Victoria Anthony – “Sleep” Single Release Q&A + 5 Quick Questions
Victoria Anthony was not a name I was familiar with when I started working on this story.
Shame on me. P!nk knew who she was two years ago! I’m going to start with the post of this video, to give you a quick taste of what we’re looking at here. Talent.
If you can watch this video without misting up, well, I don’t know what to tell you. Get your heart checked.
Watch the video, and then check out the Q&A below, where she tells us what P!nk whispered in her ear at the end.
Victoria Anthony – Sleep
Q&A
Q: Have you always been musical?
VA: For as long as I can remember, I have always loved to sing. I started taking everything more seriously once I taught myself guitar and piano. At that point, I started writing my own songs. The songwriting piece of everything is very important to me.
Q: Tell me about the biggest thing that put you on the path to music?
VA: I had the rare opportunity to sing to popstar Pink at her concert in Vancouver in front of 20,000 people. She whispered in my ear to “Never Stop” – it was a very cool moment. That gave me a huge push to really pursue my passion for music and start writing and recording my own songs.
Q: Can you talk about the writing and recording process for Sleep?
VA: I wrote “Sleep” with two amazing writers, Justin Gray and Lauryn Dyson. I wanted to create a fun vibe with the beat and say something with a lot of meaning through the words. It took a while to come up with the hook, but once we got the hook, everything else really started flowing. Once we landed on the word “Sleep” to go with the hook melody, I realized that this song needed to not be about Sleep, but instead as a metaphor for life and wanting to live life to the fullest. That’s why it became “I don’t wanna Sleep”- instead, I want to be awake and experience everything!
Q: The video for Sleep is a fresh concept. Can you tell us about how it came together, including the idea, the locations, and anything else you want to share?
VA: Because of the climate we were in at the time of filming and conceptualizing, I knew however this music video came about it wouldn’t be the norm. I researched and decided that I wanted to try an animated music video. I’d watched many animated music videos and discovered this company from Nashville (they created many Taylor Swift videos ) called “St8mnt”. I loved their animation style.
Working with them was amazing. We had a few chats over Zoom to discuss the concept, then I filmed over 100 shots at my house in front of a green screen. They then animated me into an incredible dream world. The music video for “Sleep” is really meant to enhance the meaning of the song, which is to live in the moment, work hard, and live without regrets. This music video is so special. When I got the first cut back from St8mnt, I was in awe. I hope it leaves just as good of a first impression on everyone else, too.
Q: The music business (recording and videos) is expensive, at such a young age, how are you making it happen?
VA: I like to do as much myself as possible and enlist the help of some incredible people along the way. I use each opportunity to learn and be resourceful. Before COVID, I was also able to make money to support some of my music expenses by performing live. Throughout, though, I have been lucky enough to receive special grants meant for recording artists and this has been a game changer.
Q: How are you living in the moment with the COVID restrictions?
VA: I am trying to make the best of this time by playing Fortnite with my friends and FaceTiming people I know to stay in touch. My family and I have been organizing our own mini game nights and such to keep things fun. My music and my upcoming releases have kept me working and kept me excited for sure!
Q: What’s the worst thing about COVID?
VA: The worst thing about COVID is definitely those who are sadly losing their lives to this awful virus. My heart also goes out to those who are losing jobs and having a tough time right now.
Q: What’s the best thing about COVID?
VA: The best thing about COVID is definitely how the world has come together. I think it’s really beautiful how we are all fighting the same thing and want each other to succeed. This virus shows us how connected we truly are.
Q: What can you tell us about the upcoming album?
VA: The upcoming album is the biggest thing I have ever done in my life at this point. It is my heart and soul. I have worked tirelessly to create this album and I can say without a doubt that I have made it the best it could be. This album represents my perspective on the world. My album reflects my philosophy about living in the moment and not letting relatively small things bring you down. The album is about loving life and embracing every second of it.
Thanks to Victoria for taking the time to answer our questions and record a 5 Quick Questions Video for us. Watch below to find out what album she can listen to on repeat, her first album purchase, the last artist she listened to, something you might not know about her, and who you should be paying more attention to.
5 Quick Questions with Victoria Anthony
Victoria Anthony’s Links
Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / TikTok / Victoria Anthony
Writer/Photographer/Editor
Toronto Music Blogger
