A Dirty Dozen with VÂN SCOTT – August 2025

According to a recent press release: “Sought-after Hollywood studio singer-turned-artist Scott Oatley aka Vân Scott releases his new single “Turn Off the Tears” today. Made with acclaimed producer Bede Benjamin-Korporaal (Capitol CMG), Scott delivers a powerfully uplifting and moving anthem of hope. From his incredible vocal delivery to the wailing synths in the song’s bridge, this track erupts with a soulful and visceral catharsis, reminiscent of artists like Bleachers and Andy Grammer. Once a demo singer for Maroon 5, Scott’s voice and music has been featured in over 50 film and TV projects, including blockbuster film soundtracks for La La Land, High School Musical 3, and SING, and on hit TV shows like Black-ish, The Simpsons, and The Voice. He released his first full-length album Almost Gone in 2021, featuring the single “What’s Coming Next?” that went on to become the Overall Grand Prize Winner of the 2021 USA Songwriting Competition.” We get Vân 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?

There are definitely a few personal Easter eggs in “Turn Off the Tears.” First off, the title is sort of a token phrase that my uncle used a lot when we were kids, whenever my overly sensitive cousins erupted into tears. That starts to put things in a negative context, though, so I decided to flip the phrase on its head to be more like a mantra that someone would use to will themselves through a difficult day and help them push past the challenges they’re facing. This song was originally intended for my sister, Kayt, and so I knew she would appreciate the title. She’s actually had a number of really bad concussions over the past several years that have essentially put her life on pause, and have almost taken her out when it comes to her mental health. I have her permission to share this, but she even reached the point of having suicidal thoughts. A lot of her story comes across in the verses with lines like “Sun’s been hiding in shadows / Like a walk to the gallows / Without a friend by my side” that allude to just how dark and trepidatious that headspace can be. Once I told Kayt about “Turn Off the Tears” and how it’s really her song in many ways, she became almost insistent that she lend her voice to the recording, which she’s done for me on previous tracks. This time, though, it was much more meaningful and personally significant to have her represented like that in “her” song. So, if you listen closely, you can hear her voice tucked into the mix of background and gang vocals. It was actually the perfect compliment to the vocals that were already there, adding some more fullness and texture to my higher and thinner falsetto harmonies. She really is a great singer herself!

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

I’m pretty sure that growing up with Disney movies and soundtracks is what really got me obsessed with music. I was always singing and wanting to learn to play new instruments. I remember wanting to be like Bert, Dick Van Dyke’s character from Mary Poppins – specifically, when he marches around town as a one-man band. I wanted to be able to do that! By the time I was 12, I had pretty much made up my mind that I was going to be a professional musician, thanks in large part to all the boy bands of the 90’s. At one point, I thought that would be my future.

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

I’ve always been a fan of the iconic artists from the 70’s. Billy Joel and Elton John, in particular, were a constant in my house. I loved the piano-led songwriting prowess that I heard in their music, and I still aspire to that level of writing myself. If I got more specific, I’d say Elton’s Greatest Hits (1974) and Billy Joel’s The Stranger are at the top of my list in terms of their influence on me.

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

Chris Martin from Coldplay. Hands down. I’m just a superfan and I love his writing and earnestness, which is something that I think is inherent in my own music. I have a real heartfelt approach to my writing that I think leads some people to draw a comparison between Coldplay’s music and mine. That, and the sometimes anthemic quality I assign to certain songs.

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

I love to play tennis, but I think that’s given way to pickleball. Once you make that switch, your tennis game is destroyed. If I’m not doing something active, you might catch me playing Zelda on my Switch. Whenever a new Zelda game comes out, though, I force myself to wait until I have a lull in my calendar before buying it because I know that once I start playing, I will disappear from civilization and do nothing else for like two straight weeks. Oh, and cooking. Making dinner is actually a really great way for me to decompress at the end of the day.

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?

If you haven’t heard my music, I might tell you to imagine that James Taylor and Coldplay had a baby and named him Freddie. The one comparison I’ve heard a number of times that always leaves me feeling a little disappointed is actually Jason Mraz. No shade to Jason Mraz, but it just always comes off to me as a kind of lazy evaluation of my music on the part of the listener, as if they aren’t willing to listen beyond an upbeat track that happens to have acoustic guitar.

