I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe NYE!
I’m excited to ring in the new year with a new Artist of the week; Incredibly talented Singer-Songwriter LaVashti!
Here’s her story in her own words!
VMS: “When did you start writing and performing your music. What is your backstory.”
LaVashti: “First off, thank you so much for the opportunity to interview with you! My love for music began at a very early age. I grew up in Nassau, Bahamas and music is very big in our culture. I first started writing music at the age of 9! I have always enjoyed telling stories through my music.Since then, every song I’ve written has had a story or has had a special timeline in my life. After graduating college in 2020, I moved to Vegas to pursue music professionally as an artist. It’s been a journey ever since!”
VMS: “What artist or bands inspire you and your sound.”
LaVashti: “My sound is inspired by a lot of 90’s music. I grew up listening to Hip-Hop, Pop, and R&B music. My earliest memories of music includes my dad showing me Michael Jackson videos and me listening to The Jackson 5. My biggest influencers that have inspired my sound have been artists like Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blidge, Destiny’s Child, TLC, Boyz II Men, Britney Spears, Beyonce and Usher. I love all kinds of music but the 90’s and early 2000s are my favorite!”
VMS: “What’s your writing process or inspiration for your lyrics.”
LaVashti:”I usually get my inspiration from life experiences whether it’s my life or someone else’s. A lot of the music I write doesn’t start with a beat or instrumental, just lyrics. Whenever I feel down, I always write down my feelings. The emotions I write turn into lyrics OR sometimes melodies would come to me randomly and I will add lyrics later.”
VMS:”I love your songs “Wish U Well” and “Toxic Love”! What is the inspiration behind these songs.”
LaVashti: “Thank you so much!! “Toxic Love” was written at a time where I felt like I wasn’t having any luck with love. I was having a conversation with some of my closest friends and began writing a song based on what we all experienced. I thought it would be great to have a song we all could relate to because a lot of times we don’t see bad relationships as toxic but they are.”
Listen to “Toxic Love” on Spotify:
“I wrote “Wish U Well” at a time when both me and my family’s world felt like it was coming down into shambles. I felt like it was time to BOSS up but also be real about the fact that yes people do you wrong but you don’t always want the best for them. As harsh as it is, it’s the truth and I think a lot of people were able to connect with that.”
Listen to “Wish U Well” on Spotify:
VMS: “What do you want your audience to feel and experience at one of your live shows.”
LaVashti: “I want my audience to have AN EXPERIENCE. I desire for my music and shows to be a destination for people. No matter what you’re going through I want my shows to feel like for a moment you can be free to express your true emotions and not worry about what happens after! I am that artist that will provide not only great vocals and lyrics but dance as well. I’m excited to grow in my performances.”
VMS: “Which local artist would you like to work with and why.”
LaVashti: “I would love to work with Chow 1.5! I think he is a dope artist and the second I heard his music I loved it! Another local artist I would love to work with is MiMi! I saw her perform at an event a few months ago and I fell in love with her songs instantly. Vegas has a lot of dope talent!!”
VMS: “What’s your overall theme or message of your music.”
LaVashti: “The overall theme and message of my music is “Push through!” What I mean by that is, for the longest time my music has been a diary for ME. Since releasing music it’s been like a mirror for other people and I never knew! When people listen to my music I want them to understand that they aren’t alone in any area in life. I am an open book and I don’t mind sharing my stories so if I’m able to push through it…you can too!”
VMS: “What does the future hold for LaVashti.”
LaVashti: “The future is so bright!!! I am revamping and preparing for the new year! In 2024 there will be more shows, more music and more visuals. What I’m most excited about is that there will be more growth! I plan to stay true to what LaVashti wants and I hope that while doing that I will inspire others. It took years to get to where I am but if I’ve learned anything it’s that when you believe in yourself NOTHING can stop you! I plan to release my new single soon and can’t wait to share more!”
What I love about LaVashti is how real and genuine her heart and her songs are.Whether she’s singing about loss, love or the fact that people suck, What you see is what you get with her. Her incredibly smooth vocals that paint an emotionally complicated picture of life, her wonderful production that compliments her vocals beautifully, and her amazing stage presence in her live performances, she truly has the whole package and is a force to be reckoned with.
Her music is inspiring to me for the simple fact that I appreciate she’s not sugar coating that life gets hard, but also that life is what YOU make of it! At the end of the day she is an amazing woman who doesn’t need any bs in her life, and will never accept anything less but the best for her and that is incredibly empowering and inspiring to me to hear from an artist! I’m truly excited for the journey that life is going to take LaVashti on, I feel the possibilities are endless for her and I know for one, I’m definitely staying along for the ride!
For more information on LaVashti, please follow her on all her social media platforms.
Listen to LaVashti on Spotify:
LaVashti on Instagram:
Lavashti on Facebook:
—VMS