Name: Vivi Rincon

Nationality: American
Occupation: Singer, songwriter
Current release: Vivi Rincon's debut EP Crash Landing is out now.
Recommendations: What Once Was – "Her’s"; Oye Mi Amor - Mana

If you enjoyed this interview with Vivi Rincon and would like to stay up to date with her music, visit her on Instagram, and Facebook.



When did you start writing/producing/playing music and what or who were your early passions and influences? What was it about music and/or sound that drew you to it?

I have been writing and playing music ever since I was super young. I remember coming up with silly little songs about heartbreak I hadn’t experienced yet and performing for my family.

My early influences were a lot of latin bands like Mana and Soda Stereo. I loved latin rock growing up because my mom would always play it every morning.

Music was always such a beautiful way to express how I was feeling without saying it.

When I listen to music, I see shapes, objects and colours. What happens in your body when you're listening and how does it influence your approach to creativity?

I grew up as a dancer so I always take into account how my body wants to move when listening to a song. I choreograph songs in my head all the time.

I always strive to create music that makes you want to dance or sway or feel.

How would you describe your development as an artist in terms of interests and challenges, searching for a personal voice, as well as breakthroughs?

I initially got into music because dancing started becoming too unhealthy. I was way too hard on myself and too much of a perfectionist, and music was such an incredible way of releasing these emotions.

I feel like I have grown so much as an artist. I know what I want to say now, and I’m learning everyday how I want to say it.

One of my breakthroughs came by simply just writing as much music as I can. The more I write, the more connected to my music I feel.

Tell me a bit about your sense of identity and how it influences both your preferences as a listener and your creativity as an artist, please.

I am someone who is super open about my life experiences. I am such an oversharer and I use it in a positive way through my music.

What, would you say, are the key ideas behind your approach to music and art?

Honesty. My number one goal is to be as honest and as vulnerable as I can be.

How would you describe your views on topics like originality and innovation versus perfection and timelessness in music? Are you interested in a “music of the future” or “continuing a tradition”?

I believe that every song is perfect in their imperfections. I know it’s a little cheesy to say but I honestly believe if a song starts becoming “too perfect” it loses the magic and the honesty.

Everyone is original already, you don’t have to try to be original, no one is like anyone else. So looking within myself is how I find my own voice. I think we should always be looking towards the future.

Over the course of your development, what have been your most important instruments and tools - and what are the most promising strategies for working with them?

Therapy has been the best tool in my development as an artist and as a human being.

Take us through a day in your life, from a possible morning routine through to your work, please.

I am a full time student at Berklee College of Music so my day changes every day.

On a typical day I might wake up, go to class in the morning until the afternoon, go to a writing session or 2, and then go home to my girlfriend and watch a silly reality tv show.

Could you describe your creative process on the basis of a piece, live performance or album that's particularly dear to you, please?

My creative process usually starts with me, alone with my guitar or sometimes on the piano. I start by improv-ing lyrics and melody over a chord progression and see what comes out organically.

Then I find a producer that understands the vision and go from there!

Listening can be both a solitary and a communal activity. Likewise, creating music can be private or collaborative. Can you talk about your preferences in this regard and how these constellations influence creative results?

I love writing music by myself, it’s how I started writing and it’s still my favorite way. However, I have been co-writing a lot more recently and it’s been a really great experience.

I feel like writing with other people can lead to so many cool discoveries.

How do your work and your creativity relate to the world and what is the role of music in society?

I am a product of what happens in the world. The world happens to me and I have to realize how to put this experience into a song, and into words.

Art can be a way of dealing with the big topics in life: Life, loss, death, love, pain, and many more. In which way and on which occasions has music – both your own or that of others - contributed to your understanding of these questions?

I struggled a lot with my mental health growing up and music was always an escape for me. Through my anxiety and depression, I found a light in music.

It has always been such a beautiful way for me to express these difficult emotions.

How do you see the connection between music and science and what can these two fields reveal about each other?  

I haven’t ever thought about this question but I believe that the main thing that separates music from science is emotion.

Creativity can reach many different corners of our lives. Do you feel as though writing or performing a piece of music is inherently different from something like making a great cup of coffee? What do you express through music that you couldn't or wouldn't in more 'mundane' tasks?

Music is an art form. It is a way to express emotions that are too difficult to express in everyday life. That is my favorite part about being a musician.

Music is vibration in the air, captured by our ear drums. From your perspective as a creator and listener, do you have an explanation how it able to transmit such diverse and potentially deep messages?

Melodies can stick with you more than anything else. Music has so many healing properties that you can’t find in other aspects of life. I think that is what makes it so special.