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"facebook dialogPinterest\n\nThe uber-chic and supercool VV Brown will be performing at Teen Vogue's block party as part of this evening's 2010 Fashion's Night Out celebration. We spoke to VV about her plans for the show, how she developed her signature style and--thanks to a British bonding session--managed to get a bit of a teaser about her new work-in-progress album ...\n\nTonight's the big night; are you as excited as we are in the Teen Vogue office?VV: I'm so excited! I can't wait for the evening and the chance to perform. I mean I'm a huge fan of Teen Vogue; I adore fashion, so I really enjoy any opportunity to bring the two worlds together--fashion and music-- because they are things that I love to be involved with.\n\nDo you see there being a lot of overlap between how you express yourself through your music and then also through your sense of style?VV: Absolutely, I think that when you're an artist it's more than just writing songs and playing gigs. Being a musician becomes a lifestyle and now that includes fashion, because it's such a visual sense of representing who you are, what you believe and stand for, and just how you live your life. A strong visual identity can really complement your music.\n\nSo have music and fashion always inspired you? VV: I've always loved fashion and treated it as a way of having fun. It's such a great way for me to express myself, you know; making my own clothes and reading fashion magazines, cutting pictures and stuff out and sticking them on my walls. So I've always been intrigued by fashion, but I never really thought that I would be embraced by the industry so I feel like I've always just done my own thing: VV style. But then I think from early on with my music, the fashion press seemed to get really interested and take note of the way that I dress.\n\nAnd then in terms of music -- I was always singing growing up. I sang in gospel choirs in church, I was into reggae, I was in a punk band as a teenager! I also played the piano, so it was always in my blood to be interested in music. I didn't stumble into the music industry, it's something that I've really worked hard at.\n\nThere's a lot of different musical styles represented across the tracks on your album, Traveling Like The Light. Was that a conscious choice because you've got that experience in such a range of genres? VV: Actually, I think when I was making this record I really didn't realize it would take me so far and include so much. I made an album in my bedroom basically, quite lo-fi, and I didn't think about anything other than the things that I love and the kind of person I am--I'm a Carribean girl but I was raised in England, so I'm a product of many many different cultures and I think you can hear that in my music. I couldn't make a record that was just pop or just soul because my life isn't like that. It's a very personal record, like a photograph of where I was at that time. It was written quite a long time ago but it does still feel fresh in my mind--it's who I am, what I was feeling, who I was in love with, who I broke up with. You're seeing all those kinds of things in the record.\n\nYou've been promoting the album over here on tour for a while now, and supporting Maroon 5, how has that been with? VV: Its been absolutely fantastic. And the guys in Maroon 5 are such lovely people, we've really become good friends. It's been great that American audiences have received us so well. The biggest shock has been coming to terms with the fact that people really know my music. I was coming on this tour expecting, basically, a crowd of people who would be discovering me and my sound but loads of people have been singing along to all my songs, they know the words...it's just been the time of my life, and America has really changed the game for me as far as being established. But I have to say though, there's a part of me that is looking forward to going home, I've been on the road over here in the States for a long time though and I really miss Ribena[Ribena is an iconic--and delicious--British fruit juice. I also love it,--AR]\n\nThat always reminds me of home too, but your schedule sounds pretty packed right now though. Do you have any plans to make it back to the UK anytime soon? VV: I don't think I'll actually be back in England properly until November, which is when I'll start writing the new album. I've been working on some new songs. I don't know quite where it's going to go. With the first album I spent a lot of time in the studio experimenting, and I want to do that again to work out what direction I want to take it. I'm listening to a lot of African music and a lot of electronic music, ambient sounds also so I think any new music I'll be making could be really different, and maybe a bit darker.\n\nfacebook dialogPinterest\n\nWe'll be looking forward to that styling at the concert!VV: Yeah, definitely.\n\nSo do you have any plans to do any shopping on the night also, if there's time?VV: I'll try. It'd be great to get around some of the stores in Soho and Chelsea, all over the city actually. The thing about New York that's a bit weird for me--but I love it--is that it's so different from London in how stores are laid out. In London there's different areas, there's Brick Lane and there's Notting Hill but in New York there are great stores all over. When you're shopping you can't just really stay in one place or part of the city. And that's great because you're always finding new stuff. I love that.\n\nI'm not pretentious with fashion, my motto and my fashion manifesto is, \"if it looks good and it compliments your body and your personality, buy it!\" \n\nWho do you look to for fashion inspiration; do you have any style icons?VV: I love Vivienne Westwood, I absolutely love her. I think she's so stylish; I mean I'd love her to be my grandmother. I think she's just such a classic embodiment of British punk. As far as young people, sort of more my age I really like the way Alexa Chung dresses; I think Thandie Newton dresses very well as well. But again I'm a huge fan of the older generation like Dorothy Dandridge who was incredibly sophisticated and as a black woman, she was very stylish.\n\nWe're big fans of your cover versions here at Teen Vogue, particularly \"Best I Ever Had\" and of course \"Crazy In Love\" too. What inspires you to put your own spin on big hits like that?VV: Covers are a way for people to see the breadth of my music and the passion behind it, how my style is authentic and can translate. So it's good to do. I wouldn't like to do all covers but I just thought it would be fun just to get people aware of me as a live performer, even when it's super casual. I just love music, so covering other music just shows my respect for the medium. I think it's a bit selfish to only play your own music when there's so so much other good music out there. And I think live performances are one of my favorite parts of the music-making process.\n\nAnd it'll be a great show tonight for sure. (I'll be there singing along like crazy to \"Shark In The Water\" in particular) **\n\nWill you be coming to see VV at Teen Vogue's FNO block party? **\n\n--Alex Rees"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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