Anonymous asked: Make a mixtape of your songs to send to a record label, what 5 songs would you choose, any reason?

VE: Record labels are usually, with few exceptions, interested firstly in commerciality so this mixtape wouldn’t necessarily include either my favorite songs or even the five songs that I think most represent me.  With that said, I don’t really have a good sense of what sells or what is sellable.  If you asked me instead what mixtape would I send to my deceased grandparents, that would be something I could at least ponder, though it wouldn’t be an easy task.  Or what songs would I most want to be remembered by.  Now that I think about it, I hope you don’t ask me these questions.  They’re hard!  But, at the moment, I don’t care to guess what a record label might desire.  Sorry for avoiding your question. 
 
Anonymous asked: Much of your personality and songs have a boyish charm/child vulnerability, do you always think you will be young at heart or do you sometimes just feel like your back in elementary school asking pretty please?

VE: I don’t completely understand the second part of your question but the first I can answer.  In many ways, I am a huge child and I always will be; I’m a dreamer, I’m goofy, I like toys, etc.  But in other ways, I am an old fart.  I imagine everyone has that mix in some way, no?  I very much feel like a boy as opposed to a man and yes, I have that eternal yearning for something, and yes I am as vulnerable as can be.

Anonymous asked: What are your views of Fame and Celebrity?

VE: Here’s the equation: more power in terms of leverage and influence, but less freedom.  A trade off.  Is it worth it?  I can’t say.  There have always been celebrities throughout history but it seems our society in particular puts the emphasis in the wrong place.  I just wish we chose better ones: teachers, doctors, social workers, inventors.  At least then kids would lean towards professions that actually helped people rather than entertainers—or worse yet “personalities”—that don’t advance society in any way.

Anonymous asked: When was the last time you held a 9-5, what did you do, and what are your thoughts on the Rat Race?

VE: A) Never. I worked part-time odd jobs growing up and then ever since college have sustained myself with acting and music. B) __(does not apply)____ and C) listen to my song titled “Rat Race” and I think you’ll have a pretty good idea of what I think about the whole thing.

Anonymous asked: Can we expect new music from you this year?

VE: Yes.  I can 100% guarantee it.  Although I will need your help.

Anonymous asked: In “Down,” (an absolutely fantastic masterpiece of a song, I must say), is the line “a train downbound” a Bruce Springsteen reference? Just wondered. —Joe

VE: Yes.  Good catch, Joe.  I wouldn’t say I’m totally a Bruce fan but certainly an appreciator.  When I first started singing that song I thought of him, felt like him, that low voice.  Mostly his song “I’m On Fire.”  So I started listening to that record for inspiration and ultimately I thought a nod was appropriate.

ouchouch asked: Did you get teary-eyed when Michael left the Office? The letter to Dwight was especially touching, I thought.

VE: I did.  Although I didn’t love his last episode.  He was very un-Michael.

bananapills201 asked: hey val! huge fan! are you ever going to be in L.A to play some shows or appearances? would love to meet cha! =)

VE: I was just there in February and before that in November.  I don’t have plans at the moment to return but I’ll be back shortly I’m sure.  Please sign up for my email newsletter to keep up-to-date on shows.  Thanks!

Anonymous asked: Almost seven years ago my sister and I attended a Dashboard Confessional concert at L.A.‘s Greek Theatre. The first of the opening acts was a young man and his guitar. I’m sure someone introduced him. Hell, he probably introduced himself, but for one reason or another we never heard his name. We only knew he was wearing a red shirt. So, every now and then, over the next few years, we’d have conversations about this elusive Guy in the Red Shirt, who played amazing songs we seemed destined never to hear again.
   Fast-forward to the summer of 2008: I was working at a theatre in the Adirondacks when I randomly stumbled upon a song called Get On With It and fell in love. I bought more songs, entire albums. Summer turned into fall, and I left New York, bringing your music home to my sister in Louisiana. She agreed it was good stuff — like, really excellent, play-on-repeat-in-your-car, memorize-all-the-words stuff. We wondered if we could see you live, so one night I checked your website for tour dates. Unfortunately you weren’t playing anywhere near us, but I thought I’d follow the link for past dates to see if you’d ever toured the South. And there it was:
   06.04.04 LOS ANGELES, CA GREEK THEATRE w/Dashboard Confessional
   Holy. Shit. You were the Guy in the Red Shirt! We’d become fans of yours all over again, all because I’d happened to click the right button on iTunes! I like to think it was fate. Your music was just meant to be part of my life’s soundtrack, and I feel that even more strongly now that I’ve heard Looking For A Feeling You Never Knew You Needed. The album speaks to me on every possible level — melodically, lyrically, emotionally. I love it so much my sister tried to buy me a personalized song of yours as a Christmas present. When that didn’t work out, she offered to buy me one of the Extras, specifically a lunch with you (and her, too) in New York City since we were planning to be there in March anyway. But I chickened out. The thought of sharing this story with you in person made me super nervous, but I did find myself liking the idea of sharing the story. So here we are.
  Thank you for your awesomeness. Thank you for my favorite songs. And thank you for being the Guy in the Red Shirt.
  —Aimee

VE: I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that this is the best post I’ve ever received on this site.  I’m so glad you found me!  I searched through my photos from that tour and couldn’t find any photos from that LA show but I did find a blurry shot from a club show we did in Phoenix during that same tour and I’m wearing a red shirt.  Maybe that’s the shirt?  Here it is: I just want to say your post was extremely thoughtful, well-written and touching.  I’m thankful for your persistence.  And dammit, it would have been great to have lunch with you.  Next time.  Thanks Aimee.