It’s not often that I attend an independent artist event or showcase and am able to sing along with a brand-new song. This year, Venu$ caught my ear and my attention. In this interview, we discuss her start in music, her unstoppable attitude, and the importance of discipline and consistency for the marathon that is a music career.
Meet Independent Artist, Venu$
Photobombshell: Hi, Venu$! Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me about yourself and your musical career. I’ve done my homework and learned quite a bit about you. For the folks who don’t know you or your music yet, where are you from, and how do you describe your sound?
Venu$: Hey, Photobombshell! Thank you for the opportunity again to speak on your platform! My name is Venu$ and I was born in Charleston, South Carolina, but raised in Brooklyn, New York. I definitely rep both areas as I consider myself a bit of a mutt when it comes to my upbringing. I’ve moved around a lot, which brings me to describe my sound. I don’t have a set niche yet. My genre is hip-hop, but I don’t really try to box myself into one subgenre of hip-hop. I make what I feel like making. Sometimes that’s music with drill-inspired melodies or music I made on my ukulele.
Photobombshell: Oh, that is so cool! I play ukelele too! It’s also great to hear that you haven’t backed yourself into a specific sub-genre. It gives you a lot of room to create and be creative.
In researching for this interview, I learned at a young age, you started your journey into music. You started showing promise and sharing your creativity with others as early as age 12. How did you get started, and what inspired you at that time?
Venu$: My first TRUE introduction to producing music wasn’t until three years ago but, I have always been musically inclined. At 12, I was a violinist in my school’s orchestra. Then, I enrolled in private singing lessons, was a 5th Chair clarinetist in middle school, and spent a lot of time rapping for fun, at first, with a few friends after school.
My inspiration for music production came when I did a freestyle of Sleepy Hallow’s “Deep End.” I had a few people tell me where I could improve. Soon after, I realized that the beats I found online weren’t really inspiring me so I took to YouTube to learn how to use FL Studio and GarageBand (for mobile) more efficiently.
Music has always been about self-expression to me. It’s been about taking the things life throws me, the feelings that come with them, and turning them into something to share with others. I always strived to reach people with my art. The best way to do that was to become good at writing, producing, and distributing my music. I didn’t have much money to fund my music, but I didn’t think that was a reason to hold off, so I taught myself a lot instead.
More Than Lyrics
Photobombshell: That is amazing. I love hearing that, and your attitude is something that makes me smile. Musicians, especially independent and DIY musicians, are tough, creative, and resourceful! There is always a way, and I love how you made a way for yourself to create.
You write in every sense of the word, not just music. Talk to me about your project, “Blackest of Berries.” How did that come to be, and what sparked that desire to publish?
Venu$: “Blackest of Berries” is a treasured creation of mine. It is a poetic narrative based on my experiences with racism and colorism during my time spent in South Carolina as a child and on into adulthood. I’ve always found joy in expressing myself through my writing, and it just dawned on me that other people have gone through this too, or at least may know someone who has. At first, it was only an idea, just something to do, however, when it was finished, I felt it had to be shared. I figured out how to self-publish on Amazon and went from there. I have a companion memoir for this release in the vault that I haven’t dropped yet!
Photobombshell: Wow! While I haven’t read it yet, “Blackest of Berries” is on my reading list. Writing and releasing the narrative is an incredibly powerful thing that I know so many people will connect with.
Venu$’ Start in Producing Music
Photobombshell: Now while we are talking about how you do everything. I know you produce, too! How did you learn how to do that? Do you feel any pressure or competition being a female producer in a male-dominated field?
Venu$: My first introduction to production was with GarageBand for iPhone. After I watched enough YouTube videos to feel comfortable, I created my first song, “Falling Again.” I distributed the song to all platforms. When I found that I wanted to do more than what my mobile app was capable of doing, I decided to invest in FL Studio. One of my roommates at the time taught me how to utilize the program, and from there, I created three of my own beats.
I can’t say that I feel any pressure regarding being a woman in this field simply because I told myself that when I began making music, I’d only push for perfection to MY standards. Ultimately, that means I don’t measure myself up to others outside of looking for ways to inspire improvement in what I can do myself. As it relates to music production, everyone has a different ear for what sounds good to them, but I think being the creative I want to be means pushing myself to develop projects exactly as I imagine them. That doesn’t mean that I don’t look to other engineers to give me a second opinion, or that I don’t use other people’s beats, however, I always find that my finest creations come from the songs I made entirely on my own.
Shot by @directedbymidwest
Curating Her Personal Sound
Photobombshell: What about you, and your music makes you stand out?
