Start Listening To: Vanity Fairy
Vanity Fairy showcases a kitsch-disco style, delving into a realm of surrealism and introspection.
Drawing comparisons to the legendary Bee Gees, Vanity Fairy's vocals carry an enchanting charm that seamlessly intertwines with her eclectic music. With tracks like ‘Love of My Life’ and the recent ‘Jungle Jim’ and ‘Top of the Pops’ Vanity Fairy navigates through a spectrum of emotions, each song embodying a unique narrative and mood. Looking towards the future, Vanity Fairy dreams of expanding her creative endeavors, envisioning a path that encompasses not only music but also fashion and philanthropy. Join us as we delve deeper into the world of Vanity Fairy, where disco beats meet introspective musings, and the journey is as vibrant as the artist herself.
For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?
I’m Vanity Fairy. I’m a country girl, from the deepest darkest depths of Suffolk. I grew up amongst fields of flowers, (and rapeseed, that gave me the worst hay fever), sheep and cows and vegetable patches. I used to pick ripe, fresh plums right off the tree. Now I live in East London. I make disco music inspired by 70s and 80s stuff.
'Jungle Jim' is described as taking a departure from the kitsch-disco hedonism of your recent output. What inspired this shift in sound, and how does 'Jungle Jim' reflect a different facet of Vanity Fairy's musical identity?
It’s just another side of Vanity Fairy, rather than a departure. Jungle Jim came from a different part of me and was born out of other emotions. I’ve always loved surreal stuff - films, music, images, so it’s drawing on that I guess. Most of my stuff is very joyous and feel-good, but sometimes I feel complicated and a bit fucked up, which leads to the Jungle Jims hehe!
The lyrics of 'Jungle Jim' are noted for their fractured and oblique quality. Can you share more about the creative process behind your song writing?
I co-write all my songs with my brother - and best friend - Sam E. Yamaha. He also produces everything. Jungle Jim was one of those songs that just came out more or less in one whole piece, or at least the vocal did. I wrote a lot of the lyrics when I sang the melody for the first time. The noises and few fragments of intelligible words I sang in the first take I wanted to keep, so my brother and I set about putting words to the sounds, trying to remain as faithful as possible to those original sounds. So the lyrics have an unconscious quality, (‘Somewhere in-between the billboard and dead / I’m hot, you're bare, spin me somewhere’) and a kind of retroactively imposed automatism if that’s not a contradiction (which I think it is). I like how fractured and fragile the language ends up being - ‘You're the man / father within me, chosen / heaven could love me / I don’t want her shoals of god inside’. And I like how un-authored it feels. Like I went into the song and disappeared.
Your vocals on 'Jungle Jim' have been compared to the Bee Gees. How do you approach vocal delivery, and what influences have shaped your distinctive style?
I just sing to make myself happy. I’ve never really analysed it. I listen to all types of singers and voices. I guess I just sing like me?!
Your upcoming tour includes dates with Pip Blom and performances at various venues. How do you prepare for live performances, and what can audiences expect from a Vanity Fairy live show?
-Nap
-Makeup
-Warm voice up
-Food
-Coffee
In that order! And I don’t like it if the order gets disrupted! haha! People describe my shows as joyful, fun and happy. There’s lots of smiling and dancing.
Having performed at Left Of The Dial, Sŵn, and Mutations, can you share some memorable experiences from your recent gigs and festivals?
The most memorable shows are always the ones where the audience are completely engaged and receptive to everything I do. It’s the most fun when the crowd immerse themselves in my performance and react to everything I do. I love chatting to the audience between songs and building a rapport. Connecting with the people who have come to see me is really important to me. I like it being a two way thing. I feed off the audiences' energy, excitement and joy! I move around a lot during my performances and at the latest gig - a showcase that DIY hosted - the audience parted in two to allow me to walk to and from the stage and I also got stuck in a cupboard when I was playing around hiding hehe!
SWN in Cardiff was very special. I played to a packed out room and everyone was dancing and loving it! I went outside of the room and sang to them through the glass in the door.
'Love of My Life' was your previous release before 'Jungle Jim.' How do these two tracks relate to each other, and what themes or stories do they explore?
They don’t really relate to each other to be honest, They were written when I was in completely different moods and places in my life. Love of my life is literally about what it says on the tin, and Jungle Jim is about sadness, regret, and also hope.
'Top of The Pops' might just be your most joyful and optimistic track to date. What draws you towards singing about such pure and positive themes in your songwriting?
It's pretty simple with me tbh, when happy things happen to me, and when I'm feeling good, I write happy songs!
The DIY Hello 2024 showcase is coming up soon. What are your expectations and anticipations for this event, and how do you feel about being part of it?
The DIY showcase was so much fun! I played to a packed out room of people who were totally into it! It was very special to have been asked to play it as they were showcasing people they really believe in.
What do you love right now?
sequins, and my boyfriend
What do you hate right now?
Public Toilets and Great Western Railway’s customer service hold music.
Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you?
Diana by Diana Ross - because it has soundtracked many happy moments for me.
Looking ahead, what are your plans and aspirations for the future of Vanity Fairy? Are there specific goals or creative directions you hope to explore in your upcoming projects?
My dream is to be able to sell out The Hammersmith Apollo, set up a Vanity Fairy clothing brand, and become well known enough to give loads of money to charity.
