I have always been a fan of Blues – (and no, I am not talking about “Blues Clues”, the children’s TV show). I’m talking about the “tug-at-your-heart” and “make-the-marrow-in-your-bones-tingle” kind of blues. The stuff that inspires and lifts and depresses all at once! – The kind of Blues found at Fogbound, or Toby’s, or Junkyard or Hotlanta, THAT kind of blues. So, when I heard about a drop-dead wonderful Blues Singer, Varda Sedia, I just had to check it out for myself. I caught up with Varda one night in a small coffee shop in The Quarter. It was late...long past last call. The place was closed and the regular customers had all left. It was then that Varda and a couple of the band pulled up some chairs and started to jam. After a couple of hours, they finally wrapped up. And despite the late hour – it was after 4:00am,Varda agreed to answer a few questions of mine before she headed for home
Josh (Thomas1 Bellic) (JB) When did you first decide you wanted to sing, and how did you decide to start singing in SL?
Varda Sedi (VS): I first decided I wanted to start singing when my mama sang when I was a child, and she would tell me stories about how she was asked to travel with the groups in Mexico to sing from town to town for money, but she was too shy. She had a voice of an angel. I decided to pursue singing when I was in my 20s and then won a contest, and was asked to join my first band and things just started to take off for me. When my record label owner died and my mom died, I shut down completely and withdrew. I then found SL and admired hearing the singers so much I wondered if I was good enough and decided to give it a try in 2017.
JB: Who were your musical idols growing up? Whose styles were you most comfortable with?
VS: My mom introduced me to many different styles of music as a child, so my tastes were vast. My favorites were The Carpenters, Captain and Tenille, Helen Reddy, Whitney Houston, Barbara Streisand, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Phil Collins, Led Zepplin, Metallica, Cindy Lauper, Heart, and Big Band Music. I felt most comfortable singing Whitney Houston and others like that at the time.
JB: I heard you also sing on a virtual World other than Second Life?
VS: I sing on other grids like Open Sim, New Hope Grid, Barefoot Dreamers Grid, and Digiworldz. I love exploring what the virtual world has to offer and always find something fascinating everywhere!
JB: I understand you are a busy musician in Real Life as well. Tell us about that?
VS: I have been working on my main band Rockstead, which is a blues rock band out of Austin, Tx., Catching Comets which is an all-acoustic band same location. Also just got asked to rejoin recently my old band CeciliaX & Hafxex my electro-punk band. I love music like air, it is what I do since I have a mental disability in real life, and am not able to do a 9-5. Just trying to make my way in this world doing what I know how to do it all.
JB: You’ve been in SL for over a dozen years now. What is it that keeps you coming back, night after night, month after month for all that time? What is the secret to longevity in SecondLife?
VS: I love Second Life because of its diversity. What I learned after many many years is to keep it professional and you'll be fine. Keep your friendship true, stay away from toxic people. If someone promises you something and they don't deliver, get out quickly before you get sucked in deeply. I find a lot of people make a lot of excuses to take your money, and a lot of excuses not to deliver results for them. Don't get butt hurt over drama. If they get ugly, that's what the block button is for, just forget and move on. Don't spread rumors, and if rumors are spread about you, who cares? You know it's not true. The only thing that matters is what you think about yourself when you look in the mirror. Are you happy with what you see? If so? cool if not, work on the changes you need to make for yourself. Heck, I always need to work on myself. I make mistakes every day. It's just this thing we are that's called human, and we tend to forget that when we are hidden behind an avatar.
JB: Where would you like to take your career as a BLUES Singer?
VS: Blues is my passion, I was first introduced to it by my old drummer, and I just fell in love with it. All I want in my life is to be known as a blues singer and I will be happy. My "ultimate dream" to tour, record again, and sing at concerts and festivals again.
JB: Any advice you would give to a young musician just starting out in SL?
VS: Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you're wanting to get started, ask someone, heck I am always glad to help. Help is offered free as it should be. I remember when I struggled with singing and I was at my wit's end, Maxx Sabertooth came out and helped me, didn't ask for anything. He just asked me to pay it forward, and that's what I do.
JB: How would our readers find one of your performances? Do you have a posted calendar, and are any times listed in SLT or your local time?
Yes, I do, and I'll post it here. some of it that say USA central time refers to my real-life band situation the others are SL or Pacific times. CALENDAR: https://tinyurl.com/yu7cmyf9 You can find me under events listing by the name Varda.
JB: Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
VS: If you come out to my show and like what you hear, add me as a friend! I love new friends and I do try to communicate with everyone I can when I am not busy. I usually send out positive messages or a personal invitation to my shows. anyways I look forward to seeing you out there!
So, there you have it, folks. I thanked her for her time, pocketed my notepad, stuck my pencil behind my ear, and headed out to my now dew-covered Prius….resolved to tell the world about this talented, multifaceted singer/entertainer. Check out her schedule…catch a show. And someday when you are wandering around late at night, and you hear the voice of an angle belting out the Blues…you found Varda. Tell her Hi for me. And tell ‘em Josh sent ya. You’ll be glad you did.
Be there! Aloha!
JB
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vardasilver
Website https://vardasilver.wixsite.com/varda
Calendar https://tinyurl.com/yu7cmyf9
Promo Video https://www.togglefm.com/post/varda-sings-the-blues-at-the-fern
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