We were introduced to gorgeous Vanessa Daou via her Zipless, her seminal 1994 record. Zipless, a sexually-charged, feminist collection of pieces inspired by the work of her husband Peter’s aunt, the poet/novelist Erica Jong, has been touted as the ultimate sex record. world-over. In fact, we think it (much like kombucha, good red wine, or a little smoke-age) is a serious aphrodisiac – download it on itunes asap. Or at the very least watch the video for the single “Near The Black Forest.”
Vanessa’s early underground success brought her to the attention of Columbia Records/Sony which signed her to a seven album record deal in 1992. Together with her then musical partner, producer and husband, Peter Daou, on piano, the pair recorded as THE DAOU and released their debut album, HEAD MUSIC in 1992.
In 1994, the duo decided to launch Vanessa as a solo artist with Peter as co-writer, producer and arranger. Vanessa’s newest record Joe Sent Me is another foray into the breathy, transcendental plane of Daou’s endlessly sexy voice, brilliant mind, and sophistacted beats. Plus, the gal is no dummy; as a Visual Arts and Art History major at Columbia University, Vanessa has always approached her art as a synthesis of sight and sound, written word and song. The Windy City Times writes: “Electronica, smooth jazz, drum-and-bass, poet, chanteuse, painter. Vanessa Daou is one artist who thrives on not being pigeonholed.”GirlieGirl Army Founder Chloe Jo Berman recently had a quick chat with the glamorous chanteuse about her music, green living, and what she simply cannot go without;
Chloe: My first serious boyf introduced it to me to “Zipless,” and we spent many an hour listening to it (naked) ad nauseum. Is that TMI? Did you go into the studio to create the hottest ever record?
Vanessa: Not TMI at all! That’s exactly what we were inspired to create, and a lot went into the mix before we gave it our seal of approval: ZIPLESS was tested out in the studio on numerous occasions, test-driven in cars and backseats, and of course nakedness was a primary ingredient! Each album I create is a unique experience for me, a time to delve into and research an idea or concept that interests, drives or moves me.
ZIPLESS was a poetic and sonic exploration of the power, endurance and beauty of seduction. I’ve always been attracted to music that taps into and resonates with the idea of seduction. Jazz – since its earliest days – has explored many of its angles and edges. In 1994, when we were in the studio making ZIPLESS, electronic music was relatively unexplored terrain, and like the early days of Jazz, enticed the ear with its immensely subtle textures, layers and deep grooves. While Erica Jong’s poetry addresses themes of Love & desire directly, so much so that the album was labeled with a Parental Advisory sticker, her poetry is so incredibly nuanced, touching on the intangibility of Love, Sex and Desire. It’s these intangibles that interest me, the fleeting kinds of feelings and emotions that artists like Leonard Cohen, Francoise Hardy and John Coltrane are addressing. To be seduced by something that comes at you from the shadows, from an oblique angle or perspective, that’s what interested when making Zipless, and what drives me creatively in many ways.
How did the collaboration between you and Erica Jong start?
The collaboration began when I started to read Erica’s poetry. Erica is Peter’s aunt, and when I met her back in 1990 we immediately connected on a creative level, discussing poetry and writing. One day in the studio, I
was reading her poetry for inspiration, and started weaving melodies to her lyrics which worked very naturally for me since I identified deeply with her poetry. Once the idea was shaped into the concept of ‘Zipless’, we approached Erica who gave her endorsement under the condition that if I were to make any changes, I would explain where they were made and why. Erica is a consummate poet, choosing her words with precision. Working with her poems was an early opportunity for me to fully appreciate the beauty of language and the depth of its seductive potential. In fact, Erica’s vigilance made me appreciate more than ever how, in a poem or song, as it is in life, every word we utter matters. Once written or said, words cannot be erased or retracted, there’s always some trace or residue that’s left. For me, what poetry and song do is construct an experience of what I want or desire to say.
How was that record received critically?
TIME Magazine was one of the first publications to feature and praise the album, followed by many others such as URB, Mixer, The Wire, Toronto Star, Le Monde. ZIPLESS was, in many ways, received with the same extreme responses as much of Erica’s previous work beginning with ‘Fear of Flying’ which inspired the title. There were a handful of misogynist reviewers who could not accept that ZIPLESS was shedding light on the fact that not only was I expressing my creative freedom as a woman, but I was also blurring gender boundaries and exploring uncharted musical and performance terrain which challenged the status quo at the time.
Tell us about “Joe sent me” – where did the title come from?
During Prohibition, when the sale of alcohol was forbidden, the code words to enter the many illegal speakeasies were “Joe sent Me.” – or ‘Jo’ sent me, as the case may be ; ) – People from all walks of life were united in the whispering of these words, all willingly and knowingly engaging in – what were then – illicit activities because they believed in their freedom to do so. There’s a powerful message of inclusion and unity that endures in these three words. In the end, Prohibition was a failure, and Speakeasies actually thrived
under these restraints, pointing to the fact that freedom can be temporarily suppressed but not suffocated completely. The same holds true for artistic freedom, and whenever there’s a challenge to the creative status quo, there is bound to be fierce resistance as well as acceptance. Both are inevitable and necessary by-products.
What do you do to live a little greener n’ cleaner each and every day?
While I am staunchly Green, I am mostly veg. I haven’t yet fully achieved total veganism, but the goal is to eventually achieve it. My Green awakening happened quite by accident, about 10 years ago when I was
looking out the window and imagining a birds eye view of New York City covered with rooftop gardens. I Googled “rooftop gardens” and was surprised to discover the then burgeoning Green Roof movement, and
followed the trail of green issues from there, taking the ideas I learned about into practice in my own life. At a certain point, I realized that it’s not just a matter of being Environmentally conscious but, more than that, conscientious: that conscious awareness is important, but beyond that there’s a mindfulness that comes with conscientiousness, an acute awareness as to how we are impacting others around us – that to live with conscientious consideration of the environment means to consider every aspect of life outside of ourselves, plant life, animal life, the air we breathe, the water we drink.
Changes I’ve made include: drinking tap water, supporting organic foods and farmers, using washable cloths for household cleaning, limiting my intake of meat, especially beef, and milk products, eliminating pork from my diet, using public transportation as much as possible, never buying anything packed in styrofoam, encouraging everyone I know who has access to a garden to learn about invasive plants that might threaten wildlife and to grow plants and flowers that encourage the survival of species on the brink, especially bees since they are experiencing huge die offs on a global scale. I also think it’s important to keep abreast of current issues and innovations in all areas of the Green movement and pass on the information to friends, fans and family. I’ve always believed that small changes on a micro level can have huge effects on the macro level. Not everyone will make extreme changes, but mostly everyone will effect minor or even major changes as long as they see the benefit to themselves and their families. Although I think that the need for drastic and radical changes in our lifestyles have arrived, and I live according to that belief, I don’t think that the reality of most people’s lives will allow for that. So, the next best thing is for most people to implement certain significant changes immediately. Hopefully, the day isn’t long-off when people are as adamant about leaving a small ‘footprint’ as they are about recycling their garbage, when being environmentally conscientious won’t be seen as a sacrifice, but a civic duty.
What are 5 things you cannot live without?
1. The ocean
2. Poetry
3. Singing
4. Love
5. My imagination
VISIT VANESSA ONLINE HERE: Daou Records or Join her on Facebook or Myspace.