[Exclusive Interview] VASSY’s ‘Krazy’ Journey: From Darwin, Australia, To The Global Dance Stage

From the small town of Darwin, Australia, to the pulsating epicenter of musical stardom in Los Angeles, VASSY is ready to unveil her highly-anticipated single, “Krazy.” A mixed bag of talent and versatility, VASSY is a mesmerizing singer-songwriter, pop sensation, and dance music dynamo. Now she is launching the solo chapter of her career by partnering with the iconic label Spinnin’ Records.

Renowned for her ability to craft unforgettable melodies and her innate storytelling prowess, VASSY possesses a gift for making music that resonates with audiences around the world. Whether it’s igniting the dancefloor, dominating the airwaves, or performing at colossal festivals like Tomorrowland and Ultra, she consistently leaves her mark.

We linked up with VASSY so she could reflect on her remarkable journey, from her humble beginnings in Australia to her meteoric rise as an international sensation. She also shares insight on this new release, which proves she can deliver chart-topping hits as a solo artist.

CHECK OUT MAGNETIC MAG’S EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH VASSY BELOW:

Your journey from Darwin, Australia, to Los Angeles is quite remarkable. How has your background influenced your music and career decisions?

Growing up in a remote part of Australia in a little tropical seaside town definitely shaped me to be who I am today. We were not exposed to much and we did not have much access to things due to being so secluded.

I had to think outside the box and create opportunities for myself. This entrepreneurial spirit has carried on throughout my entire career. It is what you have to do to succeed in the music business. You have to initiate and manifest the opportunities, not sit back and wait for them.

Moving to LA with no connections, you have built a massive following and name for yourself. What advice would you give to rising artists who find themselves in a similar situation?

Moving to Los Angeles was difficult. I did not know anyone. In fact, I did not really know anyone in America, nor did I have family here. I left the comfort of my beautiful country, Australia. My family and I had a successful career in Australia at the time when I left. It was a difficult transition because I had to start all over again. No one knew me in America; I was a nobody once again. I had to take the steps to become someone to stand out to have my voice heard, to have my art recognized.

It is difficult to give advice on how to do this exactly. There is a bit of survival of the fittest at play, if you know what I mean. It is kind of a natural instinct. You have to follow your gut and know when to keep going or when to pack up.

I had two moments in my career where I was ready to pack up and go back to Australia. Things got very difficult and just as I was ready to call it quits things changed very quickly, it was definitely a sign from the universe to keep going, letting me know that I was on the right path.

Can you tell us what sparked the idea for “Krazy”? Is there a specific memory that comes to mind when listening to it?

I would just say you have to be persistent, relentless to some degree, not pushy though. Be consistent, put the work in, dedicate your time, and be very patient. Success in any industry takes time, but in the music industry it is a very challenging objective. You are going to face many rejections, take them as re-directions and always believe in yourself no matter what.

“Krazy” is described as “cathartic chaos.” Could you elaborate on the message or emotions you aimed to convey through this track?

“Krazy” was written during a very chaotic time in my life. I actually came up with the hook while I was in the middle of a stressful daily intersection in Los Angeles. The traffic in LA can be extremely chaotic and literally drive you crazy. But the song, metaphorically speaking, is about something I was going through in my life on a deeper level, things that had happened to me that I could not understand. They were out of my control and perplexing.

The cathartic nature of this song depicts a crazy moment in my life. The lyrics tell a story that is passionate and that most people can relate to, whether it is a love story or something in your life that drives you crazy. It relates to a time when you are trying to keep it together, but you simply cannot. I try to not make my songs too literal, just to keep things private and also more relatable to my listeners.

Do you have a favorite soundscape, segment, or line throughout “Krazy”? What phrase do you resonate with the most and why?

I would probably say my favorite line in the song is, “You got me feeling like I’m 10 feet off the ground.’’ It is the opening line, and I think it is very beautiful, even though the song was written about a chaotic time in my life. I find it to be quite a poetic opener and imagery provoker.

