13 Questions with Viki Nova

1. Is it easier, or harder for a female to achieve success in the Rock world?

No, it's a pretty cool experience from my point of view. I definitely liked being the first girl to be in-studio with Roche on DC101. It's usually harder for people in the rest of the industry to know how to handle girls who play rock music - for example like you opening with the question. Being a girl is not really the first thing on my mind when I wake up or write a song or play a show. It's just about the music and loving to perform.

2. What's the best thing that's happened to you so far in your career?

I think opening up for Train, The Barenaked Ladies, Five for Fighting and The Calling a couple of years ago hasn't been topped yet. The funniest thing was when Steve and Ed of BNL stopped me backstage and asked me to come onstage with them for the last song (it was a holiday concert so it was a x-mas song)! I didn't know the damn song, so here I am standing in the backstage hallway of the Patriot Center with Ed & Steve singing the song to me so I could memorize it! Ha ha, that's a great memory for me!

3. I've been told that you quit your job to work on your music full time… Are you able to fully support yourself financially on your music?

Yes & No. I have a very supportive family who will always be there for me if I need help. But we're coming close to playing 10 shows a month now, which can buy quite a few McDonald's chicken sandwiches.

4. What if anything would make you give up the Rock dream and go back to work?

Umm, not a damn thing, really.

5. Being a singer/songwriter that has crossed over to playing with a full band, how does this affect your songwriting procedure? How much influence do your band members have in the song writing process?

My guitar player, Tom, and I have written a couple of songs together. And my drummer, Eddie, and I might start writing as well. The band is definitely great to bounce ideas off of and try things with. Before, I just recorded demos with my acoustic guitar and a drum loop. Now I can come to the band with and idea, and bam there's a cool bass line that I would never have thought of.

6. Who is your biggest musical influence?

The Beatles. I still dissect their songs all the time to learn about songwriting and song structure. Over the span of their career, they really tried it all: in their lyrics, chord structures, instrument choices, studio effects, and on and on. They were all about the craft of the song, not theatrics or egos, etc.

7. What's the best part of being in a band in the DC area?

Umm. I'm from Orlando, FL but I wasn't really involved in the local music scene down there yet, so I don't have much to compare it to. I think DC is very diverse and there is a scene happening, but local music isn't the first thing on everybody's mind as they go to their government jobs. But with more and more radio stations adding a local music show to their schedules, I think things might change. My songs are being played on 4 different radio stations in the area! Not sure if that would happen in Orlando!

8. What's the worst part about being in a band in the DC area?

I guess I answered this in the last question. Whoops.

9. If you could go back in time, what's the most important piece of advice you'd impart on your younger self?

Kids, cover your ears. I would say, "don't go to college!" Yeah if you want to be a doctor or an accountant or something specialized, yeah go. But I wish I had gone after my dreams full time right out of high school. Although, I guess I'm more focused now and more likely to accomplish what I'm after.

10. How do you feel about the current political climate that has enveloped the music world post 9/11?

I know that some feelings about 9/11 have crept their way into my songwriting (i.e., my song "Die Another Day" ). And in November I will be visiting the men & women recovering from combat at Walter Reed Hospital and singing some songs for them. The Pentagon has also asked us to entertain troops overseas on an Armed Forces Tour, the locations and times haven't been determined yet. But I'm looking forward to seeing our troops and bringing them some rock n roll… Whatever my feelings may be about the war & the President's decisions, I know that I will always support the men & women who are over there fighting for us.

11. Does Rock music still have room to grow? Do you think it's still possible to have entirely new genres emerge (i.e. 70's Punk, 80's Metal)?

I almost wanna say, not really. Like I was saying about the Beatles, they've pretty much done it all… BUT it's technology that might bring us new genres in the future. Maybe there will be something called "space laser octa-metal."

12. What makes a good song in your opinion?

I'm personally drawn to a song if I like the melody, and the singer's emotions are coming through and there's a good guitar riff and the music rises and falls… But sometimes I like songs that don't meet those criteria. Music is really not a science so it's really hard to pin point what makes a song "good." I think if a song moves you or you feel like turning it up or you feel a tingle in your pants, then that's a good song!

13. Do you dance to remember, or do you dance to forget?

Well, when I've had a little to drink I start doing the "Elaine dance" (from Seinfeld) so in those cases I dance to FORGET! Ha ha