Vanessa Collier – the twelve-time Blues Music Award nominee (including for B.B. King Entertainer of the Year this year) and four-time winner, including for the monumental Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year, and award-winning songwriter, with recognition by The John Lennon Songwriting Competition and the International Songwriting Competition – today shared “Take Me Back,” the first single from her sixth album Do It My Own Way, out September 13 via Phenix Fire Records. Her prior studio album, Heart On The Line, spent nine weeks in the Billboard Blues Album Chart top 15 and the songwriter/bandleader made her Chicago Blues Festival debut this year, in front of tens of thousands.
Today, she shared the minor key Americana/noir, single “Take Me Back.” She seems at first to be singing about wanting to be taken back by an ex-lover, but that’s a feint. She’s wanting to go back to a time before she knew them.
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgR7Vs0QDXw
Three of her chief influences are James Brown, Bonnie Raitt, and the Wood Brothers and one can hear the impression they’ve left on her in the three singles.
Coming soon from the new album are the anthemic third single “Do It My Own Way” which artfully addressed the sexism she’s encountered in the music industry. She dives into deep soul territory with her second single “Wild As a Rainstorm,” with advice to ignore the naysayers and “Be a tapestry of dreams.” The groove and horns would make Willie Mitchell proud.
Collier takes on multiple roles, writing the songs, producing, arranging horns and all instrumental and vocal parts, playing acoustic and electric guitars and alto, soprano, and tenor saxophones, as well as singing the lead and background vocals.
Blues Blast Mag said, “Vanessa is an important part of the future of the blues.” Born in Texas, growing up in Maryland, launching her career in Philadelphia, and now residing in South Carolina, Collier grew up listening to an eclectic variety of music. After graduating from Berklee College of Music, she joined blues legend Joe Louis Walker’s band, going solo at his urging, and has become a notable artist “whose rise to the top is nothing short of meteoric” (Making a Scene).
Collier is booked by Concerted Efforts, home to Rhiannon Giddens, Kaia Kater, Kyshona, and others.
Vanessa Collier Tour Dates
June 28 – Winston, OR – Riverbend Live
July 12 – Portsmouth, NH – Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club
July 13 – Rockland, ME – North Atlantic Blues Festival
July 19 – Megeve, France – Megeve Blues Festival
July 27 - Pittsburgh, PA - Pittsburgh Blues & Roots Festival
July 29 – Reno, NV – Artown
August 1 & 2 – Notodden, Norway – Notodden Blues Festival
August 3 – Haapsalu, Estonia – Augustibluus
August 9 – Athens, NY – Athens Summer Concert Series
August 10 – Duluth, MN – Bayfront Festival Park
August 16 – Edmonton, AB – Edmonton Blues Festival
August 18 – Thornton, NH – White Mountain Boogie ‘N Blues Festival
August 24 – Fall River, MA – Take Me To The River
September 6 – Bethlehem, PA – Musikfest Café
September 7 – Phoenixville, PA – Phoenixville Blues Festival
September 8 - Annapolis, MD - Rams Head Onstage
September 9-10 - Lima, NY – Fanatics Pub
September 11 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
September 13 – Westland, MI – Token Lounge
September 14 - Oaktoberfest - Oak Park, IL
September 15 – Forest Park, IL – Robert’s Westside
October 9 – Washington, D.C. – The Hamilton
October 10 - Caffe Lena - Saratoga Springs, NY
October 12 - Natick Arts Center - Natick, MA
October 13 – North Haven, CT – Small Batch Cellars
October 15-18 - Syracuse, NY - 443 Social Club & Lounge
October 19 - Hagerstown, MD - Hub City Vinyl
October 20 – Durham, NC – The Blue Note Grill
October 22 – Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle
October 23 – Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic
October 26 - November 2 – Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
November 16 - Bonita Springs - Bonita Performing Arts Center
November 17 – Boca Raton, FL – Boca Blues Festival
November 21 - Richmond, VA - Tin Pan
November 22 - Reading, PA - Reading Blues Fest
December 7 – Lakewood Ranch, FL – Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival
February 15 – Vero Beach Blues Festival – Vero Beach, FL
