philly – VICTORIA WATTS

Action is Power: Why Your Vote Matters (Part 2)

June 19, 2018 by admin

art blog, artist, being the music, female artist, female musician, independent artist, independent music, local artist, local music, music, music blog, music journalism, Musician, Philadelphia, philly, policy, political commentary, political issues, politics, voting

Welcome to Part 2 of my series on the importance of voting. Today, I want to discuss aspects of the “numbers game” that help make your vote so important. Many people say their vote doesn’t count. In reality, our vote counts for a lot more than we are often aware of. Particularly in the last few election cycles, we are starting to hear more reports of small margin victories and losses. We should bear in mind that while elections may not generally be won or lost by a single vote, the margin often amounts to small communities of people that we can have influence over by being engaged and vocal on political issues.

There are a few different points I’d like to consider. First, in huge presidential elections, we have now seen two major elections (Bush vs. Gore and Trump vs. Clinton) in the past 20 years that were won and lost by mere tens of thousands of votes in a handful of swing states. We’re talking about numbers that equate to the size of a few small college campuses or a handful of small suburban areas that decided our next president. In 2016, razor-thin margins unexpectedly flipped a number of key states in favor of Donald Trump: Michigan was decided by around 13,000 votes, Wisconsin by around 27,000 votes, Arizona by around 91,000 votes, etc. These are differences of mere percentage points. There was actually a case of a state level house race in a recent election being decided by a single, individual vote that had the potential to flip that state house from Republican to Democrat. Literally, one vote! But that’s a story for the next blog…

We generally get wrapped up in how OUR individual vote counts, but, perhaps, more importantly, we should be considering how our involvement and engagement in politics can have a substantial impact on how those around us choose to vote. The numbers game is not simply about the vote that you cast: it’s your vote AND the votes of those around you whom you can directly and indirectly influence. Think of all your family members, colleagues at work, classmates, friends, people at your place of worship, people in your community, those you network with via social media, and those involved in organizations you choose to participate in. If we each truly consider our sphere of influence, most of us would be surprised by how wide our nets can be cast. Do not undersell the influence you can have!

Another aspect of voting to consider is who is voting and who is not. Today, popular opinion is generally more progressive than it is conservative (roughly two-thirds of Americans support gun control, about 60% support gay marriage, nearly 80% support Dreamers becoming citizens or permanent legal residents, two-thirds oppose the new “Zero Tolerance” immigration policy, and approximately 60% believe the government has a responsibility to help every American obtain health insurance). However, Republicans control a majority of State Houses, Governorships, the Presidency, and both houses of the U.S. Congress. This is not a dig at Republicans; I simply want to point out that there is often a disconnect between what Americans believe and what those sent to represent them believe. One of the biggest reasons for this is that so many Americans do not show up to vote, especially among younger demographics of people.

Baby Boomers and Millennials each represent close to one-third of the electorate, yet Millennials had a mere 46% voter turnout in 2016. Contrast that to Baby Boomers at around 69% and the Silent Generation (ages 71+) at around 72%. Overall, less than 60% of the eligible voters in America actually voted in the 2016 election cycle. Half the battle here is just showing up. Younger voters (ages 18-30) are arguably the people who will be most affected long term by new legislation passed, yet they are the least represented in government because they do not show up to vote. At times, we essentially have people in their 70s and 80s deciding policies that will affect the lives of Americans 30 years from now, when those older folks voting will most likely not even be around to reap the consequences. We’re having other people decide what OUR future is going to look like

Also, Millennials have more access to information and convenience than any other generation before us. We can order food or household items at the touch of a button, we can apply to jobs from the comfort of our homes, we can even date using our smartphones. Yet, we don’t seem to care as much about the bigger policy choices we face: what kind of health care coverage will I qualify for? Will my kids be able to afford a college education? Will I be able to pay off the debt I accumulated from my education? Will gun violence victimize me or someone I know? The list goes on and on.

Young people with access to tools like social media have more power than we think. Ideas can spread at the speed of light. We possess a more immediate outlet for expressing ourselves and our beliefs than older generations; it’s simply a matter of embracing that and engaging in the issues that matter most to us. If younger people showed up, we would have the power to change the current political landscape. It’s a numbers game. I want to conclude this blog with one final thought: We must remember that while one person may not be able to change the world, a generation of people certainly can.

