Vondré- A female Rocker from Mexico

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Vondré- Femme Grunge from Mexico City

Interview conducted on September 21, 2020

By Dan Locke

Mexico Rocks

What is your upbringing?

From a very young age I was always surrounded by music, my dad is a guitarist and my mom a painter. The guitar fascinated me every time I saw my dad play. I started taking guitar lessons when I turned 13 years old with a private teacher.
I had the opportunity to apply for a scholarship at Berklee College of Music, when I graduated high school. I passed the audition and earned the scholarship. I attended Berklee for three years as a guitarist, majoring in Music Production and Engineering.
After Berklee I came back to Mexico and studied classical piano, I also started working as a session guitarist for artist here at Mexico.

How did you discover music?

Thanks to my parents and my brother who are all very musical. Me being the youngest one absorbing every record they played.

How did you start to write music?

When I was young, I used to write just lyrics of any subject, they were about anything, like about my dogs, about someone at school, about a garden. I found that really entertaining and natural.

How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?

My first guitar is a Fender Squier. My dad gave it to me when I was like 14 years old. It was January and he came back from a trip with a red squire and a small fender Frontman amp. I still have, I’ve been using it a lot lately. During this quarantine season because of the Covid19, I decided to give it a new look so it could go back to action.

What color, make, model and year guitar are your favorite? And does it have a name?

My favorite guitar is an American ultra Jazzmaster, cobra blue, year 2019, her name is jazz.

What was your first performance at like?

My first performance ever, was at my piano recitals in Mexico City when I was very young, I barely remember, but as a guitarist, my first performance ever was at the Soundwall Rock Music Camp (Santa Cruz, California) final concert during the summer of 2009. I played Zombie by the Cranberries and Should I Stay or Should I go by the Clash. It was really fun.

What makes a good songwriter?

There are several things that make a good songwriter. For me is to know how to play with words and melody. To be honest even if it is not commercial, to not be afraid of exposing yourself, and of course, having a good melody

Why did you return back to Mexico after college? This seems to be something other musicians are doing. I just interviewed Zahna, who is also from Mexico, and did the same thing you did.

I found it easier to work with my music here in Mexico because I write my songs in Spanish, I knew more people who I could work with. Even though I fell in love with Boston, I felt I have more opportunities to start my professional career here in Mexico. I also missed my family, my dogs, my friends, and the food haha.

You are doing session playing in Mexico. How does that compare to doing session playing in the United States?

I never really got the opportunity to work as a session player in the United States, although I did work with an artist from LA, Rj Word, who came to tour in Mexico. He was very professional and knew very well what he wanted for his show. Here in Mexico, I have worked from artists from different countries, like Spain, Colombia, Mexico, United States, Swedish, and more. They all were very professional.

How did you come up with your stage name?

Vondré is a mix from my last name “André” and “Varg” which means wolf in Swedish. I wanted to find a way to mix wolf with my name somehow. Vondré was the winner.

What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?

My first original song ever I really don’t remember, haha but in Vondré it was probably “Más me quemo” Which means “the more I burn” but no I never recorded it professionally just a demo.

Tell me about your band?

My band is formed by Moty who is the drummer, Adrian Paz, who is the bass and synth player, Liz who also plays guitar and me (Ana) in main vocals and guitar.
I met Adrian a few years ago, he was my guitar teacher and prepared me for my audition for Berklee, he taught me a lot music theory, so we go way back. I met Moty through Instagram, some of my friends recommended her to me for the band, and they were right, she’s awesome. And Liz, I found her through Facebook. I posted a status on my wall asking for rock/grunge guitarists and she appeared in a lot comments, so she came to my house and played all the guitars of “Blanco y Negro”, she had a great sound a very nice attitude.

Tell me about your latest single?

My latest single is called “Muy Mal” it is about this dark seduction with someone who really wants you too but it is just not the right time, so just because you can’t be together you start getting obsessed and try to find ways to catch this person. For the production of “Muy Mal” we were a bit influenced by Marilyn Manson’s Mechanical Animal album.

What is your favorite track on the album?

It’s “27” and “Crudo”, 27 is not out yet but It will be by October 2020.

How do you stay healthy while touring?

Eating healthy, drinking chamomile tea with honey every night, exercising, warming up my hands before playing, and dressing in warm clothes.

What are you’re feeling about streaming music?

Well, I fell there are two sides for streaming, in one side you get a lot of exposure and you can get your music out on the market, on the other side, you don’t that much money with streaming and because you are no longer selling CD’s , it’s hard for a musician to sell music, so you have to do different things.

Digital vs. vinyl?

Vinyl.

How was it to have your birthday during the virus?

Regardless of everything, it was fine. I spend it with my family at my parent’s house. I got a bass a gift so that was nice. I wrote 27 that day provoked by a discussion I had with my dad that day.

What are your feelings about the social uprising going on in the United States?

I think that now that social indifference is being noted, it will help to achieve equality and tolerance.

What is the mental health situation of the United State? How can the public help the doctors and nurses on the front line?

I’ve read in the news that a lot of doctors are facing a mental health crisis, suffering from depression, high levels of stress, and more. It is very important to keep them safe, respect them, and support doctors who are taking care of patients with Covid19.

Do you think kids should go back to school his fall?

I think we should wait to send kids back to school, at least until spring 2021, to avoid a regrowth of COVID19.

What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?

Adam’s Song by Blink 182, it just reminds me of when I was very young and watched MTV.

How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?

I think concerts via streaming are going to keep happening, and musicians will have to find a way to sell merchandise and concerts through social media until live shows can happen again. I think this affects a lot of music businesses and musicians will have to change promotion strategies. At least is good that now in 2020 we have social media to connect with people.

What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?

I have been reading a lot, listening to a lot of albums, practicing guitar and composing.

Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?

Yes, I picked up drawing again.

95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?

I am between Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on live-streamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will include [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only. How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?

I think there will be less traffic on Facebook, less active users moving into other platforms.

With no real live music (mostly virtual shows) expect for things like Drive-In Theater shows with crowds for the past 6 months, what do you think will be the future of music?

I am a bit concerned about this; I think a lot of new music is now depending on social platforms like TikTok to be exposed. I really hope live music can come back, or a lot of genres may be lost.

How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merch to them at the show?

Probably by making interesting content for social media, interacting with them through live streams.

Live Nations just started Live Nation from Home. Which are concerts from artist homes. An all-new virtual music hub keeping fans connected to their favorite artists featuring daily live streams, performances, new music, and more. Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?

I think this is only possible for very famous artists, not everyone is excited to watch a concert via streaming.

For smaller bands who do not play large crowds, this is not really an issue. How do you see bands going back to smaller venues and doing things like play for the door, with no guarantees?

I think for bands with small crowds there is a possibility to play in small venues, it is better than drive in concerts for small bands.

With Social Distance being the norm. Do you feel that it maybe the end of the music fest for the next couple of years?

Probably for a lot music fests it will be, but I think some smaller festivals might be carried out by mid-2021.

Are you going to vote by mail or in person? Did you know that Live Nation Activates Concert Venues as Polling Places and Promotes Voting Engagement among Fans and Employees?