Music You Should Know: Erica Viegas
Monday, January 25th, 2010
Me Like Good Music would like to introduce you to Erica Viegas, an unsigned Canadian singer/songwriter. A self-proclaimed “romantic soul,” her work is described as “music [that] paints the joy in life’s simple moments and brings beauty to life’s heartbreaks.” We thank her for taking a moment to spend time with us.
Me Like Good Music: Welcome to Me Like Good Music. So who is Erica Viegas?
Erica Viegas: Thanks so much! Well, Erica Viegas is me! Haha I’m a singer/songwriter from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I was born in the Middle East, and moved to Canada with my parents (who are originally from India..hehe very confusing globetrotting going on) when I was three. I just released my first EP “Where My Heart Goes” and am so excited to finally share my music (and to be part of this interview)! My songs are a folky pop mix of piano and guitar based tunes that I feel are straight from my heart!
MLGM: How did you get started in music as a career? From what I’ve learned about you, you’ve always been obsessed with music.
EV: Yup…My mom sang to me right from day one (well before day one I’m pretty sure!) and I’ve always loved music. I have home-recorded tapes of me singing nursery rhymes with my parents at the age of two. I begged my parents to set me start taking singing lessons (I had taken piano before, didn’t like to practice and then stopped it, later picking it up again on my own), and I think at first they were apprehensive about whether I would actually stick with it. I did and continued training classically through university, taking music as an elective through my degree in Business. For over ten years I performed at festivals and fairs all over Western Canada, singing cover songs. Though I did write, I didn’t perform my own songs until about three years ago when I started going to a lot of open stages in Edmonton, many of them being “original songs only” and realized that maybe I did have something worth sharing.
MLGM: Who inspires you musically?
EV: Well I think growing up, my mom, uncles and cousins were the first people I heard music coming out of, so they are definitely a big part of inspiring me towards music! People connecting with each other inspires me. Be it watching reunions at airports, relationships, friendships, travelling or some of the caring work I see others doing. People that know me often say I’m way too idealistic and perhaps too emotional, but those “people” connections do bring me a lot of joy. On the flip side losing connection with people through falling out of touch, breaking up, or moving away has also been meaningful, though sad, inspiration. In a more concrete way to answer your question, there are way too many artists to name…I would take up 1000 pages naming musicians I think inspirational!
MLGM: Whose music are you currently listening to?
EV: I pulled out a Beatles anthology the other day, and continue to be amazed at the sheer amount of incredible songs they put out. I also discovered Priscilla Ahn recently and I think she’s great, Kathleen Edwards, Serena Ryderz and Sarah Slean (three amazing Canadians!), Regina Spektor, as well as a lot of local Edmonton artists have been filling up my speakers lately!
MLGM: What is your definition of “good music”?
EV: “Good music” is music that you can tell someone put a lot of time and soul into. It gives you a glimpse into their minds. I tend to really love the singer/ songwriter type of music mostly because I think the stories and connection seem to attract me most strongly in that type of genre. That being said, certain songs have this “feeling” attached to them…you hear it, and you say “wow…now THAT is a great song”. It’s this intangible element that’s hard to define, but I think includes a combination of good melody, great lyrics, and a lot of heart.
MLGM: Tell us about your EP.
EV: “Where My Heart Goes” is five songs, and took me about 10 months to finish. It was recorded in Edmonton and produced by Dave Stoten. My brother Wayne played guitars on it, Nathan Kidd played drums, my friend Mathias did a little violin, and Gary Koliger put in some banjo. I had so much fun working on it, and it really was a dream come true after planning to record for years. I would say it took me around 6 years to write all the songs on it, some songs we obviously didn’t use, and some were written while we were working on the recording. I think it represents me as a person really well and was a big part in the evolution of finding my own sound and starting to create an identity as an artist. Though I’ve been singing for years it’s the first time I’ve shared my own music, which was extremely terrifying at first, but has also brought with it a lot of great things!
MLGM: And you’re giving away a portion of the proceeds from this CD?