(Check out Parts 1 and 3 of this series here: Part 1, Part 3)

Action is Power: Why Your Vote Matters (Part 1)

May 22, 2018 by admin

Category 1

behind the music, blog, blogger, democracy, female artist, female entrepreneur, female musician, independent artist, indie artist, indie music, local artist, local music, music, music blog, music journalism, Musician, Philadelphia, philly, political commentary, politics, singer songwriter, voting

For those of you who don’t know me personally, I need to confess something: I’m fascinated by politics. We had a primary vote this past week in Pennsylvania, so I’ve had several political issues on my mind. However, I find that when I try to bring up politics with people, many are annoyed by the idea of discussing these topics, and they also do not see the importance of voting. While I fully respect someone’s choice to disagree with my opinions on policy, I do not support anyone’s decision to disengage from the democratic process. In order for our government and laws to work at their best, it requires all of us to participate. Here is why I think politics, and way more importantly, policy, should matter to all of us.

Let me start the first part of this series by painting a picture of how politics and policy affect me personally. As a musician, public policy helps shapes my career: I’m a small business owner, so I’m subject to meticulous tax rules, business regulations, and more difficult access to healthcare.

But my personal life has an even deeper connection to public policy:

I grew up low income

I’m a woman

I’m a lesbian

I work in the arts and in education

I have a substantial amount of student debt (Student Loan Forgiveness saves me about $500/month)

My partner has a serious pre-existing health condition for which she requires regular medications and sporadic surgical procedures

I don’t have healthcare through my job (The ACA saves me $400/month and protects my partner’s access to health care as someone with a pre-existing condition)

I deeply believe in social justice and the power of resources to change someone’s circumstance

I have friends in the military

I do not identify as a mainstream evangelical Christian

The high school I attended fell victim to a school shooting

It’s so difficult for me not to feel as though so much of politics is, in fact, personal. Countless policy decisions made at the local, state, and federal level directly affect nearly every aspect of my life. This leads to questions that circle in my head on an almost daily basis:

Will my partner and I still be allowed to marry and/or adopt children after new Supreme Court justices are appointed and may be able to overturn marriage equality?

Will the underserved youth I work with have access to the quality education they need to rise above their given circumstance?

Will my student loan debt be too great an obstacle to overcome in my pursuit to make a better life for myself and my future family?

Will my partner and I spend the rest of our lives together trapped under medical debt?

Will my sisters’ kids, my kids, your kids, grow up in a world where hateful speech and sexual assault are tolerated?

Will our freedom of religion be threatened out of fear?

Will sensible gun control measures that are adhered to by the rest of the western world ever be enacted here in America in order to prevent the epidemic of mass shootings?

Will my friends in the military be sent to a war they don’t believe in?

I understand that these concerns seem a little dramatic to some, and I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a worrier by nature. However, I also fall into several categories of disadvantage that these nay-sayers may not understand. Again, no one should have to apologize for having a different background or belief than me, but I do think it’s crucial to explain some of my concerns in order to reach common ground and better understand why policy matters to someone like me. Politics are personal. Policy matters; therefore, elections and voting matter.

I will save my other defenses of the democratic process for my next blog, in which I’ll further break down my argument for the importance of voting. I want to end this blog with one thought: apathy and complacency may be the two biggest threats to a free and safe society.
I respect the vote, even when I’m not happy with the results. I believe we need to be reflective and hold our leaders to a standard worthy of the America we know and love; one of the best ways to do that is by voting and getting involved in the political process. We should all be proactive in helping to create the America we want to see.

Thank you to EVERYONE (no matter who you vote for) for voting. It’s always amazing to see so many people get involved in our beautiful democratic process. And thank you so much to our polling place volunteers that work tirelessly to make this process available to us.

I hope and pray for the best, for every single American. By design, this place is for ALL OF US.

(Check out Parts 2 and 3 of this blog series here: Part 2, Part 3)

Storytime: Late Nights and Weekends (Part 3)

April 16, 2018 by admin

Category 1

behind the music, DIY, female artist, female entrepreneur, female musician, indie artist, indie music, indie music blog, local artist, local music, music blog, music journalism, Philadelphia, philly, singer songwriter

We are finally beginning the third and final installment of the Late Nights and Weekends Storytime series. There will be plenty more “Storytimes” to come, but this week, we are looking at the final two tracks of Late Nights and Weekends: “Piece of the Puzzle” and “Ocean Dove.” These two tracks both delve into more introspective content that I’m sharing publicly for the first time. Please keep an open mind and… buckle up!

