Veronica McCluskey

Veronica McCluskey is a talented singer songwriter and actor from Australia living in Los Angeles, like what I heard when I came across her music and this is what she had to say about it all.

https://www.facebook.com/VeronicaMcCluskeyMusic

1. What was the inspiration for the up coming album?

1. I went through my first real heartbreak end of last year that really made me question everything in my life and what I needed to do to make myself actually happy. I started writing the day of the break up and couldn’t stop. After 4 years of writers block, all I needed was to loose the love of my life and the words would come. I wanted this album to be a story about loosing love but finding yourself at the end of it.

2. How did the songwriting process go for the album?

2. I have recently been working with Jesse Barrera in San Diego, and it was quite interesting. I’d go into the studio with an idea and we’d talk about it and put it into lyrics. I have written a lot of things this past year, slowly going to turn each memory into a song.

3. What was the recording process like for the album?

3. It had been so long since I’d recorded in a studio, after doing my degree I worked in various studios but never as the talent, always as the assistant. Was very surreal to be on the other side of the desk.
Working with Jesse was fun, his patience with me was applauseable. We spent a whole day just recording and re cording lyrics till he heard what it was he needed.

4. Did you prepare for the recording process or what is it a case of see what happens in the studio?

4. We actually wrote the song in the studio, was a lot easier than I had remembered. I told jesse my ideas, we laid down a beat and some piano and we went from there. Once the words flowed and we were on the same page it was like telling a story.

5. How was the recording process different to earlier material?

5. I was so nervous to be working with Jesse for starters. I spent my teenage years listening to his band “My American Heart” and then during my degree his solo project Jesse Barrera was constantly on repeat, so I had many pinch me moments throughout this process.

Such a different environment to my degree, studying a Bachelor of Popular Music at Griffith University through QLD conservatorium, writing was always for my next assignment and end of year panel, where as this time I was in the studio because I wanted to, not because of my next assignment.

6. What did you learn from recording the album that you will take away for future releases?

6. I actually learnt a lot from Jesse, he is such a perfectionist with vocals, we re did takes so many times till he believed they were right. Also the way he works is so different to what I’m used to. A very relaxed and fun environment.

7. Are you happy how things have gone so far for yourself music wise?

7. Im some what disappointed I haven’t focused on my music career more, after my degree I got side tracked, still working in the music field but not for my own music but working for others. I’m really excited to have my own vision back in sight and am going to do everything I can to make it happen. 2016 my own music career is getting 110% of my attention.

8. What buzz do you get out of playing live?

8. I always get the worst nerves and stage fright for playing my own music, that’s definitely something I have to concur 2016. I hope to play many original gigs.
I spent all of 2014 play 5 nights a week at a dueling piano bar and most of this year playing cover gigs and I never have nerves, for some reason with my original music I always get stage fright. Maybe its because my songs are so personal im always afraid to let people in a piece of my life.

9. Do you have rituals before playing a show?

9. I have discovered this year the beauty of singers spray, is by far the worst thing ive ever tasted but works well. All natural and does the job. So that’s become my before singing ritual, and tea, tea is a life saver. Throat coat for the win.

10. What do you love about playing music, what does it do for you?

10. For me music has always been an escape, ive been wirting songs since I can remember, I never intended anymore to hear them, I wrote back then just for me, therapy almost. I’ve always keep a journal so for me songwriting was just music to my journal. Its one of the only times I can switch off and forget my life and the world and just be me and completely happy with where I am in that moment.

11. What inspires you now when writing music?

11. I think there are a lot of artists I listen to that inspire me such as Andrew McMahon who gives a piece of his life through his songs, I feel like I know him on a personal level, I wish to following the way he writes songs. He inspires me. I think living in LA is inspiring, theres so much going on here, good people, bad people, heart break, love, lies…on a daily basis I think of 10 different songs.

12. Do you have moments where you just can’t write?

12. Honestly for the past 5 years I was on a complete writers block, as I mentioned earlier if it wasn’t for my failed relationship and heartbreak November 2014 I would have still be on writers block. I guess I was numb that whole time, its only now that I’ve been able to feel again. Its such a great feeling to write again. I don’t want to be doing anything else with my life but this.