Q&A with Vienna, December 2007

[Vienna]

A warm hello back across the Pacific, rtu!

1. with all the touring, how much time do you actually get to experience living in new york?

That's why I stumble over my answer when people ask "how long have you been living here?" I figure altogether I've gotten about four months of home-in-NY time so far; not bad, really. And across four seasons, too. I'm still fascinated by how dramatically the weather shifts, and how seamlessly people seem to adapt to both suffocating heat and bone-chilling winds.

2. if you could use one word to describe the true vienna, what would it be? (this could lead to another shell.)

Iiiinteresting question. Since that's the pseudonym I gave myself for music, I could answer with my legal name, maybe. But I'd prefer to think of "true" as in what I'm essentially trying to do, musically. So I'd say "student." There's so much I don't know how to do as an artist, and in one lifetime I'll only be able to tackle one tiny corner of it all, but I intend to keep learning.

3. when will you be coming to shanghai?

Are there places I could perform (legally) in Shanghai? I'd love to go...

[Vienna]

Hi eirlys!

What do you look forward to the most before a performance? Or, what is your favorite aspect of performing for people?

I'm always waiting for the first moment that I feel a connection: sometimes it's right when we walk on stage, sometimes it's a few songs in. Many times it's the first laugh, or a spontaneously happy noise from one person, or looking at the front row and seeing someone listening intently. There's a moment in any given evening that tips the mood into assuredness, into "things are going to be just fine." Sometimes I never get there and I have to fake it (like the stock market, the appearance of confidence goes a long way!). But that's thankfully rare these days.

What is (are) your favorite book(s)?

Lately I've been bringing up The Omnivore's Dilemma incessantly in conversation. And I loved The Grapes of Wrath when I finally read it last year. I hadn't been moved like that by a novel in a long time.

Hmm. Given that I listed those two books, I should probably read up on the Farm Bill.

[Digital]

Happy Holiday Season, Vienna!

First, I never did get to properly thank you for the wonderful meal in Richmond - it was completely unexpected and very much appreciated. I'm sure I'll find a way to repay you in kind sometime. Oh, and I still very much stand by my decision to see you instead of Jonatha Brooke that night. No doubt Jonatha played a good show according to the review in the paper, but somehow I think I saw the better one.

Now to the questions, which I had to really think about.

Is there any one particular show that stands out from all the others you've performed? More importantly, why? The audience? Your mood? Something in your life? What you ate before you went on? First show? As you can see, I'm much better at thinking up answers than questions.

Also, is there any ritual you go through before you go onstage?

And finally, what do you think about all the constant attention? I just have to think it gets hard some nights.

[Scot]

And with that, Vienna finally gets her 100th post! Congrats, V!

And thanks Vienna and all for this wonderful session! Impressive and thoughtful
qs and as!

s

[rtu]

wow, i get to be vienna's 100th post. that is so cool!

[tomballjerry]

Come on, Vienna...

Your singing + 50's standard tunes = magic

Don't you think? If Rod Stewart can do it, anyone can.

[rtu]

by the way, of course there are places you can play legally. i may even have a connection to arrange it at some of these places. of course, you don't have to come to perform. you could just be a tourist.

[Clarinet]

Hi Vienna! Thanks for your answer!

[Reileen]

*waves to Reileen* Is Chicago as cold as New York right now?

Well, according to Yahoo!Weather at this moment, it's 22*F where I live (a southwest suburb of Chicago) and about 35*F over in New York, so I'd say it's colder here then over there! And we just had our first snow a couple of days ago, and there's still some snow on the ground. I hate snow. o_o;;

I got into SSX (the snowboarding game) for a while, and computer puzzler games like Oxyd and Myst were childhood favorites; other than that, not really.

Myst was one of the few computer games I played - I've always been a console gamer, growing up on the NES and being quite loyal to Nintendo (though I never owned an SNES...blasphemy to gamers, I know). I did just get a PS2 this year, though, so I have a buttload of stuff to catch up on with that.

Earlier this year I found myself in an arcade playing a Normandy-invasion-esque shooter game. The graphics were hyper-realistic, and all the bad guys were wearing white turbans that got spattered red when I hit them. That was nauseating enough to turn me off all things involving a "fire weapon" button.

I'm not fond of gritty, hyper-realistic games either - my tastes run towards the cutesy (i.e., Mario, Bomberman) and the RPGs (i.e., Zelda, the Tales series by Namco), although I also enjoy a good fighting game (Mortal Kombat, Super Smash Brothers).

ANOTHER QUESTION: Do you think it's creepy that I did fanart of you? XD

[terraphim86]

Well, this is thrilling!

1.) You lyrics are so poetic. Do you have any authors you would suggest to help get the lyrically creative jucies flowing?

2.) This is an odd question: what were your favorite kinds of books as a child? Do you have a specific favorite?

I have to add this, since I know you'll read it. I took my 17-year old sister to your concert in New Hampshire. Her normal (awful) music taste involved that "Umbrella" girl and anything with lots of blinking lights, electronic filtering, and very trite lyrics. However, she's been singing "Whatever You Want" since late October and it is hilarious because she wants to pummel me for getting her hooked on decent music.

[eirlys]

Vienna, just wanted to thank you for answering my questions! The Omnivore's Dilemma sounds pretty interesting. And your mention of The Grapes of Wrath brought back some good/interesting high school times.

[umbra]

1. When you started, were you nervous to perform in public?

2. Why the pseudonym?

3. What do you think of us, the adoring fans?

[Orcrist]

Hi Vienna~!

I got into SSX (the snowboarding game) for a while, and computer puzzler games like Oxyd and Myst were childhood favorites; other than that, not really.

Myst is and always will be one of my favorites!

I don't go for the super-realistic-violence stuff either, pretty much I play a video game for the same reason I read a book or watch a movie. The plot has to capture me. So even if the game itself is slower-paced, if it has a good story I will be entertained for hours.

Anyway, on to what I'm really posting about!

I got to see you when you came all the way out to Moundridge, KS, and it was one of the best shows I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. I had been hoping you would make it somewhere that was within a reasonable driving distance. Thanks for the tour, and for all your beautiful songs! So my questions are,

1) Did you enjoy playing there as much as we enjoyed hearing you, and

2) On your next major touring expedition, are you going to come back to the Kansas-Oklahoma-ish area? I know a lot of people would be very happy to hear you play around here again! ^_^

[tomballjerry]

Vienna,

I'm curious which classical composers you think have influenced your musical output the most over the last few years.

[WintermoonSnow]

Hi Vienna!
Hope this entry finds you safe and well, and hopefully warm in the midst of all the cold weather! Here are my questions and many thanks in advance!

1) I was wondering...was there ever a time when you had doubts about where you were going in life and the things that you needed to do in order to reach that place, and how you resolved the issue?

2)Do you listen to any foreign music? I'd like to reccomend Chihiro Onitsuka to you. She's a Japanese singer/songwriter who's style is somewhat similar to yours, with the main use of piano and some strings and other acoustics.

3)When you actually get the chance to sit down and watch the TV, what shows are you usually watching?

4)Just curious...are you aware that you are on wikipedia?

I suppose that's all. Please take care until I see you again!

--Shana <3