her writing, but the way she is bringing true alter ego artistry back into the music industry is so refreshing but with a much more authentic spin on it with her raw lyricism – it’s been such a treat watching her career explode this year.
Did your style evolve since the beginning of your career?
Oh yeah, absolutely. With anything, you get better as you go by learning from mistakes and it’s been the same with music. Stylistically, learning what works for my voice and what doesn’t when I’m laying down vocals has been probably the most notable evolution. Working hard to connect and not worry so much about the perfect note – its more about the feeling
Who do you see as your main competitor?
Myself, most definitely. We are all capable of succeeding to some degree and there’s room for everyone at the top but overcoming self doubt/imposter syndrome and focusing on creating authentic art without any outside influences/compromises is the ultimate goal for any artist.
What are your interests outside of music?
I love discussing/digesting new concepts whether that’s exploring spirituality, mental health, personal growth – I’m really into connecting with humans in general. Into visual media, movies, YouTube, musical theater.
If it wasn’t a music career, what would you be doing?
FBI Agent – maybe my next life!
What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music?
It costs a butt load of money to be an independent artist!!
If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be?
That songwriter/artists were paid more fairly.
Why did you choose this as the title of this project?
“Stranger” is the title of the song & the main hook – it’s about knowing someone so deeply at one point and now that you’re no longer together, you see a complete stranger. You know them but you don’t and the cognitive dissonance that comes with those complex feelings.
What are your plans for the coming months?
I plan on continuing to release a bunch of new music while getting a show together to start playing shows around the LA area.
What message would you like to give to your fans?
Just a big thank you to anyone who stuck by my side during my half year hiatus & I’m very excited to start pouring out these new tracks to you one by one forever and forever and forever until I die x
