I once read, Its never too late to be what you shouldve been.When you think about how short a lifetime really is, how could you not follow your hearts desire? Im only going to be Vanessa Kelly once! So, I figure I better give her a good shot! Im telling you this, so I dont forget to follow my heart, I know its cliché, but when I stick with my heart, I never fail.I love music. I cant imagine having never sung, danced, or listened to a beautiful melody. To me songs are like flowers and much like a flower, a song is born. Theyre seeds resting until one decides to rise and shine. Each one has its own story to tell. Some have thorns. Some choose their colours with great care. Some tease us, unveiling their petals one by one. Some have perfumed the whole world, while others save their fragrance in hope of being loved one day.Id like to tell you about me in my own words! I am not going to list every gig Ive ever done. Id rather tell you about experiences that Ive found interesting, honest or funny.
I grew up in a Sydney suburb called Kingsgrove, with my mum, dad, brother, dog and various other family pets. We lived in a small but comfortable house. I was a bit of a tomboy, I would definitely ditch Barbie to go on an adventure or climb a tree. I remember thinking that Heaven was a hospital, because this is where we went, on the day my duck died! What I didnt understand was my mum was about to give birth to my brother! I thought we were going to visit my duck. I used to think there were little bands living inside the radio, so I secretly broke one to try and find these little people. It was like discovering The Tooth Fairy didnt exist!
I loved performing on top of the old kitchen table in our backyard; it was my own private stage and apparently I used to sing the lyrics to Cheap wine and a three day growth as Cheap wine and a female goat! I only recently found out that I am not the only one to have misheard this lyric! At least I have the excuse of only being 4 yrs of age at the time.
My family are all music lovers, Id listen to my dad sing along to Norwegian Wood The Beatles/ rubber sole album and Queens Greatest Hits, Carol king and Stevie Wonder. I have a fond memory of a narrated musical by Harry Nilsson titled The Point! a real trip. The first record I ever bought with my own pocket money was Madonnas Like a Virgin. My favourite movie was Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory, and To Kill a Mocking Bird was the first novel I ever fell in love with.I knew I wanted to be on the stage early on, I just couldnt figure out exactly what I was going to be. I was always singing, and making up songs. I tried my hand at figure skating, gymnastics, acting, roller-skating, (thats when I joined a limbo roller skating team). Youd roll under a bar, inches from ground level, while holding your ankles in side splits. I remember my mums not so happy reaction when I announced my latest goal.
For a short while, (maybe a week) along with several others, I held the world record for 7 inches. We were invited to display our skills on the David Frost show. It was filmed out here, but aired in England, so we never got to see it. When I got news that some American girl had cleared 6.5 inches, I knew it was time for a career change.Dance School beckoned, along with Singing lessons. I had found my calling at last. I just loved it. I became obsessed with Singing and Tap dancing. Eisteddfods, amateur theatre, competitions and local shopping centre shows ensued. I got my first singing gig when I was 16 at Australias Wonderland. I was so excited, we all were! Except for the oldest cast member, who announced on our first lunch break that this job was just a bit better than the dole! I was mortified at the time.The gigs, competitions, experiences that followed, ranged from exhilarating, funny, disastrous, to plain embarrassing. Ive joined a lot of different bands in my career! The first rock band I joined played a bikie festival. This was not a fun gig for me. Im not a debaucherous type. Anyhow, a photo of me singing at this gig found its way into a motorcycle magazine, onto a page titled Bikes; boobs; and babes. I cried, but find it rather amusing when I think about it now. I dont get why they bothered using my photo? I was the only sober, clothed person on the page!