When I wrote “Piece of the Puzzle,” I was actually still living in California but in the process of planning a move to the East Coast to attend a music school in Massachusetts. A few weeks earlier, I met someone with whom I began a romantic relationship. However, after learning of my planned move east, this person decided to break things off out of a desire to avoid a long-distance relationship. In hindsight, I can certainly respect that sentiment, but as a heartbroken twenty-year-old, I was devastated by a potential love abandoned so suddenly. I embarked on my East Coast adventure a couple of weeks later, still rattled by the experience, but before I left, I managed to capture my grieving process in a song that became “Piece of the Puzzle.” There are many lines within the song that are very literal and not dressed up with the metaphors of a sophisticated writer; I was raw and so are the lyrics: “When I, with my heart, step on that plane, my eyes I cannot let see you again. I dread that if they can, once more they’ll want a new start to all this torture which is bound to repeat soon” and “We can chance a happy ending, but won’t allow that in. Sometimes, the wisest voice makes the least amount of sense.” I also expose my need to hide what I’m really feeling (referenced in other songs as well) so as not to appear weak: “It’s time to break my silence on this: my heart agrees not with what leaves my lips. Not one to show a weakness or where it is I’m frail, I act the part of strongest. Beneath, I feel I’ve failed.” The chorus introduces more of the universal feeling of a break up: “We tore us, we tore us, we tore us apart. ‘Cause we’ve kept ourselves from what we both wanted most. Just like a great story never to be told, so we break another piece of the puzzle.” It took me some time to fully recover (and several more songs about feeling heartbroken!), but I obviously picked up the pieces and became a stronger person for having gone through the experience. And, to this day, this is my favorite ballade to play at shows.

The last song on Late Nights and Weekends is “Ocean Dove.” This track is more of a confession song about a flaw within myself. I have always been a very independent person and often to the point of being stubborn and unwavering in my need for that autonomy. While musing about this distinctive feature of my personality, I began to see that while personal independence (especially as a female) can be a wonderfully positive asset and an understandable need, my occasional indignation for this was sometimes more limiting than helpful. I will never say that an independent person (and again, especially if female) is a negative thing, as I genuinely view that quality as an incredibly powerful attribute; I simply want to be honest about the times in which my inability to leave room for others has led to me missing out on some truly great interpersonal connections. I think the line at the end of the chorus best sums up the overall commentary I was aiming for: “Sometimes freedom can trap you more than boundaries built by man.” As a side note to that line, I generally promote the use of “humans” or “humankind” when referring to the universal use of “man” or “mankind,” since I vehemently support the use of Fair Language. However, as a young woman wrestling with the balance of being an independent female while also leaving room for those that seek to enrich my life, I wanted to be intentional with using the word “man.” I wanted to do this because it is often dynamics with men that lead to feeling that tug-of-war within myself (it’s a constant battle to determine what is “assertive” and what is “closed off”), AND because we live in a patriarchal structure that is typically defined by the rules of gender norms and the men who occupy “the top.”

There is one last story I’d like to share with this song that musicians will probably appreciate. When I wrote this song, I was finishing one of my final semesters of college. I had just moved to Philadelphia, so I didn’t have a car and didn’t know many people. My immensely sweet friend and roommate, Talain Rayne, would drop me off every morning before class, around 8am, and he would pick me up every night when he was done with work around 9pm, until I secured a vehicle a couple of months later. I can’t say how grateful I was for him being so accommodating and helpful, but the circumstances meant I was stuck on my school’s campus for over 12 hours every day. Whenever I would get burnt out on my ever-increasing stack of homework assignments, I would wander around campus looking for ways to take a break from academics. One day, I happened across a prayer chapel that seemed rarely used by staff or students, but was equipped with an old piano. I started sneaking into the chapel at night, when everyone else had left, in order to play that aged, but beautiful-sounding, piano. Soon after that, I began composing “Ocean Dove.” Because the piano was quite old, it had some slightly out of tune keys and possessed a very specific timbre. I made multiple recordings while experimenting with different versions of “Ocean Dove,” and I loved the way the character of that aged piano sounded with the song. To this day, I still wish I could somehow bottle up or otherwise recapture that very specific vibe of the old piano. It’s funny how these types of imperfect objects, people, or experiences (but so beautiful in their own unique way), can stick with us far after they leave our lives. I will always have fond memories of my late nights spent at that piano.

