FAST 10: Vanessa Worm
we meet The New Zealand ex-pat who is also Optimo’s latest label recruit…
If you don’t know the name Vanessa Worm, then make a note because it’s a name you’ll want to remember. She is a producer, live performer, label owner and most recently prominent selector who is one of the most exciting prospects on the local circuit. Relocating to Melbourne from Dunedin, New Zealand, she is one half of the Head Rush imprint, a label founded alongside her partner Eden Burns.
Having just released original works on the Cin Cin imprint, her work has unsurprisingly caught the attention of one of the scene’s most influential entities: Optimo Music. Her recent ‘Z TIME’ EP, released on Optimo, is all the proof you will need of her unwavering talent.
Ahead of her upcoming live performances at Meredith Music Festival in December, and Animals Dancing NYD 2020, we thought Vanessa Worm would be the perfect candidate for the next instalment of our interview series Fast 10, a project that proposes the same 10 questions to a string of Melbourne’s most talented leading ladies.
1. THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE MY MUSIC:
Energetic, Freaky & FUN!
2. A FEMALE ARTIST EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW:
Nice Girl & Hannan Jones. Plus many more…
3. A TRACK I’M EMBARRASSED TO LOVE:
All Hannah Montana and most Miley Cyrus. Definitely not embarrassed though, if it weren’t for them there would be no such thing as Vanessa Worm lol.
4. THE LOCAL INDUSTRY NEEDS MORE:
Open-ness. I find when I go out to most club events in Melbourne there is certain type of tension lingering in the room… there is a certain fear of being judged and therefore I think people can feel like it’s hard to breathe unless they use substances as a tool to open up. I believe if us as individuals can practice a sense of compassion for ourselves and for others we will eventually clear all sense of judgement and therefore create a welcoming, open environment for all people to feel safe and loved.
5. MY DRINK OF CHOICE AT A GIG:
Red Wine at the moment. 🍷
6. WHAT EMPOWERS ME:
Really good question. I think for me it has been facing any internal turmoil which could be fears, doubts, or negative beliefs - and your life reflecting this back to you. I believe through gently but definitely facing those fears and doubts, you give yourself the opportunity to make space for more positive abundance to enter your life. The process of accepting your fears, moving through the fears and ultimately healing the fears/yourself can sometimes be very difficult, BUT SO WORTH IT.
You end up manifesting experiences and situations into your life that reflect the newfound joy/hope/satisfaction that you deeply desire… and that you have WORKED for and are WORKING for through facing these things. Over time you soon begin to love the process, accept any ups-and-downs, and know that when life throws you a curveball you have the power to see it as an opportunity to learn, grow and therefore create a better life for yourself: it becomes exciting. You also begin to learn that you are completely in control of your life. It is empowering to know that you have all the power to change your reality. To everybody out there trust yourself, honour who you are, and know that you can take ANY situation and see it as an opportunity to grow. That is where I believe you can find the serenity in life.
7. THE BEST GIG I’VE EVER PLAYED:
The first show I ever played, back home in Dunedin. It was named Hotline 666 & hosted by Club 6 and the whole night was WAY too much fun haha.
8. IF I WASN’T IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, I WOULD BE: Hmm, I could be doing anything, if I decide I don’t want my career to be music… I might turn to doing something that involves helping others.
9. SOMEONE I LOOK UP TO IS:
My dad.
Vanessa Worm’s home town of Dunedin
10. THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I HAVE EVER RECEIVED:
Dad always told me “if you put your mind to it you can do anything", which is so true. Another great piece of advice first given to me by my rockstar partner Eden was; ‘know your worth’. It seems like a pretty basic piece of advice, but once I finally clicked to it I realised I had always felt somewhat undeserving or unworthy. Since then I have been naming my damn price. Just something for everyone to continuously remind themselves I think. We are all priceless - don’t let anyone or yourself tell you any different, we are all worth so much more than we will ever know.
