A Dirty Dozen with VANESSA KAYLOR PHILLIPS from ONE SQUARE MILE – November 2023

According to a recent press release: “Emerging from the heart of the South Bay’s vibrant and storied punk rock scene, One Square Miles’ latest offering, Source of Suffering, produced by Cameron Webb, serves as a captivating successor to their 2018 debut LP, The System. The new EP marks a bold sonic departure, while simultaneously remaining true to the region’s rich punk rock heritage. One Square Mile was formed in Hermosa Beach, California in 2017. The band’s name originates from the city of Hermosa Beach, which covers about…wait for it: One square mile of land. While 1SM is influenced by the many iconic punk and hardcore bands who came out of Hermosa Beach and the South Bay, their approach has been to not place any limits on their sound or style and simply write music that speaks to their lives and experiences.” We get singer Vanessa to discuss new music, influences, and more.

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Our latest release was in high demand because we had such a bold sonic departure from the previous release that at every show fans wanted to know where they could hear our sound outside of the stage. One interesting facet about us that the listener might not notice right away is the lyrics don’t always stay consistent with their theme for the entire song. It displays how my mind is always jumping from one thought to the next without any real connection or symmetry. Fun fact, the bridge lyric in “Dead In The Sun” is from a song I wrote called “My Kingdom” from my solo album. In addition, the listener might not realize how many chords are being played initially, I assure you this is not your ex-boyfriend’s power chords. Another spicy nugget is the beginning guitar of “One Way.” I actually have video of Cameron Webb and John making that little hiccup at the start of the song and the guitar lead in that song too is pretty tasty. These things came out from being in a studio with one another for 10 hours a day throwing around ideas. Also, having a producer like Cameron who would ask “Do we like it? How can we make it better?” He pushed us and held us up all at the same time.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

What got me into being a musician was church. I sang in church as a kid. And my mother wanted me to take piano lessons because she had always wanted to learn the piano. I asked her if I could take voice and she relented to a few lessons. But it was probably too expensive at the time.  Someone in the neighborhood was giving away a player piano and I would use it to sing “Amazing Grace,” and lots of Christmas songs. Eventually, I started buying sheet music for Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey from the money I made on my paper route.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

If you want to talk about what guided my musical taste for this band, I will have to say it was the original singer. The guys in the band gave me homework. I loved it! He and I vocally are apples and oranges; in order to audition I needed to learn his songs and the way he sang them. I came from a blues / jazz direction with my singing. This was completely different. I listened to him all day / every day in the month I auditioned for the band. I began to be introduced to other women in the mix. I also pulled from my experience in a punk band briefly in my late 20’s. We loved Svetlanas, Babes In Toyland, and the Red Aunts.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

I would love to work with Billie Holliday. She and her story have been a huge obsession of mine since middle school. I love all her music and songs. “God Bless The Child” would be my pick.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

My favorite activity when I’m not singing in the band is dancing. I’ve competed in The US Open Lindy Hop category and I dance with a dance company called The Hollywood It Girls. We do vernacular jazz, tap and swing from 1920, 1930 and 1940, but we can do anything! Hula, burlesque, Latin and more.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

To the person who has heard our music I would describe our sound like you are going back to your high school years of the music you cranked in the two ten speakers of the back of your Honda CRX. The kinda angst that’s got you speeding down PCH while smoking menthol cigarettes and sipping Vodka & OJ you stole from the roommate your mom got to pay the rent and now the roommate’s boyfriend is living there too, and his jaw is wired shut. Who’s your savior now?! One person I’ve been compared to is Tank Girl and I like that one.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

When the band hangs out together the first person to cook would prob be John, he’s always cooking and feeding us. He is the dad of the group. Todd is always the first to set up when and where we get food. And he knows the best spots. Terry is always ready to eat, and Vanessa always has food with her. Mark, Todd’s brother always gets us waters for the stage. Lastly, John and I give our drink tickets to Terry and Todd.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I was last star struck with our producer Cameron Webb. I wanted to do a good job for him and the band. I didn’t want to waste anyone’s time. It ended being like up hanging out with your cool uncle on the weekend at his rad house with all his fun toys and the best lunches just hanging out with one another, sharing stories, and working hard. Phones down, belly to belly time. Being really present. It was pretty special. Those that know, know.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best part about being a musician is being heard. All my life I haven’t felt heard, or I felt I needed to explain.  And I was always running out of time with how long I had your attention. I would walk into a room, and I would feel better than you or worse than you but never the same as you. Being a musician has afforded me to stand shoulder to shoulder with others. And to be excited for my friends that are having success and to help those trying to make it.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I’ve always wanted an interviewer to ask me about my dog. Her name was Bella. She was a pit bull / lab. We had to put her down last year, but she was my best friend for the last 10 years. She was my husband’s dog. But she and I were close, and I miss her. I don’t mind the interview questions. I guess the question that is annoying is who do you sound like?  Plus, I hear myself differently than you do.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

If I could go back in my career. I would have started sooner and not listened to the committee in my head. The committee said I wasn’t good enough, that I couldn’t do it, because the truth is even if no one were listening, I would still continue to sing.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I went to a lot of different shows this year. And hands down my favorite was L7. I would love to go back and sit in on that recording process of them in the studio. The pivotal movement of those four women at that time, making that type of music and singing that content in their lyrics is inspiring. They are still doing it today. Sixty is the new forty! Gives us so much drive to keep pushing to keep creating and keep learning.

ONE SQUARE MILE LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

Category: Interviews