EV: Yes, I was lucky enough to volunteer at a school for street children in Mumbai, India a few years ago, One! International and I wrote the last song, “Thank You” about the experience. I feel so lucky in my life to always have had food to eat, a roof over my head, music lessons (though I whined about practicing)…the list goes on. There are so many people in the world who don’t know where their next meal is coming from, especially true for the children I worked with at One!. Recording this album was such a joy for me, and from it I wanted it to be able to create and give a little bit of happiness and opportunity back. It obviously won’t change the situation, but will hopefully make a small difference.
MLGM: How did “Pictures” come to be?
EV: I think memories (the good, bad and ugly ones) often get stored in the recesses of our mind and hearts. Pictures have this crazy ability to trigger memories of things we’ve sometimes forgotten too. I remember someone once telling me after hearing the song that they had recently found an old school yearbook and an inscription from their high school sweetheart. Though she had been happily married to someone else for years, the picture made her return to that place in her mind within moments, and the thought came back again when she heard my song. Pictures, like gawdy elementary class photos bring back memories, as do photos of loved ones who have passed on. In the age of “social media” I think pictures of the past circulate more frequently and are way more accessible than ever before. You stumble upon things that bring back happy memories, sad memories, and sometimes hurtful memories. You get to an age where everyone around starts getting married: friends, old boyfriends, or people you always secretly thought you may end up with but were too afraid to say. I’ve seen a lot of friends go through this too. I wrote the song with that in mind, chatting with friends about some upcoming weddings, and uncovering some pictures as well.
MLGM: What’s your private fantasy song? If you could record a song anonymously, what song would it be?
EV: I don’t know if there would be a specific song, but I’ve always kind of envied artists like Lily Allen or Alanis Morissette who have no limits and say everything in their music. Names, places, dates and sometimes explicit details are out in the open. I think I put myself out there as much as I can in my music, and I suppose I don’t really have that many crazy stories to tell in my songs anyway. But, I know regardless that my family and friends are excited to hear and support the music, and I always wonder what an artist like Lily Allen’s grandma thinks about her songs…and I think she’s ridiculously brave!
MLGM: You’ve always dreamed of recording a duet with….
EV: Haha now this one is funny: Aladdin. I know, he’s not real, but I’ve loved the song “A Whole New World” from that movie with Princess Jasmine since I was a kid and think it would be fun duet. As for real humans, John Mayer, Jack Johnson or Jason Mraz would be cool. I would also be pretty stoked about performing with Elton John or Billy Joel because they are such veterans at it.
MLGM: What singer or band do you wish would just “SHUT DA F*CK UP”?
EV: Hmmm, I have to think a lot about this one. There are definitely overly produced pop stars that I often shake my head at…but then I find myself listening to their songs when running on the treadmill, going to a club and not minding it, or humming randomly and catching myself…just because that kind of music can be so catchy. So…I think there is a time and place for everyone’s music. Whether they are lip synching, not writing their own stuff, or using only sex and nothing else to sell music (all of which I admit do annoy me). There is also the part of me that acknowledges that they did something to get where they are and made things happen for themselves. It just depends, I suppose what your aim is, and where your motivations lie. For instance, I wasn’t the biggest fan of some on Kanye’s recent public statements, but I’m pretty sure a lot of people who didn’t know who he was before now do!
MLGM: Ever gone skinnydipping? And don’t skimp on the details.
EV: Haha I’m the worst person to ask this question to…as I am often told I’m an old person trapped in a young body. Nope, never skinny dipped. I really wish I had something more exciting to share!
MLGM: If you hadn’t pursued a career in music, what would be your career choice?
EV: Well, actually still work as a fundraiser for the university here by day, raising funds for research and education. If I wasn’t doing my own music right now, I think it would be cool to work in promotion of other artists too!
MLGM: Offstage, how do you spend your time?
EV: Eating, and spending time with friends. I am a huge foodie…all kinds, and any kind! I’m not too picky! I really love great conversations and friendships and usually try to combine all of that together. Maybe throw in a movie or play for good measure.
