Today, we’d like to introduce you to Scott Oatley aka Vân Scott.
Scott, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m kind of the black sheep of the family when it comes to music. My mom and siblings all dabbled, but no one was as infatuated with it as me. Thankfully, we always had a piano in the house, and so even before I could read music, I would just play by ear and make up my own melodies. All my relatives agree that I must have developed my tuneful talents from my early obsession with Disney movies, which, honestly, makes sense. Eventually, I picked up the saxophone, guitar, and even the bagpipes!
My dad was an Air Force pilot, and so we moved around a lot. Even though our life was constantly in flux, church and singing were always a part of it. So when we landed in Southern California in 2004, I quickly got plugged into the music ministry at a local megachurch.
Without realizing it, I ended up sharing the stage with one of the top vocal contractors in town, Bobbi Page. (She sang and hired singers for a ton of the animated Disney classics that I grew up watching, like The Lion King, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan, and Hercules!) She quickly took notice of my ability to read music and blend well when it came to singing with a group, and so it wasn’t long before she hired me for my very first professional vocal session, singing for Disney’s High School Musical 3: Senior Year at Capitol Records’ legendary studios. It doesn’t really get much better than that!
Since then, I’ve enjoyed singing for dozens of fun film and TV projects, mostly singing off-camera and in groups. Living so close to Hollywood, I’ve had the chance to work with the best of the best, which is equal parts humbling, educational, and exciting. And yet, even with all the glamorous resume additions, I’ve still always found myself desiring more. Many, if not most, of my singer peers are completely content to stay in the background, quietly making their living in the studio. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that! I’ve just never been able to ignore the performer in me. I have more talents than just singing that I feel responsible to use and magnify, and that demands next-level creativity and expression.
In 2018, I made the decision to leave my full-time position as a worship leader at my church to pursue my own music career wholeheartedly. It was kind of a “now or never” situation, and I don’t like the thought of living with regrets. I had already seen some success as part of my alt pop duo, Lord & Lady, in the few years prior. Our “La La Land Medley” went viral on Youtube in 2017, which quickly gave us a large, active audience. It was even featured during the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games during the figure skating competition! That duo project actually helped me grow a lot in my confidence as an artist, writer, and producer, but my heart has always more intent on doing my own solo act.
Over the last two years, I’ve been building up my profile as Vân Scott. First, by posting covers on YouTube and working to create an awareness of my music and brand. Then, by releasing my original music, beginning with a string of singles that I began rolling out late last year. Earlier this month, I successfully raised almost $30,000 on Kickstarter to fund my very first, full-length debut album, due out in 2021. So I really couldn’t be more excited for what lies ahead in the next year for me!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I had a pretty rocky start to my artist career. My very first project was a 4-song EP that I worked on with a producer in Burbank that just dragged on and on, and as such, really stunted my artistic development. I was taken advantage of financially, but I was young and naive and didn’t know any better… I also had to unlearn a lot of the perfectionistic, obsessive tendencies that defined that project. I realized too late into things how important it is to know what you want and to be assertive. One of the positive takeaways from that painful experience, though, was that I learned how to use recording software really well. And that has been an indispensable skill to have when it comes to writing and producing my own music.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I’m a jammer at heart, and so that tends to find its way into my songs. I like to be adventurous in my musical choices and keep it entertaining for the listener. I can also be a bit theatrical in my expression and vocal delivery, which I think makes me stand out from other artists. That’s undoubtedly due to my obsession with 70’s music icons like Freddie Mercury, Elton John, and David Bowie. I’m basically a classic pop-rocker at my core.
Thus far, I’d say that I’m primarily known for my singing prowess in the entertainment industry. Some of my favorite memories have been singing for my favorite composers, Danny Elfman and Michael Giacchino, on their incredible film scores. Those sessions never get old!
However, I’m also a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer. Those latter titles took a while to confidently grow into, but I feel like I’ve now developed those skills to a competitive level that serve my artistry really well. That is perhaps what I’m most proud of – the growth that I’ve achieved as a songwriter, producer, and artist in the last couple of years by putting in the hours and uncovering more of my own unique voice. I’ve been very fortunate and honored to work alongside some incredibly accomplished music legends. My songwriting and productions have been helped along with the mentorship of some of the music industry’s foremost producers, including Mike Elizondo and Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins. And there’s still a lot more on my list of dream collaborators that I hope I’ll get a chance to work with further down the road.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I tend to think of it more as providence than good luck, but I never would have thought that my singing at church could have led to these amazing opportunities singing for huge blockbusters in Hollywood! I feel like that has been God smiling down on me, knowing how much I would love and enjoy doing that.
When it comes to my own music, however, I’ve often felt like I’ve had some rotten luck with timing. For instance, my producer mentor, Mike Elizondo (former A&R of Warner Bros. Records), essentially told me that if our paths had crossed a little sooner, he probably would have signed me to a developmental deal. Unfortunately, they don’t really do those so much anymore in today’s musical landscape… But I don’t dwell on those things. I believe that whatever’s coming my way will come along when and how it’s supposed to.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vanscottmusic.com/
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanscottish/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VanScottMusic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/vanscottish
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-lpmPrVHd3jl1DulusyXA
Image Credit:
Adam Griffin
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