Miss Velvet Brings the Sounds of Art in Motion to Life
"When it came time for the remix, doing this with Nick’s band Pnau was an obvious no-brainer, and we collaborated to make a very special remix of 'Cincinnati Street' with the sexy undertones of the electronic scene and a wild inhibited universe where art is in motion!"
Miss Velvet is a rising New York vocalist and protégé of Empire of the Sun and Pnau’s Nick Littlemore. She’s also responsible for “Cincinnati Street” – the gritty, energetic, electro soundtrack to our Art in Motion video. As an artist who embodies creative spirit and individuality, she seemed an obvious choice to help us bring the idea of Art in Motion to life. We spoke to Miss Velvet about collaborating on “Cincinnati Street” with Nick Littlemore and Redbubble, her involvement with Art in Motion, and her personal approach to creativity and style.
How did you get involved in the Redbubble Art in Motion video?
It’s that age old story that starts with “a friend of a friend of a friend.” A few months back I was performing in New York City at an amazing venue called The Box. A friend of mine who was there knew someone who was getting involved in the Art in Motion campaign. They heard the music, I checked out the brand, and we all loved the idea of working together in some way. At the same time we were just planning on doing a remix for the track “Cincinnati Street,” and as luck would have it, the vibe of the remix fit perfectly with the energy of the Art in Motion video!
Can you outline what went into crafting this song? What is your overall creative process like?
The original song was written in Los Angeles when Nick Littlemore (Empire of the Sun and Pnau) had approached me to write and produce my debut album. After days of being lost in otherworldly creative time, Nick and I finally emerged from his small studio in his garden. We had heard something on an old vinyl record that had greatly inspired us and especially this next chapter/song we wanted to put in the album. We sat on this wooden table outside and started working on the lyrics to what would become “Cincinnati Street.” It had this free time feeling: this wild psychedelic trip where the lyrics and the pacing had to match with the reality vs. fantasy of this make-believe street: a street where the struggle between the lure of illusion and the darkness behind it plays out. A street where reality was a form of fiction, but still had all the haunting illusions of faded dreams and shattered past relationships. We must have sat for hours tapping out the rhythm while I chanted these lyrics. When it came time for the remix, doing this with Nick’s band Pnau was an obvious no-brainer, and we collaborated to make a very special remix of “Cincinnati Street” with the sexy undertones of the electronic scene and a wild inhibited universe where art is in motion!
"Right now my mantra is take the leap. I am learning to take the time and take the risk to be experimental with art."
Describe your own fashion style. How do you express creativity in your own outfits? What inspires you?
I’m really obsessed with vintage stores or vintage clothing markets or fairs around the world. Whenever I’m traveling, it’s a must to go and find little clothing gems. I am inspired by the actual search for these stores, sometimes going to many different ones and finding nothing or having amazing conversations with these store owners… most of them having their life passion devoted to finding clothes that inspire them and who they feel when they wear the clothes. I’m turned on by my surroundings, especially in foreign countries and what their cultures offer. I like to interpret their traditional garb and then put my ’60s or ’70s spin on it. Anything in reference to the ’60s and ’70s, you will be sure to see me have on. Right now, I’m in love with this one-piece black lace body suit and a vintage blue, coral red, yellow Japanese kimono-style jacket. I actually found that piece in Byron Bay, Australia.
Redbubble is full of thousands of brilliant, independent creators, if you could share one piece of advice with them, what would it be?
For me, creating or being immersed with art and music is always an adventure. Right now my mantra is take the leap. I am learning to take the time and take the risk to be experimental with art. I find it is so important to take a leap into the unknown of art and see what happens. You never know what is going to trigger inside of you or what the psyche will pick up on.
What else have you got coming up? Touring? New album/songs?
Tons. First and foremost, we are going to work this remix because we all love it so much and want to share it with the world. I have a few shows this spring, and then really starting in the late summer and fall I plan to be playing all the time. We also are going to be releasing the first Miss Velvet EP this summer, so please stay connected with me on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram for all the latest! Xoxo, Miss Velvet.
Click here to find out more about Miss Velvet. And listen to the complete “Cincinnati Street (Pnau Remix)” below:
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