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Some of us reading this article can automatically identify with being a creature of habit. We have a routine. We are not willing to change, despite there being an upside to trying new ideas. Why should we change, our current routing works, and it has been that way for many years. No reason to change now, or is there? The latter half of the headline “endless possibilities” doesn’t apply to those who are creatures of habit. Endless possibilities will come, with those that are willing to accept new ideas and habits.
If you are a creature of habit, you are more certain that your routine is working for you. Even if it isn’t. Regardless of proof, there is no concept or idea that is going to make you change. Even failure is acceptable to you. There is just no room for new ideas. Therefore, creativity becomes stale, and the rut you built for yourself becomes your legacy.
Our guest today, is Vanessa Harbek. She is a talented blues artist and has gotten our attention. Vanessa Harbek has an extensive background and skill set that would make anyone sit up and take notice. Including some of the most seasoned blues artists. Here is why:
Blues, soul, rhythm and blues, swing, tango, jazz, rock, and roll, Latin, are the styles of this talented Argentinian singer, guitar, and trumpet player with a degree in Music, Teaching and Composition at UCA -Argentine Catholic University.
She has a versatile and powerful voice and moves comfortably in different musical styles. She has a natural talent with the guitar. Her exquisite technique and solid sound, make a perfect combination for her virtuosity and quality as a performer.
Since June 2017 Vanesa is living in Berlin, Germany.
Vanesa shared stage with Ciro Fogliatta, Black Amaya, Luis Robinson, Jaf, Hugo Mendez, Rubén Gaitán, Semilla Bucharelli in the argentinian scene; at internacional scene she played with Igor Prado, Decio Caetano, Big Gilson, David Tanganelli (Brasil) Omar Coleman, Sugar Blue, Dave Riley, Linsey Alexander and Vino Louden (USA), Antonio Vergara (Ecuador),BJ Stolle (Germany) Kenny Blues Boss Wayne (Canada), Marcos Coll Vargas Blues Band (Spain), Daryl Taylor , Rico MacClarrin (Chicago) Krissy Mattheus (UK).
She has toured Argentina as well as other countries, including International Jazz, Blues and Tango Festivals in Mexico, Ecuador, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Slovakia , Ibiza, Paraguay, Colombia, Brazil, and Chile. Her Guitar Clinics in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador and Poland have been very successful.
It is important to ask someone as talented as Vanessa Harbek some important questions regarding this topic.
GT: Hi Vanessa. Thank you for joining us for an interview. We are glad to have you today. Especially for this topic. Let’s start by asking you are do you consider yourself a creature of habit. If so, in what areas of life?
Vanessa: Far from being a creature of habit I consider myself as a creature of change. My nature is being in a constant search of new challenges, new ideas, new ways to face my life, my creativity, my work, my inspiration. If I have to think in a habit, I would say I have the habit of diving into the depths of my soul to find my answers, my feelings, my notes and my colors, to express my feelings in the best way through my songs and paintings.
GT: If you a person doesn’t learn to adapt to change, could it mean failure in other areas of life?
Vanessa: Change is the nature of life, as well as failure is a part of learning. It's very important to adapt to change, and in fact, I'm always adapting to new places and routines, because of my work as an artist I'm usually on gigs, changing countries, stages, playing with many different musicians, sometimes using different equipment, my life is change and adaptation.
GT: How did you manage to change, despite your circumstances?
Vanessa: I consider change as a challenge, an opportunity to achieve new experiences and to know new ways to grow.
GT: There are many areas of life, where a routine becomes paramount. Especially if you are trying to overcome old habits. Building a strong routine, is important. However, the kind of routine that poses trouble, is when you are not willing to adapt to new ideas. Creativity becomes stale, and so does your talent. Can you identify, where establishing a routing was conducive to what you wanted to accomplish? Please explain.
Vanessa: I agree with the concept, routines are very important to order your tasks and accomplish your goals. I have my routines to study, to keep order in my daily life, to make all the work referred to booking concerts, to keep in contact with people I care, to guarantee space and time to create and to take care of my health with physical activity. All those routines are so much important to be able to face my very changing way of life.
