EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Victoria Lane

Victoria Lane is the promising popstrel from Miami, who burst onto the music scene earlier this year with her debut single ‘Don’t Regret It‘. The track, a culmination of her life experience and the desire to have her voice heard, demonstrates her burning passion to succeed, and we’re pretty sure that she’s well on her way to being the new name on everyone’s lips.

We recently had the chance to ask Victoria some questions about ‘Don’t Regret It’, her future releases, musical inspirations and what she hopes to achieve in the next few years. Check out the interview below.

For anyone who has yet to discover Victoria Lane, how would you describe your music?

Independent pop. I always say I’m a cross between Taylor Swift and Katy Perry — a combo of storytelling and pure, upbeat pop.

You worked in the corporate setting for a few years before discovering that expressing yourself as a musician was your true passion. What was the turning point for you?

I’d always loved music — in fact, I was my high school chorus’ president in my senior year —, but I never thought to pursue it. I had gone to a show in Orlando that my friends were playing, and as I watched them truly enjoying themselves, I realized that I was missing out on the fun and excitement of being an artist.

You released your debut single ‘Don’t Regret It’ earlier this year. Can you tell us what inspired you to write it?

The story is about that push and pull that a person feels in a difficult situation, be it a relationship or something else. The song personifies my feelings of being stuck in Miami — the city where I felt most comfortable because I was born and raised there, yet where I felt most uncomfortable because I couldn’t chase my dreams and express myself. I knew that there was so much more to life, and I had to leave Miami behind — and I don’t regret it.

https://youtu.be/jMf7qLzYTX0

What was it like to film the official music video for it?

So much fun! Exhausting, but a blast! My good friends from Afflux Studios, who have helped me with this entire process from the very beginning (they produced and filmed most of my covers), were behind it all. I filmed at my family friends’ house, so I had tons of familiar faces around me all day long. And my incredible mother styled me for each scene.

Your new song ‘Lights Off’ is released in a few weeks. What can you tell us about it?

It’s your new anthem. It sounds like Katy Perry’s older songs — sweet, but sassy. I started writing it a cappella one day as I was putting on my makeup, a bit angry over an interaction I’d had with a guy who told me I was pretty in a pitch black room. I worked on the lyrics for a couple days and then showed it to Chris Bourne, who is practically my brother and was crashing at my house at the time, and he helped me turn it into what it is.

You’ve worked with Adam Neilsen, whose credits include 5 Seconds of Summer and JC Chasez, on both of your songs so far. What is he like to work with?

Adam is one of the nicest and most supportive people I have met in my entire life. There are so many people in this industry who won’t give a beginner like me the time of day, but Adam was willing and excited to work with me right off the bat. He’s amazing. I will be forever grateful.

You’ve also shared covers on YouTube, including one of Kygo’s ‘Carry Me’ which has garnered over 100,000 views. Were you surprised at the reaction it received?

It was totally unexpected! I decided to do that song on a whim at my friend’s studio in Orlando — shouts to Sunray! I happened to hear it on a Spotify playlist right around the time it was released and thought, “Why not?!” I filmed and edited the video myself and expected it to go nowhere. But for some reason, it blew up! It reached around 45,000 views and then plateaued. And then I got lucky: Kygo and Julia Michaels performed “Carry Me” at the Closing Ceremony of the Olympics, and it hit the 100,000 mark in the following 2 weeks.

https://youtu.be/t7Wkeihp1eQ

Who currently inspires you musically? You’ve stated in the past that you drew inspiration from the rock scene, yet your music is very poppy.

My inspiration from the rock scene comes in the form of the lack of inhibitions that all these bands have up on stage; I relate to the passion. And then I discovered Paramore however many years back and saw Hayley Williams being so feminine but having major edge. And that’s what I try to put into my music: juxtaposition. I’m releasing pretty upbeat pop songs with not-so-uplifting lyrics.

Right now, I’m loving Foxes, Shawn Mendes, Tory Lanez, and Taking Back Sunday (TBS will always be my favorite band). My music tastes are all over the map, but drawing inspiration from vastly different genres lends to my individuality.  

You describe yourself as a pop culture aficionado since birth – what was the first record you ever bought?

The first “real” record I ever bought was Britney Spears’ debut album “Baby One More Time.” I still remember the infomercials! (I say “real” because the first CD I ever bought was the soundtrack to the Rugrats movie just a few months before.)

You’ve teased an EP release for next year – what can we expect to you hear from you?

You’ll hear a lot of maturity injected into the same sass that you hear in “Don’t Regret It” and “Lights Off.” I’m playing with different styles and showing my range as a songwriter and artist. It’s exciting — I think you’ll love it!

Do you have any live gigs planned?

I have a couple of shows coming up — details to come on my Twitter and Instagram, so be sure to follow me! — and I’m planning for a little tour in the spring!

What do you hope to achieve in the next few years?

I want to feel that I’ve put myself out there and expressed myself honestly. I want to keep reaching new heights and developing as a person and as an artist. In the end, I just want to be happy.

Thank you Victoria for your time, and good luck with your future plans, we can’t wait for your EP!

‘Don’t Regret It’ is available to download now.

Share your thoughts on this interview with us on Twitter @CelebMix.

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