From your perspective, what factors contribute to your vocals blending so seamlessly with the bassline and overall instrumental of “Krazy”?

I wrote the song and was involved in the production. I had a vision for it that naturally complimented my melodic delivery because I could hear the elements in my head when I was coming up with the melodies. Typically, when I write a song I can hear instrumental production ideas in the background and most times they sync with my melodies without either being oversaturated. Then it is up to the producer to execute this. The production on “Krazy” was executed so beautifully.

We are excited to check out the music video for “Krazy.” Can you offer any hints about what viewers can expect from it?

I am so excited about the music video to “Krazy”, this was a fun project to work on with the director, Jose Omar, who I have worked with before and is amazing. I had an idea already for the music video, so I spoke to him about it and knew he would execute this so eloquently.

I wanted something avant-garde; I wanted the dancers and their bodies to be more abstract in order to evoke emotion through their movement, different from choreography that you would see in a standard music video. It has an editorial edge to it between the fashion, the styling, the posing, and the dancers with their metallic body paint. I did not want the dancers to necessarily be given a gender or a look, but to be more emotive and sensual.

Your previous single “Pieces” was a #1 dance hit. How do you approach maintaining such consistency in delivering chart-topping music?’

I was so happy that “Pieces” hit #1. Having had a few #1s already, I know the feeling of pressure on the next record because you want to make sure that you are as successful as your last record. You never want to let down your team and everyone that is relying on you to succeed. It is impossible to truly know when your records are going to top the charts. Sometimes it goes there fast and sometimes it takes a little while.

I am really hoping that “Krazy” hits #1; I want to make my team proud. Fingers crossed it does, but at the end of the day I am proud of the song, the creation behind it, and everyone involved. It has been a fun process creating this song. I am ecstatic to share it with the world and my fans. I have very loyal fans who will support me no matter what, even if it does not go #1. Bless them.

How do you stay authentic to your artistic vision amidst facing pressure from the industry to conform to a certain sound?

Staying authentically myself has been the biggest challenge. It is not hard for me to do but I have absolutely felt the pressure throughout my career to do this or do that. I have been pushed to act a certain way, look a certain way, sing a certain way, work with a specific DJ, or do something with a certain producer. The list goes on and on and on. I feel like everyone has an opinion of what you need to do to be more successful.

Over the years, I had to switch off these suggestions, basically ignore the noise and listen to my heart on what I want to do, what’s true to me as a person, an artist, and a soul. There was a time in my career where I was compelled to deliver a certain sound because of the success that I had on previous big records that most people know me for. I crashed a little and ran away from everything so that I could find myself and remember why I started making music in the first place.

Remaining authentic to myself has been a blessing in disguise in the long run, even though I may have missed out on a lot of opportunities. At the end of the day, it has rewarded me in so many ways. I feel fulfilled and excited to make music, now more than I ever have before.

Could you dive a bit into your collaboration with Spinnin’ Records and what it means for your evolution as an artist?

I have worked with Spinnin’ on several releases now, therefore I have history with the label. I am thrilled about our new partnership working together for the next few records, as I just signed a multiple song deal. They are very good at what they do; they understand dance-pop-leaning records for radio, which is what I do best. We are on the same page creatively. My A&R Jorn is amazing and has a great ear, having him in my corner is awesome.

You have received numerous accolades over the span of your career, including the 2023 EDMA Icon Award. How does it feel to be recognized for your contributions to dance music in this light?

Receiving awards is an incredible feeling. It gives you that affirmation that you are on the right path, doing what you were meant to be doing.

Being presented the EDMA Icon Award earlier this year was such an unbelievable moment. Not only to be recognized as an icon, but to learn that I am the very first woman to ever receive such a prestigious iconic award. It makes me proud to represent.

