Susan Aquila is a firebrand in the modern music business, with her electric violin and growling vocals setting her apart from all others. She spoke with Essentially Pop about latest single, ‘No Where’, and what’s behind her music and identity.
How does ‘No Where‘ fit into your musical journey this far as a solo artist?
My first album, Planet Z, was an instrumental album. The next part of the journey was to start to add vocals. In “No Where”, I am exploring the harder edge of my voice and playing around with a more hard rock sound.
‘No Where’ has a confident, bold feel – how did the idea for the song first come to you? What distinctive elements did you incorporate into this song to create the electric vibe?
The idea for the song came from the feeling of frustration of being in a relationship that is dysfunctional. The feeling of not knowing what to do and just wanting to run away to escape. The two most distinctive elements are the use of the electric violin and the use of really growling vocals.
In what ways does your music refresh a hard rock sound for a new audience?
I think the electric violin sound with distortion adds a fresh and unexpected element to the hard rock song. I also think that female vocals are still not expected in really hard rock songs. The female vocals add a different flavour to the heaviness of the groove.
What motivates you to use your music for storytelling. Tell us about the story behind ‘No Where’.
The motivation for all of my songs is that it is a vehicle for self expression. All my songs are biographical and are a true expression of my feelings and things that I am going through. ‘No Where’ was written about a dysfunctional relationship in which I was tormented by not knowing whether to stay or go. My thoughts were racing and the only relief I could imagine was to just get up and Go!! I Ran until I couldn’t run anymore.
How did you infuse your unique personality into the visuals for ‘No Where’. Do you feel like the video represents your artist identity?
The clothing I chose was very much how I dress on stage. My performance in the video, how I move and how I emote as a musician adds my unique flavor to the visuals. The video represents a part of my artistic identity. It mostly represents the character of the person in the song showing her angst and rebelliousness.
How did filming in LA influence the vibe and visuals of the ‘No Where’ video?
By filming on the streets of West Hollywood, we were able to capture the high energy of the streets and use that energy toward the “manic” energy of the song. We had so much fun shooting the video and interacting with all the people we ran into. They were so supportive!
Is there anything audiences should know about you that they might not already know?
Yes. I am very lucky. I am able to have a music career that spans many genres. As a classically trained violinist, I get to perform in symphony orchestras. I am also able to cross over to playing shows on Broadway. And the most fun of all, with my 6 string electric violin, I get to play Rock. I love it all!
Are there any elements of ‘No Where’ that you play to expand upon in future projects?
Absolutely! I plan on using more electric violin and to expand the musical palate of the violin using different effects. I would also like to keep creating this type of high energy music.
You can get wild with Susan Aquila by watching her music video for ‘No Where’ below, and find out more about the artist herself and her music online on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
