On singer-songwriter Victoria Bigelow’s 12th birthday, her mom bought her a present: a $10 guitar. For many parents with kids express interest in learning how to play an instrument, the likelihood of them continuing to pursue music in a professional capacity is quite slim. And for those who find success doing it? Even slimmer.
Victoria Bigelow, the Georgia-raised, Arizona based artist, is one of those success stories, relying on music as a method of catharsis throughout her adolescence and most recently, after the birth of her first child. Her newest project, Songs For No One Vol. 2, features five tracks born out of “heartbreak and bittersweet hope” (lifted from a press release), that showcase Bigelow’s intimate lyricism and twangy vocals that remind me of artists like Lana Del Rey, Allison Ponthier, and Gatlin.
Towing the line between country, folk, and pop, Victoria Bigelow has continued to prove her status as an artist to watch, garnering a coveted spot on Tidal’s RISING program, showcasing at South By Southwest 2024, and joining Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion Festival aside artists like Dawes, Lucius, Madi Diaz, and Friko.
Currently on a mini headlining tour across the West Coast, Bigelow took the time to answer some questions about her music and her goals for 2024 and beyond.
SH: Can you describe how your interest in music started as a child and how your mom/parents were able to help nurture that passion that allowed it to grow into something you could pursue professionally?
VB: My mom was always incredibly supportive. I initially wanted to be on broadway so she was always taking me to auditions for plays and fanning those flames. My childhood was tumultuous so I ended up putting music on the back burner for a while, but I will always be grateful to her for showing up in that way and letting me learn how to love something so much.
SH: You’ve mentioned that artists like Weyes Blood and Angel Olsen are big inspirations for you. Are there any other artists, contemporary or not, that inspire your creative process? Any that may be surprising to readers?
VB: Some artists I’m really inspired by are Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Aimee Mann, Amy Winehouse, Jeff Buckley and Hope Sandoval. As far as artists readers might be surprised to learn I love, some are Frank Ocean, Kurt Vile, My Bloody Valentine, SZA and Hiatus Kaiyote.
I’m sure there are way more, but off the top of my head those are the artists/groups that I find myself listening to the most, and feeling most inspired by their stories and the way they go about making their art and pursuing their visions.
SH: I personally resonated with “The Kids” and your ability to write about how difficult it is to be a young person in current society. I found it compelling in the way that it could be applicable to many peoples’ experiences as an adolescent in any decade while still feeling poignant to today. Was there anything that inspired this song specifically?
VB: Specifically, this was after another school shooting. It actually happened in Nashville where I had lived for many years, at a school I used to drive by everyday, so it just felt all too close for comfort. It’s scary as a parent, every day you send your kid into the world is a risk—and that’s really sad. It then got me thinking back on my own adolescence and the ways in which it was robbed, or the things I had to watch some of my peers go through.
Whether that be abuse or neglect of some kind, or overdosing. Life is hard, and when you’re a kid or a teenager, you mentally are not equipped to handle heavy things, yet they still happen and you have to.
SH: You have a handful of live shows in Los Angeles this summer. What do you hope your fans take from experiencing your music live?
VB: I’m a bit shocked by how much I love performing because I have crippling stage fright. But it feels like the only organic way to connect with people right now and I really like that. Getting to share in energy for real and not through an app or a screen. I honestly just hope people come and feel like they can put whatever it is they are carrying around down. It forces us all to be present with each other and I think right now that’s like the most punk thing any of us could be doing.
SH: What do you hope to accomplish in 2024 and into 2025?
VB: I truly hope 2024 and 2025 just bring a lot of touring and sharing my music with larger groups of people, whether that be through live performance or just more people out there listening. Getting to do this at all is special, and I just want to do it forever. Before 2024 comes to a close I’d love to have opened for some of my favorite artists and by 2025 I hope to be headlining my first shows and putting out my debut album.
Victoria’s next show is at Club Congress in Tuscon, AZ before she heads back to Los Angeles for a performance at the Hotel Cafe on July 18.
Songs For No One Vol. 2 is out now.
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