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VERONICA BALLESTRINI RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM
(By: Lauren Pinney and Bessie Sorge)
Veronica Ballestrini has taken MySpace by storm through her music and created a heap of fans by captivating them with her voice and her quite original song lyrics. At the young age of 13, Veronica posted a few cover songs by Martina McBride on her personal music MySpace account, never expecting to receive the response she got. "I put up cover songs, just wondering what people would think of my voice,” Veronica told us during our interview. The response she received through MySpace was so overwhelming that it gave her the confidence and desire to pursue a career as a country music artist. “I saw people liked it and saw that I could touch people’s lives,” she explained. “Just having people support me on there has definitely helped, and made me want to go further and further. It’s a really cool experience because people can relate to me. Girls my age are like, ’I’m 17 years old too and I need a 17 year olds’ advice’. They ask me about guy advice, and I’m really not good at guy advice. But, they can relate to my music, so it’s really cool.”
Over the past year Veronica has kept busy with recording her debut album and performing at venues around the country sharing her music with new fans. "We put out the first single, which is called "Amazing" to radio in May, and we've been on radio tour promoting the single," she told us about her eventful schedule. Her song "Amazing" was such a hit and fans were demanding a music video, which played in rotation on CMT and quickly made its way in the CMT Pure Pack. The video was shot by Glenn Sweitzer of Fresh Films and was originally intended for MySpace, Facebook and YouTube, but once again Veronica’s music proved to more than just internet worthy. "I didn't really ever think a television network would ever pick it up, but they saw it and they loved it. I think that's awesome because it's all fan voted, so I thank my fans so much for voting and just supporting me the way they do."
Veronica’s music is such a hit for the same reason that drives artist like Taylor Swift, Kellie Pickler and Carrie Underwood. As a singer/songwriter, Veronica has the ability to write how she feels and what she thinks, and has a natural talent at turning her emotions into penned lyrics for the world to connect with. When writing her music she looks for things that people can easily relate to. “I look for a song that people can easily relate to and help them remember a situation or even forget a situation,” Veronica confessed. “I know a lot of people can relate to a song, and it almost helps them get (through) a situation.”
When writing her first single she tells us that it was inspired by her older brother and a past relationship of his. "He came into my room one night and he told me about it. He was like, 'I don't know what to do, because I wish I could just walk away from her, but I can't.' So, I thought that was a really good song to write about because a lot of people feel that way where they're stuck in a relationship and they know they should walk away, but they can't because the person that they're with is so amazing to them, but they know there is someone better out there for them."
Veronica's ability to write songs that people can relate to so well has put a bang in her career. Her passion for music and her hands on experience in producing her own music makes her the accomplished artist that she has become. She sets goals and when she reaches them she sets another, which is how she has made her gradual climb to the top. "I love basically everything; I love song writing and I just love seeing what's new every single day."
With Veronica's music career shooting through the roof fans can be assured that they are along for one crazy fun adventure. Between writing with legendary artist Pam Tillis, throwing her second Fan Club Party, participating in Fashion Shows, softball games and the CMA Music Festival, her future in music is just getting started. While Veronica may have a lot to look forward to, she does not forget where she got her start! "I've had my music heard all the way in California and I could never have had that heard without MySpace," she told us.
Keep reading to learn a little more about Veronica and read excerpts from our interview below. Stop by Veronica’s Official Website and MySpace page and pick up a copy of her brand new album.
Tell us a little bit about your first single, “Amazing”.
The first single was inspired by my older brother, who had this girlfriend who was amazing at the beginning of the relationship and then she started acting really different and distant. He came in my room one night and he told me about it. And he was like, I don’t know what to do, because I wish I could just walk away from her, but I can’t. So I thought that was a really good song to write about because a lot of people feel that way where they’re stuck in a relationship and they know they should walk away, but they can’t because the person that they’re with is so amazing to them, but they know there is someone better out there for them. So, it does touch a lot of different people’s lives and my cousin loves it and all these radio people…a lot of the guys relate to those stories and they’re like, I agree with your brother, I wish I could walk away from this girl too, but they can’t. So, basically, that’s what it’s about.
As a recording artist, you have such a process you have to go through; there’s the recording, there’s the writing, there’s the song selection, laying the tracks out, then after all that the promotion and all of that; what’s your favorite part of a recording artist?
I really like every part of it. It’s all different and I love different things. I never like the same thing over and over again. So, I love doing everything and working on a project and setting goals and reaching them, then setting another one and reaching that. So, I love basically everything; I love song writing and I just love seeing what’s new every single day.
How many songs are going to be on this album?
There’s going to be 12 songs on the album and I wrote the majority of them, but we did get songs from other song writers in town. We heard them and we were “we can’t pass those up.”
What is your favorite song on the album?
That’s a hard one! I think my favorite song would have to be “Don’t Say” because it’s just basically a song about finally saying I’m done with this situation and just walking away. And it’s like don’t say that you do and I know you don’t and don’t say that you will when I know you won’t because it’s too late for hurt to go away, I’m out of here no matter what you say. It’s kind of one of those songs where you hear the track and you think it’s going to be a happy song, and then you read the lyrics and think it’s going to be an angry song, and just one of those songs where you just want to party and have fun. We’re going to shoot the video on a beach.
You also filmed a music video for “Amazing” that is now featured on CMT; how did that go?
That was really cool. It was shot by Glenn Sweitzer of Fresh Films and it was a really cool experience because we did this video just doing it for MySpace, FaceBook and YouTube, and my fans. I didn’t really ever think a television network would ever pick it up, but they saw it and they loved it. So, it’s now on CMT and I think that’s awesome because it’s all fan voted so I thank my fans so much for voting and just supporting me the way they do.
What are some of the fan responses you’ve received through MySpace?
I get so many messages a day. At the beginning, I tried answering every single one, and now it’s to the point where I get so frustrated because I can’t answer every single one and when I answer 10, then 20 more come in. But, it’s definitely a really cool experience because people can relate to me and girls my age are like, “I’m 17 years old too and I need a 17 year olds’ advice.” They ask me about like guy advice and I’m really not good at guy advice. But, they can relate to my music, so it’s really cool.
You have worked with some pretty cool people; what’s the best advice you’ve received about the business?
I’ve received some really good advice; to never give up and stay true to what you’re doing and what you’re writing, and don’t try to sing one way because that’s what you think people will like, try to be who you are and people will like you.
Favorite TV show? CSI - I love watching that.
Favorite Movie? I like the Butterfly Effect. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen that. But, I liked that because it’s really true, one little thing that you do in your life can change the whole world, basically, because I don’t know, it was just a really cool movie and you’d have to watch it.
Favorite Artist/Band? Keith Urban. I love him.
Favorite song right now? I love the new Zac Brown song.
Favorite Actress? Jennifer Aniston
Favorite Vacation Spot? The Caribbean. Anywhere warm; I just love the warm heat and sun.
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