Violet Newman
Photo by, Sarah Jones
Meet Violet Newman
Hello everyone, I hope you are having a swell day. If not let the intimate and earnest sounds of Violet Newman turn the tide. With all songs written and recorded in the artist’s bedroom, the music is incredibly grounding. Get to know Violet as we chat about their latest single “Party Animal”.
“BOWLING” A fill in the blank with Violet Newman
Once upon a THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND, there were three little pigs. The first little pig was very GELATINOUS, and he built a house for himself out of RATS. The second little pig was PUNY, and he built a house out of PLAGUES. But the third little pig was very PITIFUL, and he built his house out of genuine BATHROOMS. Well one day, a mean old wolf came along and saw the houses. "WHAT FRESH HELL IS THIS??!" he said. "I'll SOBBING and I'll start DUMPSTER DIVING and I'll blow your house down." And he blew down the first little pig's MAC N CHEESE and the second little pig's SWAMPS. The two little pigs ran to the third pig's house. Thereupon, the wolf began blowing, but he couldn't blow down the third little pig's THE SUBWAY house. so he PRAYED off into the forest, and the three little LOUD pigs moved to Chicago and went into the sausage business.
Would you rather
have to live for two years inside a Chuck E Cheese, or the guitar center on 42nd street?
Absolutely guitar center so I could use all that gear. I would much rather sleep inside a nice soft keyboard case than inside a chuck e cheese play structure. God only knows what kind of diseases are festering in those tunnels.
Some questions with Violet Newman
What was the creative drive behind your 2020 single “Party Animal”?
I wrote Party Animal about the fear of missing out and jealousy you feel when you really like someone. I personally am not a big party person just because social situations with strangers stress me out but other people I knew were. There was this curiosity about what they were like outside of our own interactions and a worry that I wouldn't measure up to other friends.
What is your hope for the post-Covid-19 NYC music scene?
Everyone i know who makes music (including me) is really excited to start playing shows again so i'm hoping there will be a lot of new music and other young musicians sharing their art!
Was there a catalyst that kicked off your work under Violet Newman?
I've been making up songs ever since I can remember, so when in eighth grade my teacher announced that we were allowed to do our final project on anything we wanted I decided to just do what I would be doing anyway; writing songs. The main goal of the project was to learn how to record by myself and Slowgirl just happened to come out of that.
Where did you draw inspiration for the name “Violet Newman”?
It's just my name haha
What is your worst habit?
Oh, there are so many! I'm a big worrier, I procrastinate every single thing I do and I haven't stopped biting my nails since I got teeth. And that's just the tip of the iceberg!
Is writing a cathartic experience for you?
Definitely. I draw inspiration from real-life experiences and writing songs is the main way I process my emotions. I would still do it even if no one was ever going to hear my songs.
What has been your brightest moment of 2020?
Anytime I was sharing music with other people. Over quarantine, I and my friends started making playlists for each other and there were many angst-filled 1 am dance parties over facetime where I and a friend would just scream along to songs. Music for sure saved me in 2020.
Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)
Thank you so so much to everybody who's been supporting my music!! It is honestly so crazy that strangers are listening and even enjoying it. Keep advocating for justice and fighting oppressive systems! it's a chaotic time in our country right now so we gotta keep making our voices heard. Stay tuned there is lots of music stuff on the way!