Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to NEAVV. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi NEAVV, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I think in some ways I’ve always known that my purpose in life was to connect with others through music and storytelling, but narrowing in on my true calling took a lot longer, taking me on a journey I could never have anticipated back when I first begged to play the violin at the age of three. I was always a very creative kid, writing poetry, singing in choirs, and learning as many instruments as I could. It wasn’t until grade 11 that I even thought about my future or what I might do with my talents. It was actually my mom who suggested I go to university for singing. At the the time most programs in Canada were Classical, so a year of private lessons and a round of auditions later I was accepted into UBC for Classical singing. I had never thought about being a classical singer but I ended up loving the challenge of it and continued studying until I completed my master’s degree in opera performance. For a while it looked like I was headed in a pretty clear direction but part way through university and mid way through a choir practice, something nudged me to take a break. While sitting in a very empty basement bathroom, a fully-formed pop song came into my head. I spent the next hour and the next year learning how to get everything out of my head, into my hands, and into my voice. No matter what I did, I couldn’t stop writing and it became very clear that I didn’t have a choice, I was a songwriter. I spent the rest of my school years performing my original music as much as I could, getting in trouble for it while at the same time being told to never stop. I had always loved performing in a role but there was always something missing for me. I was never any good at being somebody else. Growing up I never fit in, I was always uniquely myself. I’m pretty sure I might be the only opera student at my school to have also been on the varsity rugby team. Writing and performing my own words and melodies transported me somewhere I’d never been before, yet it felt so familiar. It became a safe space to untangle myself after many years of being told to be someone else. It also became a wild journey of deconstructing my classical voice, which in perfect order led me to a lot of the vocal coaching I do now. Since those days I have relentlessly worked on my craft, performed as much as possible, written hundreds of songs on my own and with countless other writers…mostly men. I thought I had finally found my purpose but then something shifted. I never in a million years believed I would or could be a music producer. I had no desire to try but someone close to me started telling me I was definitely a producer. I fought her on it for years but during that time I was starting to hate that every writing room I was in was full of men. I was going to writing camps with only male producers who were being paid to be there but relying on me to do a lot of the work. I was also fed up feeling blocked from bigger opportunities and equally frustrated trying to come up with enough money to hire someone to produce the songs I was writing. When the pandemic hit I made a promise to myself that I would spend my time learning how to produce so I could help myself and eventually help other women and non-men do the same. Producing for me opened up a whole new side to my creativity and purpose. I still have lots to learn but I have no doubt that I am living my purpose and that it will continue to evolve the more I listen to the nudges and say yes to the opportunities that show up.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My name is NEAVV and I am an independent alternative pop artist, songwriter and producer currently living on Vancouver Island in BC, Canada. I have always had a hard time describing my music or comparing it to anyone else’s. Years of singing classical music combined with my obsession with mainstream pop and 90s alternative music has definitely inspired me to create from a bit of a different place. I think that’s what makes my music and sound so unique. I have spent years studying pop music but it has never been my goal to sound like anyone else or recreate what is already happening. I’m an authentic artist and I think it shows up the most when I’m performing. Outside of playing live, the last few years have mainly been dedicated to learning how to produce my own music. So far three new songs that I wrote, recorded and produced have been released including a Christmas song called, “All I Want For Christmas Is Me” that just came out. When I’m not working on my solo project I also write for sync and co-write with other writers and artists. I’ve been busy in the studio so watch out for new music in the new year.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think the first quality for me is passion. Being an artist has never been a choice, there is no other option for me. If you want to be an artist, a songwriter, or anything in this industry you have to be passionate about your craft. Nothing happens overnight so you have to be driven by your desire to do what it is you do, not just by the idea of being successful at it. Another important quality is perseverance. I have been a competitive athlete most of my life and think that is where I first learned the importance of not giving up even when things get hard. It has helped me in all areas of my life, especially in music. If you have a dream or a goal, the only person who can make you do the work, especially when it gets hard, is you.
Another important piece of advice I would give is to take time to figure out who you are. You have more time than you think, so don’t be in a rush. Let yourself try new things, experiment outside your comfort zone and make mistakes until you find what feels right to you. Comparison is deadly, so stay focused on your own journey.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed I try to ground myself through meditation, exercise, journaling, and anything else that helps me get out of my head and back into my body. In those moments, I have also learned to take a step back and take a look at what is possibly out of balance in my life. What have I done for myself lately? What have I been doing for fun? Have I been connecting with friends and family? Have I fallen out of my morning routine? etc. For a very long time pursuing a career in music was not just at the centre of my life, it was my entire life. Without being able to find joy and fulfillment outside of music, everything I did or didn’t achieve came with way too much expectation and pressure. My self-worth was completely rooted in my successes and disappointments as an artist. It is easy for me to fall back into that mindset, so that’s why it’s important for me to get curious about my habits when I get overwhelmed. Having balance in my life definitely helps me to keep things in perspective in those moments. … also getting a dog was a life changer… best decision I ever made.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.neavv.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/iamneavv
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/iamneavv
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/iamneavv
- SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/iamneavv
- Other: www.tiktok.com/@iamneavv
Image Credits
Jump and double exposure photo by Stephanie Artuso Live photos by Chanel Wase Joshua Tree photo by Steph Korski Neavv selfie was taken by me Live tracking was just a friend with their iPhone but can’t remember who took it but is fine to share.
