With a sound like no other, Perth-born musician Vanessa Hopes captivates audiences with her virtuosic songwriting. She enjoyed singing, dance and art from a young age.
Influenced by Contemporary Soul, Blues, Pop, and R&B, Hopes covers a vast array of styles. Her sweet soulful vocals will serenade the sounds of 4 seasons in just one day.
Vanessa is a songwriter and producer and for the past 3 years, Hopes has been dedicated to immersing herself in the creation of debut album ‘Free’ launching in late October. Songwriting is the catalyst that allows people to identify with Vanessa on a deeper level and empathise with her music.
She uses her stories as paint; the words as a brush and her music is the canvas she decorates.
However, things haven’t always been smooth sailing. After leaving home as a teenager and became codependent on drugs, she faced tough times. Vanessa was missing key classes, barely attending school and failing to pass academically; but she did almost anything to watch live music, regularly sneaking into 18+ events and watching live music.
She began to study music. After learning how to create a major scale Vanessa put all she had into buying a keyboard and began learning to play by ear. Next she moved onto drums and tried her hand at songwriting.
This became a very deep and powerful outlet.
Initially she wouldn’t share what she was writing about. Her mentality was: ‘You’re a street kid, you gotta stay tough. Never talk about your feelings or make it seem like you’re weak’
She joined her first band ‘No Shame’ and toured Western Australia. After joining second band ‘Desert Rose’ Vanessa released an EP titled ‘I Want You’
Hopes featured on many Hip Hop collaborations before breaking out as a solo artist in 2014. She released two tracks, both holding positions in the top 5 of Triple J’s Unearthed.
Vanessa has twice been a finalist in APRA’s international songwriting summit and has worked with many established artists throughout Australia including Archie Roach, Kav Temperley from Eskimo Joe and Rick Steele just to name a few.
Vanessa’s lyrics are a woven tapestry of troubled times. They tell the haunting stories of her past.
Hopes’ music resonates with those who know all too well about struggle. She sings of both resilience and weakness like they’re longtime lovers.
‘When all she wants to do is fly, feel her wings brush the wind in the sky; break the shackles with the master key. All she wants to do is be free’
This past year has been an extremely busy one. Vanessa has gone from featuring on Beni Bjah’s award winning album ‘Survivor’ to scoring music for an award winning film, before releasing two music videos and for her last major project, Vanessa just released her very first album to the world.
Currently Vanessa is working on some new music and touring her album around Australia.
A GLIMMER OF HOPE
