Front Row - VV Brown
'Clawing' Her Way into USA
VV Brown is more "Catwoman" than Diva
VV Brown is more "Catwoman" than Diva
By: Jeffrey Valfer
TeenNewsNet Editor
As a European chart topper, VV Brown is now transcending her overseas success into the United States. With the release of her first album, “Traveling Like the Light,” the 26 year old Brit debuts a unique style that is full of electricity, while displaying her inner self – witty, charming, intelligent and very “open.” Although Brown defines herself as “open,” no matter how successful she becomes she is closed off to ever being labeled as a diva. “I hate the word diva,” remarks Brown with conviction. “When the press calls me ‘diva’ or ‘sassy’ they completely got the wrong VV.” OK, so who then is the real VV? “I’m basically Catwoman,” she explains citing her love for comic books and the character. “She’s powerful, strong, independent, sexy, and knows what she wants.”During my 15 minutes on the phone interviewing Brown I do not have to do much ‘clawing’ back at this “Catwoman” of the music industry to discover these traits and where they come from. On the other end is a woman that reveals herself in a different way than most celebrities would. It seems her self-worth comes not from fame or fortune, but getting to do what she loves as a career. “I always have a reality check and remember where I come from. The only person who should really be praised is God. I really don’t believe in Fame. I believe fame is a state of mind and delusional.” She feels that the real celebrities are regular people who work to keep society moving; such as doctors, policeman and firefighters. “I don’t ever want to think because I can arrange a few notes in a good way that I am better than anyone.”
Maybe she doesn’t want to make any comparisons’; however Brown brings out her uniqueness in “Traveling Like the Light.” She not only wrote and produced the entire album, but plays nearly every instrument herself. In her own words, she categorizes the lyrics as “sadistic” and “weird.” After listening to tracks such as, “Shark in the Water” and “Crying Blood” you are hit with a fusion of jazz, r&b and rock. Brown is a throwback that is adamant about doing things her way. She grew up in England to what she refers to as an “eclectic” household. Her father was Puerto Rican and her mother Jamaican. She attributes being exposed to a “plush of culture” as the main reason why her influences of music are so mixed, which again comes out on her album….And as her popularity grows do not expect for her style to change. “I refuse to be stereotyped or conformed to something that isn’t me. I had to battle with that along the way; as to what kind of music I should be making as a black woman or what I should be talking about. I love the challenge and love to win."
Speaking of winning, when Brown reflects upon her global success she is “surprised” as to the progression of her career. “I made 70% of the album before I got a record deal. I never had a mainstream attitude when making this album. I thought I would be Indy and tour every now and again to pay my rent. So, everyday our song Shark in the Water is on MTV America or song is #11 or #1 on the French charts – stuff like that is really amazing to me because it was a little humble project that I started just to find myself out as a musician.”
In her early stages of self discovery Brown could have went a different route. First off, her mother was a big supporter by driving her at the age of 14, every Wednesday, two hours to London and back to be a part of a funk band. “I have an enormous amount of respect for my mom for doing that,” says Brown with compassion. “She was able to see my love for music! I remember her driving home at 2AM in the morning and she had to wake up for work, just so I can go in my band.” A few years later VV was accepted into Oxford University and turned the opportunity to go there down. “I found it [decision] easy,” reflects Brown. “I know that sounds crazy, but I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie. I could always go back to Oxford. The thing about opportunities in music is they come like the wind – when it comes you have to ride it otherwise it may not come back.”
When it comes to Catwoman there is always mystery as to where and when she will show up next. However, VV did end our interview ‘purring’ a little about her future. She has an upcoming tour with Maroon 5 and Owl City. Additionally, her future is one of the reasons why she picked “Traveling Like the Light” as the title to her first album. “I kind of want my career to be like that – a conversion of energy of me re-inventing myself. Constantly I feel at the moment that my life is moving so fast that I’m traveling like light.”
Press Play below to the official video to VV Brown's "Game Over":