The most obscure gig Ive experienced to date was working at a theme park in South East Asia, which was still under construction. I lived there for 6 months with 7 other cast members, and basically did three shows a day, 6 days a week, to absolutely no one. The Park never opened! The entrance tollgates werent even built, and we had to wear hard hats while we were performing! One of the construction workers decided he didnt like our choreography, so demonstrated his suggestion of doing cartwheels instead. Before our first performance we made a request for our stage to be sanded back, as it was too slippery. On returning we discovered about 20 women on their hands and knees pouring buckets of sand over the stage, rubbing it in! Unbeknownst to us, we may have been the worlds first Big Brother contestants and could very well be celebrities in China. I still have my favourite souvenir, which is a brand of lipstick called My Stiffy!I recorded my first demo at 18! Got ripped off quite a few times and made some really dumb decisions it terms of direction for my music career. I got a record deal with an independent label. Thank god it didnt go anywhere. No offence to the producer (he was talented) but the project was underdeveloped. I was so easily led at the prospect of fame and fortune. I dont know what kind of music it was; I do know it wasnt me! Gracefully, I was able to step out of this tale. I wandered in and out of the woods over the next couple of years, contemplating Shakespeares age-old question, To be or not to be. In the music industry that is!
I travelled abroad with work, made a great living for a second with a group called The Funky Divas. I won several singing comps that allowed me to be able to afford recording time. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to write and work with some very gifted musicians/producers. I finally found a sound that was right for me. Everything seemed to be coming together.
My next move proved to me, that there is no formula or rules on how to approach your goals; you just have to do it your way.
I went to a Robbie Williams concert and waved my demo around! I didnt know that Guy Chambers (Robbies co-writer/producer) toured with Robbie as his M.D! This was the Guy (no pun intended) that I wanted to get my songs to. Im a huge fan of his work! I went nuts when I heard let me entertain you for the first time. I couldnt get enough of these great songs. I went and bought every album and single I could get my hands on. I was so inspired by this music and energy, I felt connected to it. Anyway, turns out Guy sees me in the crowd, gives the nod to the security guard to pass on my demo. The next thing you know Guys checking out my C.D during the standing ovation. This was surreal! In short, Guy was auditioning for a Girl rock band he was producing. He liked my stuff, so he called. I met him, and the rest of the crew at Robbies after show party. He was a very nice man. He dug that I waved my c.d in Robbies face. (No I did not get to meet Robbie)
Not long after, I got a ph call asking if I could come to London, to audition for the band! So, I flew out 5 days later. My first audition was at The Depot Studios. My guess is that this is where all the big name acts rehearsed in London. It had an awesome sound system, fully equipped with personal sound engineer. The band rocked and I had a great time. Next day was Mayfair Recording studios, where Guy had his studio space. The singer from Super Grass (Gaz Coombes) was sitting in the foyer, and I was about to go and sing into a mic where Robbie had tracked some of his biggest hits! Man! If this ends up being my only claim to fame, then Im cool with this! Ok! Im lying! I still Day Dream of winning a Grammy!
My audition was successful in terms of how I felt about it. It was one of the most exciting and nerve wracking times Ive ever experienced! Its exciting to be in the company of such talented people whove inspired and moved us through their music! I love Guy Chambers for giving me this opportunity and experience. However, I didnt get the gig. Turns out the project didnt go ahead anyhow.Since then,
I entered The Australian open Entertainment Championships. The whole vibe was very glitzy; show stopper; Musical Theatre-esque. A part of me I had not indulged in for quite some time! Two awesome dancer /choreographers joined me, and cut to the chase WE WON! So all those years of dance eisteddfods finally paid off. I went back to my roots for a night, and my mum was in her element.
I introduced my music to its audience, with my E.P titled THUMBELINA! I had an absolute blast making this record! And consider myself very blessed to have been in the company of such wonderfully talented and lovely people, from whom I have learnt so much.
I find the writing process, exciting and frustrating at the same time.
I have spent time with some very prolific writers who have the gift of being able to capture the emotion of the melody and music through the lyric. And when youre in the company of poets, it drives you to want to achieve the same. So, I try. My favourite part of all is singing it! Im so lucky to have found something that I love to do.
At the end of the day, this is what its about.I continue to sing for my supper.
Whether Im in the spotlight or brushing my teeth, Im generally happy to be here.
This is a summary of my life so far!
Currently, I am tending to my garden. I hope to create a fragrant bouquet of songs and invite you to stop by some time to smell a rose or two....
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