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?

I actually don’t have that sort of dynamic with my band. I do, however, have a sort of revolving band when I do shows in different cities. My OG’s are in LA, the most consistent being Brandon Lynch and Nelson Cardenas, my studio drummer and bassist, respectively. They’re my go-to’s whenever I need live players on my records. And then, of course, all of my performing band members have been deemed Scott’s “Tots,” which is a joking nickname that Brandon stole from The Office. I have Tots all over now, from LA to NYC and Nashville!

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

Just a few weeks ago, Scottie Pippin came into the gym where my sister works. If you didn’t grow up in the 90’s, or if you haven’t seen The Last Dance on Netflix, Scottie Pippin was basically Michael Jordan’s right-hand man on the Chicago Bulls when they dominated the NBA. One of our roommates is also a trainer at the gym and he’s the one who texted us that he was there. So my sister and I immediately jumped in the car and drove over. She even dared me to wear this vintage Chicago Bulls t-shirt while I worked out, but I told her that was too much. At one point, Scottie and I were working out within inches of each other, but I barely had the courage to look in his direction, let alone say anything to him. Whenever I get into that position with celebrities, I usually just end up deciding not to bother them.

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?

I really love being able to sustain my livelihood by nurturing my creativity. It allows me to keep my eyes open to everyday beauty in a way that most people often overlook. I think that’s why people love the music and the artists and the songs that they do so much is because, in many ways, it’s their reminder of the good things in the world, and the things that matter. If I was no longer a musician, I would definitely try my hand at acting in TV or film. I’ve always loved being able to contribute to big blockbuster films (I was able to sing as a member of the choir for movie soundtracks like La La Land and Jurassic World at one time) and that way I could still be a part of the movie magic. Either that, or a Disney animator! That was actually my dream job as a kid. I used to love to draw!

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?

It’s surprising, but I’m pretty sure that no interviewer has ever asked what the “ˆ” symbol above the “A” in VÂN SCOTT stands for. Or even where the name “Van” came from, since that’s not my given name. Scott is my first name and “Van” I borrowed from my Dutch background on my mom’s side. The caret above the “A” was actually an aesthetic suggestion from my sister. I think she just wanted me to do something interesting with my artist name to really make it stand out. (She’s an artist too, by the way, and oftentimes my stylist and creative consultant!). But I now consider it an acknowledgement on my part of where my gifts come from, and that’s from God up above. It’s an arrow pointing heavenward. As far as what question I’m tired of answering, I’d say, “What kind of music do you make?” I despise having to categorize my music because I don’t like the idea of being limited by constraints. Certainly, my music has started to take on its own sonic identity and plenty of people out there could describe it in a finite amount of words, but I never think that way when I’m in the studio. When I’m in the studio, I always just run with the inspiration of the instruments and the people around me. I like to be adventurous in my music. I don’t always break the rules of songwriting, but I’m always open to it.

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?

I’ve had to learn the hard way that to be an artist or songwriter to the degree that I’ve always envisioned being, it pretty much has to be the one thing that you devote yourself to. I’ve prided myself on being a Swiss army knife in this industry. I’m a guitar player, a piano player, a studio singer, a songwriter, and a producer. I’ve always wanted to be really good at everything, but spreading yourself too thin detracts from your ability to truly excel at that one thing. I don’t regret any of the decisions that I’ve made to this point. I’m so grateful for the breadth and variety of opportunities that I’ve been able to experience in this industry. I’m also proud of the fact that I’ve been able to make a living solely in music for the past 15 years. But I’ve also realized more and more the importance of staying focused and prioritizing the steady build of my artist career over an easy paycheck.

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 probably have to say The Pet Sounds sessions from The Beach Boys.“God Only Knows” was one of my first lessons in vocal arranging, which I ended up dissecting and recording myself to include on my first ever singer demo. I think to witness Brian Wilson’s genius at work with that crew of studio musicians would be incredible. In a way, I’ve already gotten a taste of what those sessions were like from whatever special collection they released at one point. It includes dozens of outtakes from those recordings and even Brian’s comments from the booth to the musicians, but it still wouldn’t compare to actually being in the room. I would love to just be there and bask in that iconic sound.

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Category: Interviews