GT: Thank you for being open with us regarding this topic. Not always easy to put yourself out there. However, it is appreciated. We want to focus on your career as a Blues Artist. But first, can you tell us more about yourself? Where did you get your start as a blues artist?
Vanessa: It started when I was 11 years old. At home I found a vinyl from Eric Clapton ( Slow hand) from my father and I fell in love with the blues and with the guitar. Before I played piano, because my father is a pianist and he sent me to study classical piano since I was 7. But I remember I said to my father "now I want to play blues and guitar" and from that moment on I never stop.
On my 15 Birthday, in Argentina it is tradition to have a big party... My father asked me, "Do you want a big party or an electric guitar ? (until then I played with an acoustic guitar) Of course I said an electric guitar , and this guitar is the Fender Stratocaster .It is the same guitar that I still play till nowadays and it accompanies me everywhere. It's like a part of my body.
GT: Who were some of your favorite artists growing up, or currently?
Vanessa: Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert Collins , Freddie King , Wes Montgomery, Ronnie Earl, Ella Fitzgerald, Astor Piazzolla, Chavela Vargas , Etta James, Nellly Omar, Héctor Lavoe, Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Clifford Brown, Koko Taylor
GT: To sing the blues well, you must have the gift. When did you find out that you had the gift of becoming a successful blues artist?
Vanessa: Blues is in my veins, since I can remember I have been crossed body and soul by the blues, I never considered the possibility of being something else than a Blues Singer, Composer and Guitarist.
GT: That is awesome. I know you are play with a band. The Vanessa Harbek Blues Band. What kind of venues do you normally perform at?
Vanessa: I perform in different venues and in different countries from little jazz clubs to big Festivals in between music clubs, open air festivals, theaters, churches, castles, city festivals ,etc...
GT: What are some drawbacks that you have experienced from a booking Venues? How do you overcome them?
Vanessa: Sometimes it is not easy to book concerts, to contact the promoters, but above all coordinate a tour, sometimes you have to find a date in the middle of two cities so that the journeys are shorter and the clubs are already busy there. It takes a lot of time and work to get concerts, but it's a job I have to do, otherwise I can't play..and what I like most in life is playing live, so be patient 🙂
GT: Is there blues variations that venues often look for? I know there is within the country music industry. Which can have a profound effect on the type of venue, or festival you play at.
Vanessa: My style is very personal and unique, as I play traditional blues as well as I can mix blues with some latin, tango, funky, rock, pop, and even jazzy patterns, wich makes my music a very original way of expression.
This mixture is because since I can remember, when I was a child,. different musical styles were played at home. I inherited the love for blues and rock n roll from my father and the love for tango from my grandfather. This is reflected in my last album visions, where these styles are intimately intertwined. In fact I recorded a version of a milonga-tango Vuelvo al sur by Astor Piazzolla (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2HZ9Y_hSpU) , a song I used to listen to as a child with my grandfather and it brings back a lot of memories, and I choose to play it in a blues version. In the album I have recorded songs in Spanish and English and the songs have latin rhythms, jazzy trumpets, bluesy guitars, the album reflects who I am.
Every venue I play is very happy with my style and they always remarks that my music is different and that gives an extra positive add to the show. I see that the most important thing venues looks for -at least those where I played- is the authenticity of the artist, the quality of musicians and the compromise with art.
GT: I think you have a great voice and should be accepted anywhere you want to perform. You have an amazing voice and are comparable to some of the great blues artists of all time.
Vanessa: Thank you very much! You are very kind!
GT: Again, we want to express to you our gratitude for interview with Guitar Thrills Magazine. We have an exciting issue that we are working on. With your permission we would like to publish this interview in the next issue of Guitar Thrills Magazine. Is that ok?
Vanessa: It has been a pleasure to talk with you, and I hope you can attend to my shows soon!
GT: Excellent. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
