[INTERVIEW] Venessa Michaels Discusses Latest Release, "L'amour", Debut LP 'Sent From Saturn', + Songwriting

Ushering in the future of electronic music with her truly one-of-a-kind sound, rising star Venessa Michaels' emergence into the EDM scene as a extremely talented producer, songwriter, and DJ, this triple-threat artist never fails to captivate her audience. Venessa resides in the booming music hub of Los Angeles and has spent years cultivating a unique style that blends retro hip-hop and pop elements with futuristic soundscapes.

Self-coined as '2090', Venessa's mesmerizing genre has turned heads throughout the realm of electronic music. She has gained recognition from top-tier performers, such as Kaleena Zanders, J. Worra, and Kiana Lede. Additionally, Venessa has accompanied the likes of 6lack, Krewella, Party Favor, and more on direct support for their tours. With memorable performances at the thrilling venues Splash House, Coachella, and her own "2090" party at SXSW, Venessa is the epitome of an EDM trailblazer.

Click below to listen to Venessa Michael's exclusive iEDM Radio Guest Mix!

iEDM Radio · iEDM Radio Guest Mix - Venessa Michaels

Check out iEDM's exclusive interview with Venessa Michaels below.

iEDM: How did you first get into electronic music? How did you learn to produce and what was the hardest challenge while finding your sound as an artist?

Venessa Michaels: I’ve always been a lover of all kinds of music, but it wasn’t until I heard the classic A-Trak remix “Heads Will Roll” that I really was like “what is this!?” Before even touching electronic music, I was using GarageBand and chopping up tracks in there. That’s where I really started to tap into it and have fun with editing tracks. Eventually I upgraded to Logic, and from there moved onto Ableton. Learning to produce comes with a lot of trial and error and giving yourself enough time with a program to learn the language. You have to spend your time in whatever DAW reads well with your brain and get to know it really well. YouTube videos are your best friend and having a mentor is always super useful! But as far as finding my sound as an artist, I believe we all move through different phases in life. Your sound will evolve with you. There’s no limits to making music, so finding your sound really never ends.

iEDM: As a songwriter, what do you do when feeling like you’ve hit a wall? How do you get your creativity flowing to keep moving forward with finishing a track?

Venessa Michaels: You have to just jump into it head first. There’s always going to be days where you feel like you can’t and sometimes that’s true. On the other hand, if you go in and just try, sometimes you’ll break yourself out of that wall. Then, you might be lucky enough to find yourself in a flow and once you’re in that flow, you got to keep moving in that for as long as you possibly can. It’s natural to overthink, but if you can find yourself enjoying the process and having fun, chances are you’re going to make something pretty cool. Fresh ears are key, though, so come back to your ideas the next day or so and decide if it’s worth it to finish up.

iEDM: What was the process behind creating instrumentals for the breakdown and chorus in “Spirit On Mine”? Why do you think it blends so seamlessly with Luck’s vocals?

Venessa Michaels: “Spirit On Mine” started as a skeleton with chords and sounds that laid the foundation to the track and Luck knows how to ride a beat. She has a voice that will uplift you no matter what. I don’t think there’s a genre she can’t touch and blend seamlessly into. It also helps that our spirits and energies align with each other. Music is energy, so you have to be able to understand each others’ worlds.

iEDM: Your style and genre have been referred to as “2090”. What does this name mean to you in terms of the sound components your style utilizes, the musical atmosphere it creates, and the feelings it provokes?

Venessa Michaels: 2090 is just a mindset. We are all inspired by something, whether we recognize it or not. It’s about making that inspiration your own and creating something of the future. 2090 World Music is also an independent label and supports music of all genres, specializing in dance music.

iEDM: What was your favorite part of being a radio host? In what ways does it connect to or influence your persona as an artist?

Venessa Michaels: Being a radio host was pretty cool, especially because I was alongside one of my best friends in hosting it. Shoutout to Sherry Cola. I got to focus on talking about upcoming music and artists that were on the rise, which wasn’t happening on a Top 40 radio station at the time. There’s definitely something special that was happening there and I don’t think digging for what’s next will ever stop being a passion of mine.

iEDM: Your recent release “Needed U” encompasses mesmerizing vocal cuts. What is your process for finding or creating vocal samples that will fit perfectly into your instrumental?

Venessa Michaels: It goes back to digging. You know, back in the 80s and 90s people were sampling vinyl records and listening to all kinds of music to find golden nuggets in tracks. Nowadays, we have some really cool places to find sample packs that allow you to dig and be able to use samples freely. When I heard the “Needed U” vocal, it just felt special to me. I knew I could make a whole track around it. The song I started changed once the vocal was in the song, which is pretty normal. You have to move with the music, or even better to let the music move you.

iEDM: What are some of your top venues and festivals to perform at and why? When thinking about your touring history, which one of your performances stands out the most?

Venessa Michaels: Coachella and the Coachella campgrounds, where the vibes are high!

iEDM: Which artists would you love to collab with in the future and why?

Venessa Michaels: Rosalia & Doja Cat. They know how to have fun with it and are wildly talented in different ways.

iEDM: Your newest single “L’amour” gives off a faster, darker, and more invigorating vibe than “Spirit On Mine” and “Needed U”. What was your motivation behind this shift in sound design?

Venessa Michaels: I love making all kinds of music and it’s important to me to release all kinds of sounds that come out naturally in producing, especially on my first album. The intention is to move in different energies and feel them in whatever way feels good. They will all come together and make sense as one, but this just came out naturally and I think it’s a strong vibe and I can’t wait to spin it out.

iEDM: What production techniques did you use to build energy and anticipation right before the first drop in “L’amour”? How did you layer the instrumental with the vocals during this part so that one didn’t overshadow the other?

Venessa Michaels: Stripping out sections before a drop always makes for a more impactful moment when the same sections come back later. You gotta give that pull of tension and release. So you hear the kick drop out during the build up, leave a strong lead that feels powerful with the vocal build and add some FX that makes the listener feel tension. Once it’s all built up and opened up a bit, bring it all back for the impact.

iEDM: What surprises can you hint at in regard to your upcoming debut LP, Sent From Saturn, for your fans to get excited about? What inspired this project and what is its overall theme?

Venessa Michaels: Expect some melodically emotional driven records and a fun project to dance to. Some fun chops all over the project and an intention to bring a visual experience that will take you to space to go along with the new sound when played out live.

Photos Courtesy of Venessa Michaels