Artist Interview: vince
Vince's music blends emotional depth with infectious fun, captivating listeners with honesty and humor. His latest single "obsessed" explores modern queer dating complexities. In this interview, Vince shares the inspiration behind the song and his creative process.
Q. When you first started writing “obsessed,” did you know right away what it was going to be about, or did it evolve as you went?
A. The story of ‘obsessed’ was clear from the start for me. It’s based on my own experience with dating. I really wanted to write about this experience, where you’re in the talking phase with someone, they’re giving you all the signs and when you begin to express interest, they pull away.
Q. Modern queer dating can be a rollercoaster—do you think music is a form of therapy for you when it comes to processing all that?
A. I definitely think music is a great vessel for me to express myself. I’ve always enjoyed writing, and when I was younger, I used to write a lot of poetry, so this is an extension of that I guess!
Q. Your vocal delivery in “obsessed” has been called “nonchalant but infectious.” Is that a style choice or just naturally how you sing?
A. I think it was just something that came naturally to me. I write from a place of honesty and humor, and I think the dichotomy is reflected in the delivery of the vocals.
Q. There’s a line between genuine connection and being “too much” that queer people often feel they walk–was that part of the story you were telling in the song?
A. I’ve been told all my life that I am ‘too much’ or ‘too sensitive’ and I had felt for a long time that this was a problem I was supposed to fix. I’ve learned though, I should never feel apologetic for my self expression, or my expression of love or care for others. It’s something that I can view as my greatest strength.
Q. What do you hope someone going through an unrequited crush feels when they hear “obsessed”?
A. I hope listeners of ‘obsessed’ know that they’re not the problem! The person they are dating has an anxious-avoidant attachment style.
Q. When creating a new song, do you start with the lyrics or instrumentals first?
A. It depends. I often start by producing the instrumentals. Sometimes I start by making a creative drum loop, or I find a synth I really like the sound of. I have countless notes on my phone though, that I desperately need to create music from.
Q. What's a food you are totally "obsessed" with?
A. Hmmm… My current food obsession, now that’s a good question. Recently, I've been partial to scrambled eggs on toast with some salads, dressed with sriracha. The hot sauce is a vital part of the operation!
Q. How do you know when a song is done? Are you a perfectionist, or do you go by instinct?
A. I am a perfectionist. I think most creative people are. With ‘obsessed’ I had to make a decision to let go. I could agonise over all the small things and never get to the stage where I share my art with the world. If you haven’t started sharing your art, it’ll be harder for you to grow.
Q. Your music sits in a space that’s emotional but fun. Do you aim to strike that balance on purpose, or does it happen naturally?
A. I think it’s an extension of my personality. I wear my heart on my sleeve and am always trying to look on the bright side. Some of my music will reflect the good that is in the bad.
Q. Who are your biggest musical influences when it comes to writing about love and longing?
A. There are so many inspirations! A deep -cut would be Sarah Vaughan. I’ve always loved Amy Winehouse. She’s probably the musician that inspired me most when I was younger. I really like the humor in a lot of what Sabrina Carpenter ‘s writing.
Q. What part of releasing a song like “obsessed” is the most rewarding?
A. It feels rewarding to finally release music! It took me a long time to be comfortable with creating, and sharing it publicly.
Q. Do you feel like queer artists are finally getting the space to tell more complicated or imperfect stories in pop music?
A. Definitely. There are so many amazing artists telling their unfiltered truths. I have to say I love everything Rebecca Black is doing right now. Her latest project is full of bangers. See her lead single ‘Salvation’ for proof. Shoutout to Alice Longyu Gao, I love her song ‘Lesbians <3’
Q. Is there a lyric from “obsessed” that you feel hits hardest for you personally?
A. I think I’d have to say ‘I’m gonna isolate, ‘cause you wanna do the same. It shows I’m neglecting my instinct to talk to the person I like, and to ignore it instead. They make me feel bad for reaching out. Which is totally messed up.
Q. How did you link up with visual artists like sleepy.corvid and scribb.ly for the cover and promo materials?
A. I remember going to a couple of cons, and I had met sleepy.corvid at one of the booths. I can’t recall if it was DCAF (Dublin Comics Arts Festival) or Megacon. Either way, I love their artstyle and had to work with them! As for scribb.ly, they do a lot of photography for underground queer events, from music and drag shows, and I had seen their 3D photography and I loved it so much. They were so lovely and just as excited as I was about creating cool art together. It was a really fun experience working with these two! Commission your local artists!
Q. If someone’s just discovering your music through “obsessed,” what’s one thing you’d want them to know about you as an artist?
A. One thing that everyone should know about me is that, there is more from where that came from! I have a ton of interesting, bubbly, and relatable music on the way this year.
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