Venu$: This always feels like a loaded question to answer. My music stands out mainly because everyone’s art has something different to offer. One thing I can say about myself and my music is that I don’t allow anyone to put me into a box. I often find that when artists take their projects to the mainstream, they focus on how to keep people’s attention instead of, “How can I keep creating genuine music while still captivating an audience? How do I make MY message reach people?”
There have been times when I wanted to delve into different subgenres of rap just because I knew that I could do it better than some people’s faves, but, I want to find my own lane and make a sound for myself that is unique to only me. I’m still pretty fresh in making music, and all good things come in time. That’s a part of this journey that I look forward to while I continue to work hard.
Photobombshell: I think you are absolutely right. There can be a shift in focus to people pleasing that takes away from authenticity in music. Your self-awareness and genuine nature are things other artists can learn from.
Venu$ on Connecting with Your Audience
Photobombshell: What project do you feel best represents you as a creative and why?
Venu$: This is another one of those hard questions because all of my art represents me, at least different parts of me. “Why’d I Wait?” is the best representation of me as a creative. From a skillset perspective, all of the major elements are there. I recorded the song in one take and can perform it without backup vocals. My lyricism, I think, is amazing, and I was true to my own flow. I can’t say that last part about some of my other recent releases, and that goes back to me struggling with trying to get into someone else’s lane instead of staying in my own.
Photobombshell: I am so glad that song came up! I am obsessed with your song, “Why’d I Wait.” The message is straightforward, and so many people can connect with it. Was the song based on a personal experience? Did the creation of the song or performing it ever affect you emotionally?
Venu$: Thank you! That was definitely the goal of this song, and I can say that this song is 100% based on personal experience. Although I did sub the name and drew feelings from other bad relationships, this song speaks to a recurring pattern I’ve seen in people. When I first wrote this song, it made me a little sad to hear it back to myself. That’s something that I find with a lot of the things that I write. It’s as if the feelings flow before I’m conscious of what’s really being said.
When I first started performing this song, I didn’t think many people would gravitate toward it. It wasn’t as hype as some of the mainstream stuff I see. In my first year with this song, I saw myself becoming more and more confident each time I performed. I know for a fact that many, if not most, people can relate to the feelings I expressed in the song. Put simply, I now feel good being able to relate to people and reach others simply by speaking from my heart and being up on that stage.
Photobombshell: That’s part of doing this whole music thing, connecting with people authentically. You are doing it right! Speaking of doing things right, to date, what do you feel has been your greatest accomplishment as a musician?
Venu$: My greatest accomplishment as a musician was going to perform at a venue and having the DJ (unbeknownst to me) cut my song on the last rendition of my hook and being able to hear the crowd singing along with me. It was everyone’s first time hearing it at this spot. That let me know that even though my song might not have been as high energy as others before me, people connected to MY art! That feeling keeps me motivated to continue doing what I do.
Shot by @photobonzdmpromo
What’s in Store for Venu$ in 2023?
Photobombshell: What can we look forward to from you in 2023?
Venu$: I don’t want to get too ahead of myself. The year has been pretty erratic for me thus far. I’m shooting to release an album by the end of the year, as I have at least 15 tracks already mapped out with lyrics and paired with melodies on my phone. As soon as I’m in a studio, I’ll be able to cement that further, but for now, I’m just trying to get re-established in Brooklyn.
Photobombshell: Now, this next question is one that I ask literally every guest and artist that I interview. Most guests don’t bite. What is something you’ve wanted to share in an interview but no one has asked you?
Venu$: Of all the interviews I’ve had, I’ve never been asked what inspires me to keep going when it gets hard. A lot of people only want to focus on the grinding aspect of being a creative: on staying “hungry.” It’s important to reflect on how people hold onto their dreams when life seems to throw every kind of obstacle their way. Often, I only see this question asked to people who’ve already made it.
For people like myself who are still trying to make it, I think it’s important that we all know and understand that so long as we are putting our hearts into what we’re making and not selling our souls or selling ourselves short in the creative process, the fans, the fame, and the money will come. When you are aligned with your true self, your reality will align around you. That’s something that I continue to remind myself through this journey.
Photobombshell: You are so insightful and I completely agree. There needs to be attention on staying the course and consistency because when inspiration fails, discipline is what carries creatives through. Thank you so much for sharing that and taking the time to share your journey with me and the community here at Photobombshell.media.
Get Connected!
Are you looking to connect with Venu$? Connect with her on Instagram and Spotify, or grab her music wherever you stream.