Dimensions Weekly Mens Lifestyle Magazine

With the debut of her lavish new video for “Thoughts of You” Larissa Ness is in the midst of a big promotional push. That single, from her latest album called “Hello” is receiving a lot of attention and casting a well-deserved spotlight onto this rising star. At home in Austin, Texas, Larissa took a break from her busy publicity schedule to speak with DW.

DW: “Hello” is your fifth album, but with all the fanfare surrounding it, does it feel like a break out project for you?

LN: Yes, because it’s very different from the type of music I’ve done before. That’s why I called it “Hello.” I feel like I’m reintroducing myself. I worked with a producer, Ernst Bernard, who was a rapper here in Austin, which was totally new for me – I had never worked with a rapper before. Although I grew up loving pop, hip-hop, and R&B, I had never actually undertaken it for a whole album. A lot of my other music is more jazzy and singer/songwriter in style.

DW: The first single off this album, “Thoughts of You” was used in a promotional ad for the TV show “Ghost Whisperer.” How did you score that great bit of publicity?

LN: Well, that’s kind of a weird story. I was in L.A. doing some networking and ended up at this birthday party for one of my contacts. Of course, I gave out my business card to several people there but didn’t think much about it again. Then, about six months later, this guy from the party called me up out of the blue. I didn’t even remember giving him my card, but he said that CBS wanted to use my song in their ad for “Ghost Whisperer.” That was really exciting!

DW: The “Thoughts of You” video is really great. Tell us about producer Ray Schlogel and why you chose to work with him.

LN: Well, believe it or not, there really isn’t a market for my kind of music in the Austin area. Pop just isn’t really accepted here. It’s more country and indie so it was hard to find a producer here to match my style. So I had to do a lot research and finally found Ray’s work. I just loved it. It was so “luxurious” in feel and really top quality – MTV quality. So I called him up and we totally hit it off. He has this crazy, vibrant, exciting personality. Then he came up with the idea for me to play the piano with my toes. I really thought he was kidding. I’m supposed to play the piano with my toes – and backwards, by the way! But I tried it, and after a lot of practice, we did it. And the way Ray edited the video was fantastic because it could have looked so silly, but it came out great. And I have to say, making that video was the most fun I’ve ever had. It was an incredible experience.

DW: How important is it these days to make a video, especially with the advent of social networking sites like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter?

LN: We’re all so visual now that you absolutely have to have a video. And that’s really hard, especially for new artists just starting out because it’s a serious undertaking. You need the funding and you need to be able to find the right people to work with. Personally, I felt that it was a requirement for this new album. I needed to make this video to take me to the next level. It’s brought in so many fans and has just been fabulous.

DW: Do you find it a burden to keep up with all these new avenues for publicity? Is it a distraction from your real work of creating music or do you enjoy having that connection with your fans?

LN: There definitely are times when I feel like I need to take a break; when I feel addicted to the computer. But mostly, I do love it. I especially love Facebook and Twitter because I truly do feel connected with my fans. It’s a really wonderful thing to be able to talk to them. It’s fun like when something crazy happens and I tweet about it, and then I get all these responses back. We really feel connected. It’s so much fun and I really do love it.

DW: What is the next single to be released from this album, and will you be making a video for it?

LN: Right now we’re looking at doing “Don’t Think I Won’t” as a dance remix. There also has been talk about doing a video of a photo shoot using that song and doing a big release in the next couple of months. That’s really exciting because I definitely feel like there are a couple of songs from the album that can have a stronger dance feel to them.

DW: Can you describe the evolution of your style over the years?

LN: Well, I started out being classically trained on the piano (at the age of three), but vocally, I sang country with my mom, and was always involved with musical theater. I had all those influences growing up. Then when I went to college, I received vocal training in opera. I also toured with a jazz group and even sang with a four-part harmony group. During this whole time I was writing, doing my own style and playing at piano bars. Some people compared me to Norah Jones because I was kind of laid back. But my style totally transformed with “Hello.” It wasn’t just the chill piano player anymore; it’s much more pop. I’ve always loved pop. I love listening to it and writing it. That’s pretty much where I am now. But I really love all music.

DW: What artists have influenced your work, and whom are you listening to now?

LN: As far as the “Hello” album, my biggest influences are definitely Timbaland, Nelly Furtato, and Gwen Stefani. Those are big favorites and I love listening to their albums. A new artist that I’m into is Fia. She’s from Australia and she’s amazing. I’m also digging the whole indie, electronic scene like Empire of the Sun.

DW: What is your main focus at the moment?

LN: Right now we’re all about promoting this video. Just trying to get it everywhere on the Internet so people can see it and find out about the album. Also, we’re concentrating on the release of the next single, “Don’t Think I Won’t” and that video.

DW: As you look to the future, what are your longer-term goals?

LN: I definitely want to start on a new album, and just ramp it up. Every time I do a new project, I want to do it bigger and better than the last one. I want it tighter and want to involve more talent. I love bringing in other artists and really look forward to doing that on the next album. I would also love to go out on tour soon – a big world tour would be awesome.

DW: What about more personal goals?

LN: I just want to enjoy the journey. I don’t want to forget why I’m doing this. I love making music, and I want it to mean something to me and to touch people. It’s my way of finding a connection with the world.

DW: On your website you list some very inspiring quotes. The running theme seems to be motivational. Do you have a favorite?

LN: I keep this quote posted right above my computer: “You were born with everything you need to succeed.” To me this means that you have to find your passion and pursue it. We all have that ability. We just need to look inside, recognize our strengths and chase our dreams.

Photo credits Maria Bernal-Michael Dean-Andea Burden

-DW | Entertainment

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