With that, I say “it’s a wrap!” to my Late Nights and Weekends Storytime series. Stay tuned for more of both a fresh Storytime series and more blogs about the ups and down of the musician life. Talk to you soon!

Storytime: Late Nights and Weekends (Part 1)

April 3, 2018 by admin

Category 1

indie artist, indie music blog, indiemusic, music, music blog, music journalism, musical journey, Musician, Philadelphia, philly, singer songwriter

Every song reflects a unique experience, thought, concern, or question. As a writer, I take great care in how I craft the pieces of music I share with the world. It’s important to me that they not only reflect quality, but also truth and honesty. In my personal life, I do not always wear my heart on my sleeve, and I do not enjoy feeling as though my deepest worries and vulnerabilities are laid bare. However, there is something about sharing a song that creates a safe space for this type of confession and openness.

In the spirit of exploring that safe space, I would like to take the next few weeks of the blog to share the stories, and at times, struggles, that inspired the music I’ve released to-date. Today, I will be discussing “Scratch” and “Eighth Sea,” the first two tracks from my EP Late Nights and Weekends. First of all, the title of the EP reflects the first chapter of my professional career doing music full time, and it is an ode to my musician lifestyle, for which my working hours are mostly late nights and weekends. I like the idea of each album marking a chapter in my musical journey (my first EP was titled Songs for the Sidewalk since I started as a busker/street musician).

Let’s start with the story behind “Scratch.” Not only is “Scratch” the first track on this record, but it was also the first single and first video released from this record. I wrote this song at a time when I felt as though I had a reverse-Midas effect; everything I touched or cared about seemed to end badly. I kept thinking that the only explanation for these outcomes was the common denominator: me. When things fall apart around us, it’s difficult to not feel at fault. My writing process began with a line that later became the 2nd verse: “I said I’d worked through this curse within me, but I must have lied to you. I swear that I did not mean to scratch you. But I’ve been known to leave a mark on those who dare to draw me close.” Throughout the song, I make a plea to the person I’m addressing to run away while they still can, because my bad fortune was contagious and rooted deep inside me. Writing this song was a great way to cope with and heal from a number of disappointments that seemed to plague me. Many of those disappointments have since resolved or just become a distant memory from my past. But this song remains a reminder of what that helplessness can feel like and a reminder that it eventually will pass.

The second track on Late Nights and Weekends is “Eighth Sea.” This song has a very random origin story… the chorus melody came to me while visiting Boston. I was there with other musician friends. We were riding the subway one day when, all of a sudden, a melody came to me! I didn’t have a way to record it in the loud and crowded subway so I had to keep singing it in my head so I wouldn’t forget how it sounded, and while doing that, some lyrics started filling in. I obviously didn’t have access to a pen and paper either, so I did my best to repeat the melody and lyrics over and over in my head until we finally arrived at our stop. As soon as I got off the subway, I found as quiet a corner as possible under the circumstances, whipped out my flip phone (yes, a few years ago, I was still rocking a flip phone, but that’s a whole other conversation), and began singing into the voice recorder on my phone. I walked around with that song idea literally in my pocket all day. The second we got back to our hotel, I sat with my guitar and started scribing everything from my phone recording and added additional parts I had thought of throughout the day.

At the time, I was getting over a fairly recent break up, so the concept of writing an angry break up song felt natural. This song is about feeling like a relationship was one-sided. The pre-chorus sets up the context of the chorus imagery: “I cried an eighth sea, just to sail away from you.” In this relationship being referenced, I felt like I had been the “giver” and the other individual had been the “taker,” hence the chorus lyrics: “So come with me to my new eighth sea, where I’ll drown the wreck you’ve made. There I can force you to turn the tables, so you’ll just give and I’ll just take… You’re my great mistake.” This song reflects many feelings of anger I was wrestling with following this break up. Interestingly though, this song has simultaneously become a fond memory since it was written during an extremely positive traveling experience with good friends. I suppose we can consider that one more example of how music has a remarkable way of reaching us beyond what even we can understand.

