Today we’d like to introduce you to Viktoria Vennice.
Viktoria, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I moved to LA in 2014 from Jacksonville Fl. Over the years, I have lived in Harlem NYC, Atlanta Georgia, Jacksonville Florida and now, based out of LA. I was born in Birmingham, Alabama though. I have been performing since I was about 3 years old and started in church as both of my parents are ministers. As a young church kid, my love for gospel music was seeded by my mother, a member of several church and city wide choirs. And 1/5th member of a local gospel girl group, “The Gospel Pearls”. My influences were “The Clark sisters, Kim Burrell, Take 6 and the Winans. But as I grew up and started getting exposed to other genres of music, I knew I wanted to be a singer really early.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has been a mixture of smooth and rocky but such is life lol! I am blessed to perform for a living and that in itself, is a goal that anybody with this kind of dream, aims for. The challenge with that is, there is no PTO, no paid vacation time and sick leave so if I don’t/can’t work, I don’t eat…LITERALLY lol And my appetite is mannish so it takes discipline. There were and Are still days when I don’t know how I’m going to make it to the next and then boom, a gig comes thru or somebodies invoice was finally paid from a gig and then I can breathe another day LoL and when you love what you do, you figure that thing out.
Please tell us about Artist.
I’m an r&b, soul songwriter, singer and stage performer. What sets me apart from other artist coming out today, is that I study the greats constantly. Not just the Artistry of Aretha, Chaka Khan, Mary J and Karen Clark Sheard, but I study the Wit and Charm of Sammie Davis Jr, the Poise and grace of Nat king Cole. People who had their own variety shows and could host and be funny and quick on stage in case the band was late or sound went out. That’s what makes your show go from Karaoke to an EXPERIENCE and that’s why I call my shows, the “Viktoria Vennice Xperience”. It’s like a house party and church service in one lol
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Being with my family under the same roof, eating my mom’s cooking harmonizing in the kitchen while she hot combed our hair.
Contact Info:
- Website: Viktoriavennice.com
- Instagram: TheRealViktoria
- Facebook: Viktoria Vennice
- Youtube: Viktoria Vennice
Image Credit:
Photographer- @Hightopbully on Ig
Naim Reece (The blackest fist) on Ig
James Schelstein
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