MH:   First off, give a brief history of you and your album releases. Tell our readers where you are from.

SV:  I’m a Detroit girl through and through.  I’ve lived a lot of different places and now reside in Orlando, Florida, but Detroit Michigan is home and it’s the hottest “rock city” on the planet.  Gave me my roots for a fighting spirit and attitude that comes through in my music.    My latest CD project out this year is “a thing or 2”…title says it all.

 
MH:   Is there a story behind choosing your name?

SV:  I go by Sonia V. now because I got tired of answering to a name I didn’t recognize when people addressed me.  At least they can get half of it now.  Plus, Vannest just takes too long to write!

 
MH:  How would you describe your musical sound and style?

SV:  A mix of alternative/modern rock, a dash of pop/rock with lots of gutts & attitude. 

MH:  What are your goals? What does this year hold for you?

SV:  Making as much noise as a little indie rock chick as possible, and taking whatever may come.

MH:   Where can our readers purchase your albums?

SV:  www.soniav.com is the best place and that way I get to keep most of the money!  But if you really wanna give those middle men some cash since they are really struggling to make a go of it, Tower Records, CD Baby, CDstreet, Indieheaven, MusicOven



MH:  Name at least one highlight that you’ve experienced.

SV:  I once had blonde highlights.  Well, let’s see…it’s been a very interesting year for me going more into the mainstream.  I guess making the Hollywood Hot list of animal rights supporters was one I didn’t expect.  Sometimes God has a great sense of humor of how He gets things done.  Alas, He created me, a walking billboard of the unexplained.

MH:  What artists or bands have influenced you?

SV:  I listen to many styles of music – anything classic from Mozart, to Ella Fitzgerald to Rolling Stones, Dashboard Confessional, Janis Joplin, Heart, Queen, Stryper & I love 80’s rock!  I appreciate real rock chicks like Janis Joplin & Anne Wilson, and although the Christian industry doesn’t ever reference her because of her lifestyle choice, Melissa Etheridge is probably the utmost rock chick on the planet….even after coming out of chemotherapy with a bald head, she can still bring it. 

MH:  If you could play with any artist (even those from years long past or deceased), who would you like to play a show with, record with, tour with, or jam with?

SV:  I don’t really put much weight in those things.  I’ll play with anybody regardless of their status.  So, everyone.  I just wanna do music, period.

MH:  Who have you toured with or played shows with, and where?

SV:  Is this where I’m supposed to list my impressive resume and name drop?   I toured with Jesus who is the King of all Singers. (chuckle)

MH:  Is there any musical equipment that your band enjoys and would recommend using?

SV:  I would enjoy having any equipment.  My karaoke machine doesn’t project very much.

MH:  Are all the members of your band Christians, and would you label your band a Christian band, Christians in a band, somewhat spiritual but not limited to, not spiritual at all, positive, or something else?

SV:  Ready?

I am a Christian.  I do music.  Sometimes I have musicians in the band who are not Christian and I perform secular venues with unsaved bands and people in the audience.  It’s ministry to me.  I also lead worship.  I don’t like being labeled.  I don’t like being confined or told what I can or can not do to be used by God, and I’m sure He doesn’t like it when people tell Him He can’t move in a certain realm either.  The world is where my mission field is, as it should be.  How can you do missions to those who have already heard it a million times?  So, I’ll do whatever kind of music, or be involved in whatever kind of event I can to spread the Word and be an influence and an open door to those who need to hear the message.   The term “Christian artist” to most people means they only do blatantly Christian music, for and to Christians, and keep it within the confines of the Christian music community and Christian organizations.  If that is what I have to look towards with using my gifts for God’s Kingdom, then I’d rather not be labeled a “Christian artist” but an artist who is a Christian.  Because to me, that feels like I’m “burying my talent in the ground”, not investing in it by keeping it in the house. 

I’m more comfortable being uncomfortable and taking risks, being stretched in my faith, being completely humbled and broken where I have nothing else to sustain me but God and what He wants me to do.  It usually conflicts with really conservative people who like to put things in a tidy little box and keep themselves separated from the world.  God asks us to “be in the world”, it’s the “not of it” part that I think most Christians get tripped up on…it doesn’t mean only drink milk from a Christian cow.  My grandstand has room for only one and I’m here to answer to Him alone and please Him.   The main point in “using your gifts for God” is to affect people.  God doesn’t need saving.  And keeping your “outreach” strictly within the boundaries of the church walls is really not being evangelistic.  Yet there are still those people who ridicule bands and artists for “crossing over”.    I don’t think I’ve “crossed over” –  yet another label I’d like to reject.  I’m in the place where God wants me.   It just happens to be speaking through more secular entities than Christian ones.  It tells me I’m on the right track.  When I can have an uninhibited conversation with someone not of faith and they are open to what I’m saying it because of the way God has created me to do that, I’m totally amped up.  I have more invitations to do secular events and work with secular organizations than the Christian music industry has ever extended to me altogether.  In one sense, that’s amazing to me, and also disturbing that the Christian music industry is so closed off to artists who don’t fit the mold.  It’s become ingrown and inward focused instead of outreaching like we should be.  The underground music scene gets it though.  Go indies.

MH:  If you could be remembered for something, what would you want it to be?

SV:  For being what a real Christian is supposed to be like – living as Christ showed us in His example to the rejected, the downtrodden, and the sinner.  Because to the rest of the world, we are still failing in that calling as a whole Church.   

Gandhi said, “"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."  -  Mohandas Gandhi   

I think I agree with that for the most part. When you have people in the same Body tearing not only the unsaved down, but their own members with judgment and rejection, I think it makes the devil smile with contentment. 

MH:   How can our readers find out more about you and your band? Do you have an official homepage?

SV:  www.soniav.com and visit me at www.myspace.com/soniav



MH:  Anything else that you would like to share (favorite movies, books, teachers, opinions on music, industry, etc)?

SV:  My opinions on music and industry would take up your entire magazine!  Hopefully the above question answered a lot.

MH:  Lastly, is there anything our readers could pray about for your band?

SV:  To complete the mission.