Fan Favorite, VASSY
VASSY, Queen of EDM on becoming a dance-pop sensation + her new single "Midnight”
Photography by Davide Micciulla
With eight No. 1 Billboard singles and 17 platinum certifications, VASSY has earned the title of the “Queen of EDM.” The Australian artist, songwriter, and producer has one of the most authentic female voices in dance music, described by Billboard as a “music icon with the most unique voice.”
Her silky-smooth voice and discography have made the star the first woman to win the EDMA Icon Award. VASSY’s music has been featured across cinematography, from Disney’s Frozen and Netflix’s Selling Sunset to Victoria’s Secret and Nike Campaigns.
The EDM queen has also been recognized as an ally and advocate in the LGBTQ+ community as she has backed multiple charities.
VASSY has taken a pivotal transition in her career as she releases her new single “Midnight” produced with EDM duo Punctual.
““It may be a boys club, but it’s a woman’s world.” ”
Playing with dynamic and irresistible sounds, VASSY keeps her competitive edge in the industry with this new hit. BELLA insider spoke to VASSY to learn more about her new single and how she has earned her reputation in the dance music scene.
When did your love of the dance music scene develop?
I have always loved dance music, but it was never my intention to make it in the dance world. I simply loved making music and writing songs, and then my music took off in the dance space. That was the end of that (laughs) and from there on I had no choice but to continue to create dance records for my fans.
Your previous records such as “Bad” and “Secrets” have featured the likes of David Guetta and Tiësto, while also becoming platinum hits and recognized on popular reality TV shows, such as "Selling Sunset.” How does your new record “Midnight,” produced by Punctual, differ from your previous hits?
MIDNIGHT is a much lusher and pop-leaning record with almost a new disco vibe to it - very different from my global EDM hits BAD or SECRETS. It focuses more on my voice and really tells a story, taking my fans through a journey of fantasy and expression of freedom.
Tell us about your songwriting process. Do you have certain rituals or routines you implement in your creative process?
I need to be inspired to come up with an idea, perhaps a tag line first the hook of the song essentially and once I have that I start to mold the melody of the hook which is the heart of the song the chorus as we call it. From there I flesh out the narrative and tell a story while I think about production and what sound I want for my song.
EDM is stereotypically pioneered by male artists.As a female singer-songwriter, how do you trailblaze in a primarily male-dominated music genre?
It is indeed, but I always say, “It may be a boys’ club, but it’s a woman’s world.” As the first woman to win the EDMA ICON Award, I hold that with honor and am proud to represent women in this very DJ-driven genre.
I have always been authentic to who I am, and it has served me well to be true to my artistry. I'm happy with where I am today as an artist, leading this space and inspiring many other female artists to follow my lead. I grew up in a remote part of Australia and moved to America to pursue my dreams. Recently awarded The Billions List Award for my song “BAD” surpassing the two-billion streams milestone, I encourage female artists to never stop believing in themselves and to remember that rejections are simply redirections.
What do you see for the future of the EDM dance music scene?
What I would like to see is more artistry, less DJ’ing, and more incredible artists who are pioneers and who opened the door for artists like me – legends like Crystal Waters. I just feel there needs to be a shift, so more focus is put on singers and artists, as it was back in the 90s and early 2000’s.
What can readers and fans expect from you in the future?
More VASSY music - both dance hits and stripped-down acoustic renditions of my dance releases. I just want to create more music and I would like to do more in the fashion space. It is such an artistic expression to play with outfits on stage and in my videos, I love the whole process. My glam team is amazing, and we always work on mood boards to do different, fresh themes for each song and each release. My video director, and choreographer, is also amazing and very fashion and beauty forward, so my videos always tend to have elements of dance and movement.