Stay tuned over the next few weeks. There will be more stories behind the songs!

Songwriting: Art or Science?

March 26, 2018 by admin

Category 1

behind the music, Gigging, music blog, music journalism, Musician, Philadelphia, philly, singer songwriter, storytelling, Touring

As a small business owner in the music industry, I wear many hats on a daily basis. I am the CEO, accountant, teacher, entertainer, marketing manager, writer, instrumentalist, and the list goes on. But, if I had to pick one thing that I most identify with, and that most sets my soul on fire, I would say that I am a “Songwriter.”

I think we can all pinpoint certain songs that have comforted us, spoken to us, or simply made us feel not alone in an experience, thought, or emotion. Hell, some songs just make us want to dance, and that is as human as it gets too! The power of song is one that I do not take lightly and one that I aspire to better understand every day of my life. This is a complex subject to articulate, because it is so personal to me, but here is my best attempt to explain some of what that process is like for me….

First of all, let’s start with why I enjoy and value writing songs. I love the process of creating something from nothing. And it’s become a comforting thought to accept that not every finished product needs to be a mind-blowing work of art for others to consume; some songs are just created for the sake of creative output or internal release, and that’s okay! This has become a process of self-acceptance for me: I am imperfect, exactly like my creations, and that is what makes them (and me!) unique and valuable.
It’s also been an interesting journey to see how some songs have become a way to connect with others on a deeper level. I’m not always the most “open book” to those around me, but I’ve found that some close to me have been able to relate with me through songs. Sometimes, we have a common experience to share with one another that gets brought to the surface by a song. Or sometimes, a song I write or that they write (for those of my friends who are also writers) reveals a piece of ourselves that we may not have willingly shared in a conversation.
I love the idea that some creations are just for me, and some creations are meant to be shared. Songs can be both self-therapy and a communal experience. It’s a never-ending, but incredibly exciting paradox!

I often get asked, “What inspires you?” or “What’s your song writing process?”

The truth is, each experience I have in life manifests itself differently. Different situations or heartbreaks inspire different creative outputs. I am influenced and moved by so many different aspects of life, and I’m so touched by so many different people and places; it’s hard for me to offer one definitive answer when asked to identify my inspiration. I often default to the seemingly disingenuous explanation of “life inspires me,” but frankly, it’s the truth.
I’ve also found that each song tends to demand a different writing approach. I will be the first to own how cliché this sounds, but truly, song writing is more about being a willing vessel than anything else. Sometimes, a melody will just come to me, and I’ll work a song around that. Other times, I’ll be playing an instrument and happen across a catchy riff or melodic line. And still other times, I have something in my gut, an emotion or thought, that is bursting to come out; I’ll simply have a need to play music until something feels right, that satisfies that internal restlessness or hunger. I have utilized a number of different approaches to this craft, and I would encourage any aspiring song writers to experiment with different methods to see which one (or ones) work best for him or her.

Songwriting is simultaneously a discipline and a creative expression.

When you begin approaching songwriting as a profession, there can certainly be some calculations in how you tackle a given assignment or project, but I don’t believe it can always fully live and breathe there. There are absolutely some recommended formulas for “hit songs,” and it can be a fun and eye-opening challenge to try to adapt to that. I strongly encourage any writers out there to push themselves to try this.
However, I also don’t think the end goal for every song we set out to create should be the goal of making a “hit.” There are many times I need to write for my own sanity, or I realize it’s been too long since I’ve written, so I need to slow down and allow space for output for the sake of regularity and maintaining those creative muscles. It’s incredibly important to keep your skills sharp, but equally important to keep your heart and mind open to new ideas and processes.

Songwriting is one of the great joys of my life, and it is something I intend to do for as long as I’m physically able. I think as humans, we all need some type of creative expression like this. If you are not a songwriter, there are still so many other creative outputs that may be a good exercise for you to try and possibly start incorporating into your regular routine. These types of disciplines are great for the mind, body, AND soul. Pen to paper is merely one expression. What will your “songwriting” be?