INTERVIEW: Vetta Borne on latest single 'Beyoncé': "Becoming Vetta Borne gave me purpose and gave me an outlet to really express and find myself in a way I never could before."
Singer, songwriter and producer Maribelle Añes earlier this year launched her new solo project under the name Vetta Borne with the EP Violetta. It not only brought a new name, but also a new soundscape with her music moving into smooth, R&B and soul, with the occasional dash of disco and funk.
Last month she released the single ‘Beyoncé’, a track that celebrates love and friendship encased in a warm, silky R&B jam: “You’re my fucking soulmate / You’re my Kelly and we both know I’m Beyoncé” she sings. It is a song that quickly wraps itself around your soul and makes us excited for her second EP Emelia due early next year. We recently chatted to Vetta to find out more.
Hey Vetta! Thanks for chatting to us. How is life with you at the moment?
Life for me is definitely picking up again now that the sun is out and restrictions are easing. I can feel my body thanking me for easing back into a healthy lifestyle.
Congratulations on the release of your new single ‘Beyoncé’ it is such a beautiful track. Can you talk us through the inspiration for this gem?
Thank you! I wrote ‘Beyoncé’ about my life-long friends. When covid first hit, I still felt that reassurance with my friends that even if I won’t see them for a long time, we’re always going to be here for each other. Beyoncé just felt like the perfect person to reference as you can see how many life-long friends she has in her life.
How much of an inspiration is the real-life Beyoncé to your music career?
As a woman of colour, Beyoncé has always been an inspiration to me in so many ways. I mean, how could she not be? She’s driven and dedicated and towards her goals and that’s always an admirable quality to have.
What was the creative process for this track, I believe it was created in lockdown in your bedroom studio?
I had spent the first few months of lockdown just producing and writing heaps. I was feeling all sorts of emotions that I’m sure everybody has been feeling too. The second I started playing the chords, I could hear exactly what I wanted the song to sound like. The lyrics, the melody, all of it. I knew I wanted it to sound like a dream. A dream of wanting to be with my loved ones again.
This year you changed your artist name from Maribelle to Vetta Borne. What was the thinking behind that change?
I never felt the authenticity with myself as Maribelle. I felt like I was just making music because I knew how to, but there was no meaning behind what I was doing. Becoming Vetta Borne gave me purpose and gave me an outlet to really express and find myself in a way I never could before.
You have your second EP Emelia due to be released next year, what can you tell us about it?
It’s an awakening of emotions. It’s all about self-care and feeding yourself all of the good things in life, from getting over toxic relationships to finding love and comfort within yourself.
If we can take it back the beginning, what role did music play in your life when you were growing up?
I’ve always been surrounded my music, my parents are Filipino, and ran a church choir. I would watch my dad play the guitar and copy him, my sister would write lyrics in her diary and of course, as the annoying little sister I would always take them and sing them. Music is in my blood, it always has been.
How did your career as a musician start, was there a ‘light bulb’ moment or was it something that developed organically?
I think my family saw something in me from a young age, always making me sing in front of everyone. I used to get so embarrassed but the second I start singing I forget about everything else. My career really started in high school, once I started uploading original songs to YouTube.
The music industry has been extremely male-dominated, both in front of and behind the scenes, since its very beginnings. What are your thoughts on gender equality and sexism in music?
When I first started telling people I was producing, as a person who started as a top-liner, people would literally laugh at me like I wasn’t capable of doing it. It’s that kind of environment and attitude that I think scares a lot of people from wanting to try and live up to the potential they know they’re capable of. Everybody is just as capable as each other, it’s not a competition. We’re all here because we love music.
2020 has been a bit of a car crash with bushfires, coronavirus, Black Lives Matters just to name a few disasters. What do you think is the good, if any, that has come out of this turmoil?
I can’t speak for anybody else but myself on this, but I feel that the only good that has come of 2020 is the time I never realised I needed to myself. I can see myself more clearly, the good and also the things I need to work on. I don’t think I would’ve learnt this much about myself and the world without this year.
What’s up next for Vetta Borne?
My second EP Emelia is on its way. Some cute music videos are finally on the way as well. I’m hoping I’ll be able to do some live stuff too, even if it’s just to stream!
‘Beyoncé’ by Vetta Borne is out now via Soul Modern. You can download and stream here.
To keep up with all things Vetta Borne you can follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
