Band Interview : Black Vanity

poolshark: Why did you choose to use the name Black Vanity instead of going with your name?

Black Vanity: Black Vanity actually started out as electronical music and beats that I would just sing to, and I thought the name fit that style of music more so than my own. Once I switched over to something that meant more to me, actually playing my feelings through guitar, the name just stuck.

poolshark: How did you get started playing music? Was this something that you planned or did it just happen?

Black Vanity: My father is the musician in the family, but he wasn't around to inspire me to play any kind of instrument. Once he got out of prison, I became inspired to do something that we could both relate to. One day, I just picked up the guitar and started to teach myself how to play. It's was the only thing that kept our relationship alive at the moment, and now (through our music) we have a great relationship..

poolshark: What instruments do you play?

Black Vanity: I play guitar and a bit of drums and piano.

poolshark: I've been listening to your music. The theme that I get from the songs that I have heard is both love and loss. Speaking on that subject, "Chicago" and "Yellow Lined Paper" are songs that really stands out. Are all of your songs true to life?

Black Vanity: Yes. I always told my fans that if you listened closely to my EP, they would know me better than most people do. I look at my music like a story book. Everything that I write comes from some experience that has made me feel beyond myself. Whether the song is about my first love or my father in prison, it was all a reality in my life, and that's why my songs are so powerful to me as well. They take me back to why I felt the way I did.

poolshark: You say that the people and places that surround you are your inspiration. What inspires you most? Love, loss, an audience?

Black Vanity: I'm talking EVERTHING that surrounds me. Yeah, it could be about love or loss, but it could also be about the world in general and how it keeps turning and changing. We have so much to do with how the world works, and everyday I see something new that inspires me or makes me want to change. It could even be the beautiful scenery that makes me want to write.

poolshark: You have a 5 song EP out? Did you want to go with a particular theme when choosing songs for this EP? Tell me a little about the EP.

Black Vanity: No, it just worked out that all of the songs related. I was going through many hardships when writing that EP, and it all just flowed through me. I picked the EP name to be "37 Titles, 0 Nominees" because it was about all the judgements that were made on me... with none of those judgements being accurate.

poolshark: I see that you have a Canadian Tour planned. Any confirmed dates? Will this be a small or large scale tour? Any plans on touring the US?

Black Vanity: Actually that tour was planned for Jan. 2006 and fell through. Haha, I guess I should write a new bio. But yes, I do plan to start touring in the very near future.

poolshark: What do you do on your downtime?

Black Vanity: I drink my Budweiser, gather my friends, and play the Worst-Case Scenerio Game almost every night! Haha... it's the good times with Black Vanity! And even though were drunk and playing the game, we still feel like we could get stranded in some foriegn place, and find our way to civilization. Everyone should play that game.

poolshark: What should fans expect from Black Vanity in the future?

Black Vanity: Right now I am working on my second EP. It should be out in about a month or so. Its more up-beat and fun. You can actually clap your hands to this one. I just know that with everything I have going on, great things will happen.

poolshark: Any plans for a full length album?

Black Vanity: Oh yeah, but we'll have to see where the second one takes us first. I dont want to get ahead of myself.

If you would like to find out more about Black Vanity, check out her My Space page. http://www.myspace.com/blackvanity. She has four songs that you may listen to and she changes them periodically.