The ambition of musician Vanessa Silberman shows in her multi-tasking.
The vocalist, guitarist and songwriter is also an engineer and producer. Additionally the L.A.-based performer does independent artists and repertoire (A&R) talent scouting work. "I have an artists' development label called Diamond Heart Production," she said. "Multi-tasking artists Linda Perry and Dave Grohl are inspirations, as are Sylvia Massy, an engineer, and John Feldmann, an artist, producer and A&R."
All those hats keep Silberman on the move, as she was Monday when we talked while she drove to a show in Idaho Falls, Idaho, with Boston-based artist Carissa Johnson. Their tour makes a stop in Minneapolis at Palmer's Bar Friday, where they share the bill with 4th Curtis and Dani of CCWD.
Q: You're my second woman recording engineer interview this summer. Susan Rogers, who worked for Prince, was first. How did you get your training?
A: That's awesome. For a long time it has been more male-dominated. In high school I started recording a little bit. When the internet started, I was downloading songs and recording them to a tape with a microphone. Recording my own music, I started getting into Pro Tools [digital audio software], and then I got a chance to work at this studio in North Ridge, Calif., the Foo Fighters' studio. The in-house producer engineer really took me under his wing. It's a whole other thing to learn consoles and patching and all that stuff vs. learning on a computer. I was the in-house assistant engineer for a couple years.
Q: Why are you tackling all aspects of the music business instead of just performing?
A: I've always had this outlook of not waiting around for anyone else. If you want something, go do it yourself. When one is out there being an artist, that's what you mainly do, [but] helping other artists along the way creates a lot of community. The best thing I can do is show other women that if they are interested they can do it, too. I've always had this drive, not waiting around for people to put me on a red carpet and the big record-deal stuff. If I want to tour I'm not going to wait, I get out there and start touring. I toured a lot with my old band Diamonds Under Fire. I book my own shows, do my own press and marketing.
Q: Tell me about your single "Outswimming Sharks." Who are these sharks you're outswimming, hugging ...?
