Ahead of her presenting duties at 'MTV Classic: The Launch', we talk to the gorgeous Vanessa Amorosi about success, taking risks and being crazy like Janis.
MTV: What’s a music video from your childhood that you connected with?
Vanessa: I think it was Euphoria, ‘Love You Right’, Black Box and songs like ‘Pump Up The Jam’ – all that stuff! I think that’s when I discovered watching clips.
MTV: Do you have a lot of input into your music videos? Is that an important part of your craft?
Vanessa: It’s extremely important to have input into how things look because you want it to represent you as an artist as well as the song. It’s the last four years it’s been a major focus for me to represent how I am live. Especially with the new clip ‘Mr Mysterious’; that’s how it is live.
MTV: With your new album 'Hazardous' you’ve had a great chart rating and response. What’s your definition of success for an album?
Vanessa: I think it’s mainly the support I get from my fans. I know I’ve done my job properly when they’re as excited as I am and remembering songs and lyrics and mouthing back the words and shows are starting to fill out. It’s like watching your whole crusade come back together again.
It’s like a celebration because it’s connected and it’s worked and it’s been such a raw truthful album, and I was a little bit horrified at what people who remember of me when I was a child would think of what I was writing about.
MTV: Are you glad you took that risk?
Vanessa: I’m so so glad I took that risk because I double-thought it so many times, and thought I’m crazy, this isn’t going to work, this isn’t what people want to hear, they don’t want to hear honesty they want to hear fabrication, and get their party on.
And that’s not really what I’m about. I wanted to make an album that made sense because I have had some bizarre wonderful crazy wacky moments in my life in the rock and roll industry, and I think I’ve always kept my personal life so quiet…
MTV: What’s your fondest music memory from your childhood? I remember this footage my mother was playing of when Janis Joplin was at Woodstock and it was so raw, and gut-wrenching and she was so crazy and so not what an artist was meant to be back in those days, and that really made me think, I have so much when it comes to vocals and energy and I have that same kind of spirit, and as a youngster I contained it a lot and did pop music and it’s only now that I’ve unleashed it.
MTV: Are you a Slash fan?
Vanessa: Oh yeah! I don’t know how many hits that guy has been a part of and he’s so iconic, he’s a legend, just everybody knows who he is, even little kids.
MTV: Do you still get star stuck?
Vanessa: Of course! I’m absolutely horrified! I’m sure if I bump into him somewhere back stage I’m going to be a mess and forget how to talk, because that’s what I do every time!
MTV: So what’s coming up for you?
Vanessa: I head to Europe in five days, and release the album there. And I will try and do what I did in Australia. So there’s going to be a fair bit of work, then I’ll come back and tour here in Australia by the end of the year.
MTV: So that will be like breaking a whole new audience?
Vanessa: I had success there when I was much younger, and I haven’t been back there since I disappeared, just like I disappeared in Australia. So it’s going to be very daunting and scary, they’re going to remember me from my childhood and then coming out with this album is going to be such a massive leap. I think the thing that’s most exciting for me, if it works I can be constantly out on the road touring. I’m all about doing shows, so I want to be able to travel for the rest of my life, so if I can break Europe and have success there, and have the fans that I have hear in Australia, then I’ll be happy.
Don't miss Vanessa struttin' her stuff when 'MTV Classic: The Launch' premieres on MTV Classic, channel 8101, May 1 @ 5pm.
Get a taste of what's to come on 'MTV Classic: The Launch' with the exclusive performance of 'Civil War' below.
MTV: What’s a music video from your childhood that you connected with?
Vanessa: I think it was Euphoria, ‘Love You Right’, Black Box and songs like ‘Pump Up The Jam’ – all that stuff! I think that’s when I discovered watching clips.
MTV: Do you have a lot of input into your music videos? Is that an important part of your craft?
Vanessa: It’s extremely important to have input into how things look because you want it to represent you as an artist as well as the song. It’s the last four years it’s been a major focus for me to represent how I am live. Especially with the new clip ‘Mr Mysterious’; that’s how it is live.
MTV: With your new album 'Hazardous' you’ve had a great chart rating and response. What’s your definition of success for an album?
Vanessa: I think it’s mainly the support I get from my fans. I know I’ve done my job properly when they’re as excited as I am and remembering songs and lyrics and mouthing back the words and shows are starting to fill out. It’s like watching your whole crusade come back together again.
It’s like a celebration because it’s connected and it’s worked and it’s been such a raw truthful album, and I was a little bit horrified at what people who remember of me when I was a child would think of what I was writing about.
MTV: Are you glad you took that risk?
Vanessa: I’m so so glad I took that risk because I double-thought it so many times, and thought I’m crazy, this isn’t going to work, this isn’t what people want to hear, they don’t want to hear honesty they want to hear fabrication, and get their party on.
And that’s not really what I’m about. I wanted to make an album that made sense because I have had some bizarre wonderful crazy wacky moments in my life in the rock and roll industry, and I think I’ve always kept my personal life so quiet…
MTV: What’s your fondest music memory from your childhood? I remember this footage my mother was playing of when Janis Joplin was at Woodstock and it was so raw, and gut-wrenching and she was so crazy and so not what an artist was meant to be back in those days, and that really made me think, I have so much when it comes to vocals and energy and I have that same kind of spirit, and as a youngster I contained it a lot and did pop music and it’s only now that I’ve unleashed it.
MTV: Are you a Slash fan?
Vanessa: Oh yeah! I don’t know how many hits that guy has been a part of and he’s so iconic, he’s a legend, just everybody knows who he is, even little kids.
MTV: Do you still get star stuck?
Vanessa: Of course! I’m absolutely horrified! I’m sure if I bump into him somewhere back stage I’m going to be a mess and forget how to talk, because that’s what I do every time!
MTV: So what’s coming up for you?
Vanessa: I head to Europe in five days, and release the album there. And I will try and do what I did in Australia. So there’s going to be a fair bit of work, then I’ll come back and tour here in Australia by the end of the year.
MTV: So that will be like breaking a whole new audience?
Vanessa: I had success there when I was much younger, and I haven’t been back there since I disappeared, just like I disappeared in Australia. So it’s going to be very daunting and scary, they’re going to remember me from my childhood and then coming out with this album is going to be such a massive leap. I think the thing that’s most exciting for me, if it works I can be constantly out on the road touring. I’m all about doing shows, so I want to be able to travel for the rest of my life, so if I can break Europe and have success there, and have the fans that I have hear in Australia, then I’ll be happy.
Don't miss Vanessa struttin' her stuff when 'MTV Classic: The Launch' premieres on MTV Classic, channel 8101, May 1 @ 5pm.
Get a taste of what's to come on 'MTV Classic: The Launch' with the exclusive performance of 'Civil War' below.
Copyright : MTV Australia
