LOS ANGELES, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Luck Media) - 'Save Me,' the infectious, Fiona Apple-flavored first single from
Vanessa Van Spall's debut, Cotton-Poly Blend, is steadily climbing the AC Top 40 FMQB Chart, hitting the Top 20 at No 20* this last week.
Cotton-Poly Blend draws from Van Spall's love for rock, blues, gospel and pop, as well as a mix of keyboardist Ian Hisert's lighter side with her unique dark and brooding vibe. Her vocals soar over piano-driven power pop as she fuses elements of Motown and late-era Beatles with the vocal styles of Annie Lennox, Aretha Franklin, Sarah McLachlan and Norah Jones.
Van Spall deferred her lifelong goal of making music to enter the world of information technology. Once she met colleague Ian Hisert who was also a keyboardist in a popular local '80s band, he inspired Van Spall to stop being afraid of her dreams and get working on her first album. Along with violin/violist Eric Golub and bassist Derek Yergler, the band began performing together and collaborated on the stylistically diverse debut. Cotton-Poly Blend was produced by veteran drummer Atma Anur, whose resume boasts work with everyone from Journey and Third Eye Blind to Richie Kotzen and David Bowie.
'I originally met Atma when I was 16 and on the path of a musical career,' says Van Spall. At 16, she recorded her demo, which was 'picked up' by an industry person. But somewhere between getting her driver's license and finishing college, her detour began. Afraid of failure or who-knows-what, she began an alternate path of sensible choices, like getting married, finishing a degree, working, etc. Eventually, she realized that she wouldn't find the fulfillment she was looking for in anything but music.
'I feel like everything is falling into place and it finally feels like I'm all connected,' she says. 'Before I was putting my heart into my music career, I was at odds with myself and knew I was in the wrong place. Maybe I never should have run from my dreams, but my songs reflect a broader life experience than I had starting out at 16. This music is for anyone who's ever made mistakes, been afraid or just taken the long way to get there.'
