Vanessa Carlton

The Dandy spoke with musician Vanessa Carlton before the murder of George Floyd and followed up with her this week. The brilliant musician and classically trained pianist is not only a powerhouse of an artist, but she’s also fervently progressive in her political opinions. Refreshingly, Carlton not only talks the talk, but takes action. She’s been incredibly vocal in support of the Black community and how her city of Nashville should mobilize going forward, specifically to reform the mayor’s budget proposal to invest in black and indigenous communities and divest in police and incarceration. Her sixth album Love Is An Art debuted in late March, preceded by Liberman, one of The Dandy’s favorite albums of the past few years. We have always identified with Carlton’s confessional-style writing that’s reflective yet wholly present. Her music acknowledges the past, entirely self-aware that all of our prior moments are weaved in with how we welcome our present. The way we handle uncomfortable situations. Our relationships with others and ourselves. Our fears and hopes. It’s all in Carlton’s music. She’s a truth-teller, a genuinely good person, and an incredible songwriter—all of which (and so much more) make Vanessa Carlton so damn Dandy.

I'm curious about conversations you may be having or things you may be reading right now. Are there certain resources you've found helpful? People you are following that we should also follow? 

The pot has boiled over. No one can watch one more black man be murdered by the police. No one. There should have been huge reform after Rodney King. Nothing happened. No one can take this white supremacist leader who stated that “good people are on both sides” of the murder at the Charlottesville protest. They were protesting a confederate statue! This is an opportunity for many white people to have important conversations with their white friends and to take a proactive role in influencing their local representatives. This is a time to read up on what anti-racism actions are. Look up Ibram X. Kendi. I purchased White Fragility. If you choose to be silent during the revolution, you must ask yourself if you will be okay with that legacy. You must ask yourself the tough questions. What I am doing (but now with more intensity) is focusing on removing corrupt, racist, white men from power. You can start small. I asked my local food delivery service how they will be presenting their 4th of July “package”.  It ended up being a great conversation and they will now rethink how they present their products. This is no time for celebration, this is a time for learning, reflection, and ACTION.  Again, the smallest exchanges are huge in the grand scheme. Follow @thegreatunlearn. 

We're living through incredibly rough times. How are you handling everything mentally?

Nature giveth and nature taketh away. I see the pattern as I get older. I think I've gone through the stages of grief. Once I reached acceptance I started to feel like I could create balance within this new normal. I am incredibly privileged. I think of single moms, people in abusive homes. These situations are so hard. For the people who were escaping their home as a necessity to feel good, I ache every day for them. I feel the pain of the world I think.

You had to cancel the tour of your new album Love Is An Art. How did you feel when you came to that realization? Do you have any predictions on when you'll be able to tour again?

Well, just like every body else, my version of my world stopped. I may be able to go out in January but we'll see. Once I allowed myself to feel sad about everything being sort of lost in the ether, I started to feel better. Death and loss is always the beginning of something else. We're usually in too much pain to see that until there's a mental clearing.

"Bad boys become sad boys" is one of my favorite lyrics on Love Is An Art. How many sad boys did you go through before you met your husband? How did you know he was different?

I think the "bad boys" that I've met and that I refer to in the song are simply insecure alcoholic narcissists! And some of those people end up changing and growing and moving into being able to connect, BUT if you get stuck in that mode you just age like Dorian Grey without the secret painting capturing your ugliness! You just wear that shit and you don't even know it. John was never a cliche. I mean he was very into drinking when I met him but I had just come out of that so I wasn't judging that at all! John is so straight forward. There is never a front with him. He's sharp as a tack and funny. And honestly he is the "bad boy" that all the fake ones want to be. When we met, I thought we'd definitely be friends. I liked him a lot but had no idea what a great match we'd actually be. We grow together which is pretty rad.

How have you explained the pandemic to your daughter?

If you have kids show them the CNN Sesame Street Covid-19 special. Elmo explains it all. We tell her what going on because she's 5 and her world feels very different now. She says she misses her friends a few times a week but she's also flourishing. We are connecting deeper as a family during this time. I think she'll remember this forever, but I hope she'll mostly remember the picnics in the front yard, the scavenger hunts, the family walks, living in that tree near the creek. She gets really pissed when she sees people walking on the sidewalk outside and they're too close together. She's a total social distancing cop.

I know you're a fan of the cold jade roller. Are there any other "tricks" you know of to de-puff dark circles from lack of sleep/drinking?

