With her new and very strong Album “Reborn” and countless live gigs, Vanja Sky is on her way to the top. Vanja Sky has what it takes to succeed Sheryl Crow or Melissa Etheridge. Musically and vocally she is already on par with these world stars. If you have an ear for melodic rock music with blues influences, you won’t go wrong here. Time for an interview with this talented and very kind young lady.
What can you tell us about the new and great Album, the inspiration and the story behind it? What means the tile “Reborn”?
The inspiration (for every album) I get from every day situations,things that happen to me, or to people around me. „Reborn“ is referring to a more rockier sound than our previous 2 albums and the whole production is more modern. Also, after 2 years of corona break,we definitely feel Reborn to be back on the road and play concerts !
You change a little bit the music direction from Blues to more Rock? How it comes to this?
I guess it just came naturally, I knew rock music before I discovered blues, so why not combine both 🙂
You got a new guitar player in Guenter Haas, how you find him and what he brings to your music?
It actually happened by accident haha, last year in August we supposed to play a festival and my previous guitar player wasn’t feeling well and didn’t know if he can play the gig (which was just 2 days ahead) so I was desperately sending messages around to my contacts to try to find a sub player for that show, than Bodo (to be the producer of Reborn later) sent me Guenters number, and I asked him if he could jump in and amazingly, he learned 14 songs or so in a day and a half! The chemistry was great, the gig worked out and he liked our music too, and since then he is part of the band. So sometimes from stressful and unpleasant situations, great things come out 🙂 He is one of the best players around in my opinion and I am really happy to have him on the team, and with all his experience its great to learn from him too!
How does the productions go, how you choose your musicians for it?
So far,who was in the band went also in the studio to record the new material, hopefully that’s how it will be in the future too 🙂
You tour often in Germany, have you a special relationship for this country?
Yes, my career kind of started off in Germany, that’s where I had my first record label, and later management and the band, first tour. So it all really began here in Germany, was also the reason why I moved here- makes things easier if you live where your band is, at least for now hahah.
On the record is a duet with Carl Sentence from Nazareth, what can you tell us about this?
I wrote „Müha“, where Carl is a guest singer, for a colleague of mine that passed away in a motorbike accident, and this song was not even meant to be a duet at first, but than one night I had a dream and there was a male voice singing parts of it. Right around that time my boyfriend played me a new Nazareth CD, and the voice on it was strikingy similar to the one in my dream! It was Carl Sentance! Then I found Carl online-sent him an email, and we did the song ! Thanks Carl!
You change your look and your hair style often, how important is that for you?
I think that on stage it is important to feel comfortable, but also to get dressed up. I could never wear the clothes I wear in private, wich is mostly sports wear, on stage. Think it is not respectful to the audience, people pay to hear and see you so it is nice to put some effort in the stage clothes and looks. Regarding my hair, yeah, I had it all, black, red, blonde, long, short, braids, exstensions, everything except bald (for now) haha. I just liked experimenting with looks and would get quickly bored with same style. Now my hair is natural, and ill just keep growing it haha.
Rory Gallagher is one of your big influences, what makes his music and his guitar style so special for you?
Yes, he is one of my favorites, Nr.1 when it comes to guitar playing. Sound wise, you just know its him when you hear him playing. What makes him so special for me was his energy and connection to the people. You can see he was living and breathing music. He was just one with it. They dont make them like him anymore 🙂
You play many gigs and tour a lot, what is the magic of playing live for you? How you get the energy level so high, and do you feel a bit fatigue sometimes?
Live shows is my favorite part of doing music, nothing can beat the connection with the people and exchange of the magic that music makes with it! It ìs always exciting to go up on stage, new show, new experience, and the more you play, the more you grow and the better you get I think. Speaking of energy levels and fatigue, we all try to save energy during the day, as the show itself is the most important thing, but all the traveling, carrying the equipment, setting up, breaking it down after show and 100 of other little behind the scene works that people don’t see, can be very energy draining. So at the day time, I am usually very quiet and try to get as much rest as possible while on tour. If its the last show in a row, than I like to party haha, cause than I know the next day I can sleep home in my bed and dont need the energy for the night, that’s a proper battery charge haha.
Have you any last words or something you want to say to your fans?
Support live music and come to the shows ! Smile, Love & Don`t forget to Rock`n`Roll! 🙂
Vanja Sky & Smoking Wolf – Blues Festival Blankenstein/ Hattingen 12.08.23
