V TORRES – AN ARTIST SPOTLIGHT AND INTERVIEW
Photo Credit Lukas Palatinus
By Ralph Beauchamp
Los Angeles based singer-songwriter V Torres has recently released her new single entitled “Woman”. Torres‘ sound is a mixture of indie, soulful folk and brazen Americana. She fuses these genres in order to create music that is both reflective and deeply personal. Her vocals carry a forceful grit and expressive inflections. Torres‘ songwriting is quite impressive. Her arrangements are emboldened with emotive receptors. Her style is raw and unsheltered. That is why her music resonates so well.
What sets V Torres apart from the masses is her ability to write honest songs with universal appeal. She incorporates punchy textures that are dynamic and fearless. Either rocking out or stripped down, V Torres‘ music is full of vibrant grooves that feel natural and alive. The result is a sound that feels relatable and real while still carrying impassioned weight.
“Woman” showcases a bold evolution in Torres‘ artistry. It’s the lead single from her forthcoming album, Woman, slated for a September release. The track engulfs the listener with impetuous vocals and dramatic orchestration. “Woman” is a confident piece that explores many themes including identity, resilience and the strength of womanhood. The guitars wail and the backbeat is full of integrity. The pacing is edgy and sonically rich. “Woman” easily captures Torres‘ growth as a songwriter and creative artist.
V Torres was kind enough to sit with AMP for this interview.
AMP: What sonic elements do you feel are uniquely V Torres?
V: Sonically, I feel that my sound is captured somewhere in between Americana, indie-pop, and desert-rock, a sound that some have described as “where the desert meets the sea.” Atmospheric textured guitars and unguarded lyricism create a lush, cinematic indie-rock experience that still encompasses the intimacy of a singer-songwriter.
AMP: Are there artists people would be surprised to learn have shaped your sound?
V: I grew up on 90s hip hop and 90s grunge music. People may be surprised that 90s hip hop artists like Missy Elliot, Lauren Hill, TLC, Snoop Dog, etc. have inspired me throughout my musicianship. I have always liked rap and r&b music from that era. The way lyricism is portrayed and the way that vocal melodies can make a song be what it is really gets me. I also really have enjoyed pianists like Regina Spektor and Fiona Apple, and although I do not play piano, I have always been inspired by the way a piano and vocal can engage the listener and create melodies that do not need any other accompaniment.
AMP: What is your typical songwriting environment like?
V: Usually, I am in a quiet space like my home studio or my rehearsal lockout and my songs start on the guitar. Lately, It’s been electric guitar with my pedal board. I will create a riff or some chords that start to shape a verse or maybe a chorus first. I try to let it flow without editing too much. The melody and lyrics start to fall into place, but I will go back and reshape that later on. I try to demo out these ideas in my DAW shortly after they are written, so I can start shaping the songs and start playing the songs live and with a band.
AMP: Are there sounds or genres you’re eager to explore in future releases?
V: Currently, I have been writing a lot of grunge-rock songs. They are a little heavier musically than what I have shared previously and the lyrics have some satire to them. I try to not hold onto a specific genre when I write and let what is naturally coming out of me be. The future is feeling like grunge and more Americana, which I am excited to explore.
AMP: Your new single is “Woman.” Can you give us a little insight into the track?
V: This is the title track of the record. “Woman” is my song for Women that really steps into the journey of being a Woman and being inspired by Women. The constant grind women experience, and often-times, the attending to the needs of others, while trying to keep it all together. The grief we experience in letting go of the past versions of ourselves and the roles we play: lover, mother, caretaker, friend, etc. There is still a hopefulness somewhere in the journey and strength and acceptance of life and the work we have to do to heal. The light we see in this is the letting our guard down and being open again to love.
AMP: How has your songwriting evolved emotionally since your musical beginnings?
V: I feel that I am less afraid to speak truths and be more personal in my songwriting. Really letting the songs come out of me as a cathartic experience without filtering or holding back. In the beginning, I was so young and still searching and allowing myself to be influenced. Now, the emotions are really in tune with the songwriting.
AMP: Are there songs that have taken on new meanings through live performance?
V: I have felt fortunate to have played a lot of my new record out before it was recorded. Being able to really shape the songs into what they are before demo-ing them out in the studio was a blessing. “Beginnings” was a newer one on the record and when we played it live, my key-tar player at the time was adding really cool synth parts and a little drum loop that made it’s way into shaping the sound that we capture on the record. Also, in performing “Slow” with my band, my lead guitarist came up with a killer riff that we ended up shaping the bridge of the song around and I love how that turned out.
AMP: What do you want people to feel when they leave one of your shows?
V: I want them to feel inspired in their own life to go out and do something that they have been scared to do. I want them to feel really good and happy and hopefully have a smile on their face.
AMP: What creative risks are you most proud of taking so far?
V: Taking the time it took to make this record. I hadn’t released anything for several years and I felt a little bit of stress in that. I really gave into divine timing for this and decided to make a record. Also, I really think it’s risky to not have a continual flow of music released, but also that is not how we are built. I feel proud to have taken the time to go inwards and create this record and I hope that when it’s released, the right tribe will find it.
AMP: What excites you most about where your music is heading next?
V: I am so proud of this upcoming WOMAN record release and I am excited to see who it reaches and what that paves for me as an artist for the future. I look forward to touring the record and hopefully gaining more support for future releases.
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