I know that my genre can definitely be a very boys-centric club and DJ driven. I am neither a boy nor a DJ, so it just reaffirms that if you believe in yourself and be authentic to who you are as an artist, it will shine through to reward you in the end. Furthermore, the award makes me aware that my hard work has paid off and that being consistent to my craft is serving me.

Your musical identity is spread across various genres. Are there any genres you have yet to explore, but would like to in the future? Any artists who you would love to work with for the first time?

There are tons of artists I would love to work with not only in the dance genre but in the pop world, R&B, reggae, Afro beat, indie, folk, and many others. It is hard to narrow this down. It can go from Calvin Harris to Tina Turner to Bono to U2, that is how drastic and versatile my choices would be.

Your music has been synced with major brands and movies like Frozen, Nike, Target, Pepsi, and Victoria’s Secret. Why do you think your music and voice is a solid fit for these features?

I am very lucky to have had my music placed in many TV shows, movies, TV campaigns, movie trailers, and so on. At the time, I was making music that was very indie pop, very quirky, and it was palatable to that TV and film space. Nowadays, my music obviously is dance-leaning and not as accommodating to that usage, but I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to have all those placements over the years. I still do now, but there was a period there where I was literally getting a placement every week! Ugh it was sooooo nice, I miss that haha.

With over 3 billion lifetime streams, you have reached a vast global audience. How do you engage with your fans, and what role do they play in your project?

Over 3 billion, not bad for a Darwin girl. Just goes to show you anything is possible. I connect with my fans on all my platforms. I actually do all my social media myself because I like to engage with my fans on a personal level. Furthermore, I like to read their comments, messages, and respond to them. I take the time. This is what keeps my exchange with them personal.

I have gotten to know a lot of fans over the years who have become my friends. It means so much to me that they appreciate my music, and it means something to them or has inspired them in their life. They are the reason I continue to do what I do. It makes me so happy when my fan tells me that a song of mine has helped them somehow in their life positively, such as empowering them to pursue their happiness and their dreams.

Are there any behind-the-scenes anecdotes from your touring experiences that your fans might find fascinating?

Yes, so many… I have lots of stories, good ones and bad. That might be for another interview lol.

Whether for business or leisure, what are your top three travel destinations in the world and why?

Greece, Greece, and Greece. Just kidding but Greece, Australia is amazing, and I really want to go and see Ireland and Scotland, I have not been yet to either yet. I have travelled a lot over the years and have been to so many countries. I still need to make a trip to Japan and Brazil too.

Which festival or crowd sticks out in your mind when you reflect on your best performances?

Tomorrowland with Tiësto, wow that crowd is insane! It is massive and to hear them all sing along to “Secrets” live as I sing the acapella is pure euphoria. Then Ultra in Miami at sunset time is wild! Again, it was with Tiësto and it gives me goosebumps when the crowd takes over and sings my lyrics for me. I’m like YOU GUYS GOT THIS!!!

How has the music industry evolved since you started your career, and how have you adapted to these changes?

No more CDs or MP3s or downloads, and crappy pay for streams. It is sad in ways that the industry has changed a lot. Unfortunately, it has become harder for artists to make money. Not impossible but definitely harder. On the other hand, the internet has changed the game for artists. You can share your art with the world as long as you have good Wi-Fi :-).

Can you share any upcoming projects or collaborations that you are particularly excited about?

I am so excited to be working on a body of new VASSY solo records, all produced by some of my favorite UK producers such as Punctual, Bilen Ted, and Duke & Jones, to name a few. For now, this is a new chapter for me to focus on solo records. I love my collaborations, but I need some ME time. Having a great team and manager on board like Hess, who is marvelous, has given me the space and support to be the artist that I once was.

What can we expect from VASSY in the coming years? What are your long-term goals and the vision that you would like to bring into existence?

My goal is to keep making great records for my fans and perform for them. It’s simple. I am an artist and I like to make art for my fans.

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