Vanessa shares 5 songs that inspired her new self-titled E.P.
The Staves have been one of my biggest musical influences for years and are a band I’ve admired for such a long time. I’m still holding out hope they’ll make it to Sydney one day. That would be such a dream! On my EP, “Come To Be” is probably the track that draws most heavily from both “Good Woman” and The Staves’ sound. Both songs create a steady sense of drive from beginning to end. Harmonies have always been one of my favourite parts of music, and The Staves have had such a big influence on the way I think about and write my vocal arrangements.
Lake Street Dive, “Baby Don’t Leave Me Alone With My Thoughts”
So many Lake Street Dive songs have an incredible groove, and that was something I really wanted to try and capture with “Nothing But Good“. While the lyrical stories are quite different, both songs build similarly, driven by the rhythm section—especially the drums and bass. They also share that feeling of wanting to break free from negative pressures, even though they approach it from different perspectives.
I’ve always admired Boy & Bear’s storytelling and lyric writing, and if you ever get the chance to see them live, I couldn’t recommend it enough! My bonus track, “A Little Note To You“, was inspired by that love of storytelling, but told through the format of a little letter. The stripped-back acoustic instrumentation and raw, honest vocal performance also take me back to my early folk influences, which will always be a huge part of both me and my songwriting.
The Teskey Brothers, “Forever You & Me”
The Teskey Brothers are another incredible Aussie band that are well worth seeing live. “Forever You & Me” was actually the first song of theirs I stumbled across on a random playlist. I’d always loved this style of music but never really imagined myself being able to in it. Hearing this track made it feel a little more possible, and it became a huge influence on “Rebound“. While the two songs are quite different, the freedom in the vocals and the feel of the instrumentation gave me the confidence to dive into that sound. It ended up becoming a track I’m really proud of, and I hope it’s one people can connect with—and maybe even have a little dance to.
I first discovered Winterbourne back when they were busking, and I instantly loved their sound. “Unfold” was inspired by this and follows a similar emotional journey to “Leaves“, with the instrumentation gradually building as each new element is introduced with purpose. Lyrically, both songs quietly question hope, and whether optimism is guiding us forward or simply giving us something to hold onto.
You can hear Vanessa Moussa’s new self-titled EP on all streaming platforms.
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