MLGM: What is the music scene like in Edmonton?
EV: I think it’s great. We are called a “festival city” because all summer long rarely a day goes by where there isn’t a festival of some sort, big or small going on! There are tons of open stages and lots of great artists that I’ve met and been inspired by, as well as great community and campus radio that is very supportive of local artists. I think Edmonton is definitely gaining forward momentum in terms of its music scene, although, unfortunately people do still tend to move away to a bigger cities after a certain point in their careers.
MLGM: Are you looking for a record deal and why should a label sign Erica Viegas?
EV: It could be really exciting if that did happen, of course, but I try my best to stay in the moment and enjoy what’s going on now. I often think that things happen when you work hard, and enjoy life and what you are doing, instead of chasing something you don’t have. Because I did the EP independently I also had full control of the project and that was really great! I am always looking to improve my performing and gain a bigger listening audience, so being on a label would definitely help that aspect. I think I have music that people can really relate to, in a bit of a different format and package than it’s been presented before! I really love what I do, and I hope that comes out in my music, and shines on to people who are looking to potentially work with me!
Listen to a few tracks from “Where My Heart Goes” then go pick up a copy at http://www.ericaviegas.com. Remember that part of the proceeds go towards a worthy cause.
Like most, I made many resolutions last year. Some of them I kept, many I didn’t. This year, I’m going at it again…making a plan and doing my best to achieve it. However, this time I’ll try to stick to the K.I.S.S. method. You know…KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID. Each week, I’ll take a moment where I ask myself three questions: (1) What did I do to improve my life? (2) What did I do to improve my community? (3) What did I do to improve the world? As time passes, I intend to have those moments more frequently. To start, I’ll continue my efforts from last year: (1) for myself, continuing my “healthy living” efforts (may even run another marathon); (2) for my community, more volunteering; and (3) for the world, increasing my “smaller footprint” efforts – REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!
Of course, that will involve introductions to more and more unfamiliar good music … new, old, international, bizarre, unsigned, whatever. In 2010, we’re going to try it all. 
I got hooked on the lead track from this CD when I saw “Bridget Jones’s Diary” several years ago. Because I like singers with unusual voices, I was immediately hypnotized by Rosey’s voice. When I finally got around to buying the CD, I was excited to find “Love” wasn’t a fluke. (Nothing’s more annoying than to hear a track, love it, then find it’s the only thing worth listening to on the CD.)
Thinking Room was a big hit when singer/ songwriter Anika Moa’s debut was released in New Zealand. Twenty-one years old at the time, she became the first New Zealand artist signed by an international record label without proving herself locally. In an industry where risk-taking isn’t typical, that’s a serious vote of confidence from Atlantic Records. The resulting CD definitely lived up to my expectations.
My friend Chris recommended Jem’s 2004 CD Finally Woken, which included the single “They”, heard on television shows and in movies all over the world. It’s been a long four years for her follow-up release Down to Earth. In the interim, she has been touring the world and writing new material. If you liked the first CD, you’ll like this one also.
I was watching The Graham Norton Show a few weeks ago and this Danish group was the guest artist. Their 80s pop sound immediately won me over. When I heard the full CD, This Is Alphabeat, it was exactly what I expected….happy people performing upbeat – and sometimes nonsensical – music. So enjoying this CD sometimes involves ignoring (or perhaps embracing) dumb Madonna-like lines like “he’s my boyfriend, don’t touch my boyfriend.” But in the end, it’s okay because the CD is a fun experience from beginning to end.
Sia continues to impress with her fourth and most recent studio album. This is one of the few times she sings a song she didn’t co-write, a phenomenal cover of The Kinks song “I Go To Sleep.” In my opinion, Sia’s version surpasses the better-known versions done by The Kinks, The Pretenders and Cher.
The second of Sia’s solo albums, Healing Is Difficult combines R&B (with a neo-soul slant), jazz and pop. As the title suggests, this CD follows one of the most painful periods in Sia’s young adult life.
