If you know us at THP, you know we love few things more than new music, especially when it has a pop-punk feel. And Vi more than delivered with her latest single, ‘Dead to You’ – she served us a four-course meal of incredible artistry in under three minutes. The track sees her moving past an unhealthy relationship and continuing to grow as a person despite any difficulties the situation threw her way.
It’s given me the opportunity to show a different side of myself as an artist – a side that no one has seen before. It’s my first time venturing into a new genre, which allows me to showcase my range. The song is about moving on from that toxic ex of yours, to the point where they are completely dead to you. It’s a metaphor for killing any thoughts and memories of that person because they did you so dirty.
Vi
‘Dead to You’ has certainly been one of our favorite parts of Vi’s fierce evolution. She’s come a long way since she released her blackwater EP in 2018, racking up over 2.8 million streams and finding her artistic voice like never before. With over 55,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and seemingly limitless creativity, there’s no limit on the heights she can go. And we got to ask her all about it!
Check out the ‘Dead to You’ music video below and keep reading to see what Vi told us about the song and her career so far!
Congrats on your new single, ‘Dead To You!’ What does the song mean to you?
Thank you! ‘Dead To You’ is very meaningful because it’s given me the opportunity to show a different side of myself as an artist – a side that no one has seen before. It’s my first time venturing into a new genre, which allows me to showcase my range. The song is about moving on from that toxic ex of yours, to the point where they are completely dead to you. It’s a metaphor for killing any thoughts and memories of that person because they did you so dirty.
What was it like writing ‘Dead To You’ with Dallas Rodin and Graydon Welbourn?
I’ve been writing with Graydon for a couple of years now and we’ve become very close friends. Writing with old friends always gives me a level of comfortability, which allows me to bring my walls down because most of the time I’m writing about experiences that are deeply personal to me. Pairing his brain with Dallas’ was the best thing this record could have asked for. They are both such prolific songwriters. The two of them in addition to Atom, who produced the track, really helped to elevate the entire vision and execute each idea flawlessly. ‘Dead to You’ wouldn’t be the same without them.
Is there a certain lyric on ‘Dead To You’ that you’re particularly proud of?
I’d say my favorite lyric from the song is “Digging a grave for two.” It really depicts the overall meaning of the song. The metaphor suggests that we are dead in each other’s eyes.
‘Dead To You’ has such a cool dark pop sound that we can’t get enough of. Who are some artists who have influenced your recent work?
For ‘Dead to You’ specifically, Avril Lavigne was my biggest inspiration. I idolized Avril growing up and she really inspired my dream to pursue singing and songwriting. Linkin Park, Lana Del Rey, and Marina And The Diamonds are a few of my other main influences. Into my adulthood, Banks became my biggest inspiration when it comes to writing and sound.
With ‘Dead To You,’ you also put out a fun music video that shows you performing the song. What was the planning process like and what was it like on set?
My team and I really wanted to release a performance video with the single to capture the energy of the song. I felt like such a badass singing it during the recording process in the studio, so we knew that we had to come up with an idea to bring this feeling to life and make the song hit even harder. After playing around with some fun lighting and colors, we came up with that final product. My team and my best friend were on set to help support. Fvvkes, who played guitar for the video, is a very talented artist herself and is my close friend, so I always love when we get to work together. She’s so fierce and that definitely translated on camera. Atom produced ‘Dead To You’ and is a genius on drums, so he featured in the video as well and really brought that energy. It’s one of my favorite songs to perform because it gets me so hyped up. We had to do tons of takes and I was constantly jumping around, so I was very out of breath by the end of the shoot haha!
You’ll be releasing your debut album, Afterlife, in March and we can’t wait to hear it! Which song are you most excited for fans to check out?
There will be four unreleased songs on the album, which I am all really excited about. “Afterlife” as a whole is significant because it represents ‘life after death’ and is a metaphor for a “rebirth” of my next chapter. I’m also really excited for fans to hear “Pick A Side”, which is my collaboration with Ja¥en x District. This song has been in the works for years now and I can’t wait for it to finally be born. They’re family to me and I’m so grateful to add their flavor to this project. The song complements the overall project so well.
Even just a few years into your career, you’ve already appeared on high-profile playlists like Spotify’s New Music Friday Canada and Fresh Finds: Pop, and your 2018 single ‘<3’ already has over a million streams. What has it been like to get that recognition and hype so quickly?
It makes me so happy to be able to share my music with an audience in that capacity. I am incredibly grateful that my songs have been picked up by these major Spotify playlists! It brings me a lot of joy to have the opportunity to reach so many people and have them follow me on my journey. My fans are seriously some of the most supportive and encouraging people – those that have been with me from the beginning, and new ones! It’s such a fulfilling feeling to connect with people through my music and have it resonate with so many others.
You’ve gotten to share the stage with artists like bülow while opening for her, and Backstreet Boys while both performing at Ottawa Blues Fest. Which of your performance experiences sticks out to you the most and why?
Yes! Both were such great shows honestly, it’s so hard to compare. For the bülow show, I was performing for a more intimate crowd at one of my hometown venues, so that meant a lot to me. At Ottawa Bluesfest, I performed on [the] main stage and shared the stage with the Backstreet Boys, which was SO special. I also brought my full band on stage with me. It was amazing to be able to do that with them and see people in the crowd singing my songs back to me. So surreal! You can’t beat that thrill of performing.
You’ve grown so much as an artist since you released your blackwater EP in 2018. Looking back on blackwater, is there anything you’d change now that you’ve refined your voice and style?
I wouldn’t change a thing. I love looking back and embracing how much I’ve grown. blackwater was the first collection of songs that I ever wrote and listening back to those songs will give you a look into my 19-year-old brain. I’m a firm believer in the fact that the choices we make are meant to be and are a part of our life path. I want to make music that is timeless, so I think it’s important to truly believe in what you put out into the world and stand by that.
Looking at your discography, you focus on solo songs so your own voice and narrative can be the main statement of the track. That being said, who would be your dream collab?
My dream collab would be with Avril Lavigne, hands down. It would be a full-circle moment for me because I’ve idolized her since I was a kid. I’d love to make a banger like ‘My Happy Ending.’ Listening to her music always makes me feel so nostalgic.
At THP, we’re all about discovering new talent and finding the next big hit before it blows up. Who are some up-and-coming artists you’re digging lately?
Fvvkes (@wtfavvkes), Cindë (@iamcinde), and Hollie Sounds (@holliesounds). Make sure you check them out!
Thank you so much to Vi for answering our questions! What do you think of Vi’s ‘Dead To You?’ Let us know in the comments below or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! And for more exclusive interviews, click here.
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