Inspired by everyday life, and the pandemic Montreal singer Vikki Gilmore has released her latest single ‘Doubt Of My Mind’, and we advise you to keep your tissues close while listening to this folk-pop wonder. Vikki gained interest on Spotify in 2018 with her EP that racked over 200 000 streams and over 3 million views on Youtube. The songstress has opened up for acclaimed acts like Ziggy Alberts, Still Corners, Damian McGinty, Reina del Cid, and Port Cities. Gilmore has also expanded her music circle by collaborating on EDM songs with Rain Man and Jey Vazz. This talent is one to watch, who knows what she will release next.
We find out more about the songstress below.
Looking back, what were some of your earliest entries into music appreciation? And music production?
When I think of being introduced to music as a child, I think of my aunt playing Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and CCR in her car and my mom blasting the same George Michael CD at our family dinners. My other aunt raised me everything from Canadian icons like Leonard Cohen and Anne Murray, French classics like Edith Piaf and Charles Aznavour, to The Cure. It was a pretty eclectic mix and definitely a great foundation to gain inspiration for my own music!
Please tell us more about how your latest song/release/project was conceived.
A creative byproduct of the COVID-19 lockdown beginning in March 2020, Doubt of My Mind was written, recorded, and produced remotely in Montreal in collaboration with Mathieu LeGuerrier. The indie-folk song was inspired by the universal onset of overthinking and loneliness during the global pandemic mixed with the general worry and self-doubt that often consumes us in our relationships.
Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting music together?
Most of my writing gets done at my computer desk in my room with my guitar and the voice notes app on my phone. I like to play around with word sequences, themes, and then find a melody. Sometimes it’s the other way around! Most of the time I start off by writing the chorus and let the song unravel. I sort of visualize it like a word web with the chorus in the middle and the verses as an extension of it. Then it creates a flowing story. There are always the creative outliers that come from humming a melody in the shower or a phrase that I heard someone say on the metro, but it always comes back to me in my room with my guitar and my phone.
How much do you invest in how your music is received upon release? Are you very concerned about how your art is received?
I would be lying if I said I didn’t care what people thought about my music but having strong critics and ~haters~ has definitely helped me develop a stronger appreciation for authentic support from strangers. There’s something so heartwarming about someone who is completely unbiased towards you that develops a connection to your music.
What is the most memorable response you have had to your music?
I recently received a comment on my YouTube videos from someone who has been following my musical journey and they expressed how I inspired them to continue creating their own music. I’ve always looked up to others for inspiration that it was a huge honour to hear someone else being inspired by my work. It was definitely an unforgettable response!
Are there any key non-musical influences on your sound and creative process?
My songs are constantly inspired by people and their stories. Whether it be a story that someone told me, a show I just watched, or something personal that has happened to myself or a loved one, I like to draw inspiration from people. I like to write about things that people can relate to but don’t often think about. For example, Doubt of My Mind talks about how we often don’t realize that we are causing ourselves harm by not setting boundaries in life. Walking in someone’s shadow and letting the actions of others determine your happiness in fear of loneliness are things we have all done at one point or another and it is in acknowledging these negative behaviours that we can learn to grow from them. This also works as a metaphor for how mentally (+ physically, financially, etc.) draining the global pandemic has been for everyone, where things like self-actualization have been put on hold for an uncertain amount of time. Your emotional response to trauma is valid and this song acts as a reminder of that!
Do you have any information regarding upcoming releases, projects, DJ mixes or collaborations in the pipeline that you would like to tell us about?
COVID has absolutely changed the landscape of the music world so it’s hard to plan ahead at this point, but I’m continuing to write and collaborate in hopes that I can release more singles in the near future! There will also be a music video made for Doubt of My Mind so look out for that!
Famous last words?
Stay safe everyone <3
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