Brutal honesty nothing is gonna help make someone look good if they don't sleep and they drink a lot. If you can hide it, it's cause you're under 35. Put putting a jade roller in the fridge and doing lymphatic massage is good. Im now on the micro current tip. I use this facial toning device Nu Face every night. I got TIME!!!! Oh and anyone over 30 should be on Retin-A. I swear.

What are your five essential beauty products?

An all natural cleanser. I love the Organic Pharmacy Carrot Balm. Almond oil is my favorite eye makeup remover. Micro-retin A and Dr. Hauschka Rose Cream. I also love the Irritability Essence from Tata Harper.

The past two months and the terrifying news cycle have negatively impacted so many people. But has anything good come from your quarantine experience?

My phone time has gone down every week. I'm getting more and more back into my body. Just being present is the end goal for anyone with a human brain. I think there is something monk-ish to how im living, Everyday I am overwhelmed with gratitude for my healthy family. Every single day.

I love the improv-like workout dance videos you sometimes film on your Instagram. And I know you were a dancer in a former life. Is there any method to the moves or you just go along with your body?

Thank you! I am an avid Tracy Anderson follower. I'm going on 7 years I think. She's a genius.

You criticize yourself the most when:

I don't know how to answer this actually. In general I have high expectations for myself, but since having a daughter I have to model self compassion. I have to speak to myself kindly and I have to be able to admit when I make mistakes or if I am behaving in a way that I don't like or isn't working I need to be able to share that and verbalize that in a functional way. Since becoming a parent I realize I just have to put it all on the table and be as kind to myself and others as possible. My inner voice is a roller coaster. It can be messy, but I know that a little person is watching me and she notices everything so I've definitely cleaned up my act a bit.

We all can't wait to get back to our local spots. What are your favorite bars & restaurants in Nashville?

My favorite restaurant for a date is Sperry's. I love lou (that just opened). My favorite bar is Mickey's. That's where we shot the “Future Pain” video.

You made your Broadway debut in 2019 as Carole King in Beautiful. That schedule must have been insane. Can you share a little bit about that experience and how it changed your perception of your abilities:

Broadway is 8 shows a week. I haven't busted my ass that hard since my ballet dancing days. I have such respect for the Broadway community. They are an incredible group of artists. Humble, brilliant, and frankly Broadway has the power to move the culture. I was lucky to be a part of it. I learned that however fearful I am about taking on something huge and new, I always put one foot in front of the other. I just work my way to feeling that freedom on stage.

Have you been watching/reading anything good lately? 

I'm out of books and shows and am now back on my stupid phone. I'll get back into Dead to Me though. Christina Applegate is one of my favorites.

What's your go-to evening beverage?

A martini. Vodka. Straight up with olives. Not dirty.

Something that always makes you laugh:

This probably says something truly horrible about the core of my being but slapstick makes me laugh harder than anything. I think I was born evil. If someone slips on a banana I'll laugh to the point of crying. It's very upsetting to myself.

Thoughts on the new Fiona Apple album, Fetch the Bolt Cutters?

It sounds like pure freedom! I love that she gets to re-write her narrative. Everyone see her with a new lens. Once Me Too blew through everyone's heart and mind every woman gets viewed through a new lens. Especially the artists that were coming out around the time she was. She's a beast. Brilliant.

I love the moody visuals for Love is an Art. Who did you work with on these and how did they evolve?

My long time collaborator and art director Jo Ratcliff did the album art. And Joshua Shoemaker did the music video. I've also started working with Patrick McPheron who does all the album moving visuals and some still art as well.

What's the significance of the tiger on the album cover?

The tiger is nature. The tiger is love. The tiger is never truly yours. And to be able to ever so gracefully hold the tail of that? That is the energy flow of life to me. We are never in control. We are simply hanging on to the tail of tiger.

How do you manage your moods when you're in a creative rut?

I think the key when you are in a rut is to try something different. Change your process. That may mean taking a break. And then coming back at your work form a different angle or with a partner.

Books that have helped you throughout your life:

Joseph Campbell and Rebecca Solnit have helped me at my most lost. The Power of Myth and the Field Guide to Getting Lost.

In a past-life, you were probably a:

Tiger.

Your vices:

There aren't any vices that destroy my soul at the moment, but I do turn into a trash panda at night. Im like a raccoon going through our pantry. It's a sight.