Vanessa didn’t grow up with musicians in the family but music was always on. Fleetwood Mac and Prince were among some of the oft played artists in the Collier home. Jazz and country were also go-to’s that left an indelible mark on Vanessa. The catalyst for her life as a musician began when seeing he saxophone for the first time on TV. Vanessa was immediately gripped by the sounds of the instrument. An extension of the human voice that can project an intensity and volatility far beyond the abilities of the human vocal. Vanessa began begging her mom for a saxophone, eventually her mother gave in, and things kicked off from there.
Before a tenure with Berklee College of Music, Vanessa saw her future as solely a jazz musician. After her time in school wrapped up, Collier’s perspectives on future expression was profoundly altered. Vanessa got her chops up in school but along the way found the power in being outside of any perceived comfort zone. Vanessa always seeks different idioms of musical expression to grow as a player. This extends beyond genres and even extends beyond playing her own instrument. Vanessa primarily plays saxophone but has been jamming a lot of bass as of late. I found her reasoning for this to be quite fascinating. Vanessa wants to understand the mindsets of all players in the band at any and every given moment. This doesn’t just help them but it improves her ability to emote resulting in the collective benefiting overall. Vanessa’s curiosity galvanizes the efforts of the group to better an already amazing live show.
Vanessa has steadily been playing live gigs all summer. Super expressive and technical but not in a way where it becomes self indulgent. Several online videos show Vanessa walking through festival crowds wailing away on her sax. The interaction with onstage musicians is there and the connectivity with the audience is ever present. Vanessa’s international touring experiences have shown her up close that music is independent of language. Vanessa sees music as the great equalizer and it’s immensely cathartic.
This cathartic outlet benefitted Vanessa when she recorded her last album. Meeting My Shadow is Vanessa’s aptly titled sophomore record. Collier painted a picture to me of a difficult time she was going through during the recording sessions. Confronting an ever present dark element of her personhood allowed Vanessa to “meet her shadow” and overcome the dreaded sophomore slump. Vanessa’s hope is that people can listen to this album and overcome similarly intense personal issues. An oft used theme on the recent album was water and the symbolism around that element.
This fascination with water has come from some of Vanessa’s recent reading. Vanessa has been digging into a lot of Emerson lately and connecting with nature. The music/ water comparisons are apt for Vanessa’s music. Water undulates within any given framework effortlessly. It takes shape to the surroundings, adapts, and thrives. This is how Vanessa sees her music and how she approaches playing. Rumi has been a go-to author for Collier as well. Vanessa is not just an avid student of music who’s borrowing from her own experiences. She is also an avid reader who is keen to absorb other viewpoints to add to her scope of perception. Though Vanessa is keen to learn, she also loves to teach.
Vanessa maintains a private studio and teaches about 30 students a week. Vanessa has learned from some greats over the years and has picked up a tremendous amount of saxophone specific knowledge. However it was the insights gained from teaching her students that she spoke so highly of. To teach someone your craft, to break down aloud certain elements of personal methodology, and to impart some knowledge on others makes a ton of light bulbs go off. To teach someone what you know adds so many unique tendrils to your own understanding of it that couldn’t possibly be gained from anything outside teaching.
It’s been quite a journey for Vanessa. From jamming country records in her childhood home to performing with Willie Nelson on the same festival bill. A lot has been accomplished but I wager Vanessa has her eyes firmly on the future while enjoying the present. It’s all about that new genre. Jumping into that brand new framework and seeing if you sink or swim. It’s maintaining that vitality from a music fans perspective channeled through the execution of a now seasoned musician. I felt a certain kinship with Vanessa throughout our talk and she projects that warmth in her music. Sometimes rooted in euphoria, sometimes in despair, but the sounds are always authentic.