Kristin Venae is a Sydney-based singer/songwriter who grew up on a steady diet of Michael Jackson, Prince, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and her mum’s favourite, the Bee Gees. As a teenager, she was part of a Latin group called Ritmo de Tropical with a friend and the friend’s mom – and was even surprisingly into American rockers AFI in her youth.
Utterly intrigued by her artistry, we wanted to speak to Kristin and dig a little deeper into her background. Chatting with us about her gut-wrenching Cancer diagnosis, what tunes like ‘Still Here’ and ‘Lullaby’ mean to her, and which song she’d “steal” and claim as her own, please welcome our new friend Kristin Venae!
Well hey there Kristin! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us! I can’t wait to introduce you to our ever-growing audience! Let’s kick things off with an easy one…Who is Kristin Venae and when did your love affair with music begin?
Thank you so much for having me. What a great question!
I guess for me my earliest memory of music is linked to my Mama. One of the first memories I can remember is of her singing a gospel song to my sister and me at bedtime. We would ask every night for her to sing the same song and as we got older we would sing along.
Then, of course, as I grew I started buying CDs as a kid and collecting memorabilia of my favourite artists and I dreamed about being like them. The performance aspect started with my sister and I performing dance shows for the family. When I was 8 I sang at a friend’s birthday. We were doing karaoke and the adults thought I was so good that they gave me $5 as a prize.
Then, as a teenager, I joined a Latin group called Ritmo de Tropical with my friend and her mum and we played around Latin clubs. That’s when I knew that music was in my blood. I guess I should have known already as my mama was a singer and my great grandmother too so I guess it was just imbedded in my DNA. As for me and who I am I’d like to think that’s always evolving but I’d also like people to know me as kind and honest and a hell of a fun person to be around.
Your latest offering ‘Still Here’ was actually released back in 2021, a time you decided to understandably step away from music and receive treatment for cancer. Can you tell our readers, if you’re comfortable of course, what that experience was like?
When you hear a doctor tell you that you have Cancer it’s just this immediate punch in the gut – and then fear kicks in and your mind wanders to all the worst-case scenarios. For me, the thing is my mama had breast cancer 15 years prior and has been cancer-free ever since. Because of that, treatment-wise, I knew what to expect in a way.
But for me, being young, my treatment, unlike hers, involved chemotherapy which is tough in ways that are hard to describe unless you have been through it. Losing your hair and a version of yourself to a treatment that affects you both physically and mentally is just brutal and really puts life into perspective.
At the same time (as the release of ‘Still Here’), you also put out an upbeat tune called ‘Lullaby’ which is fast approaching 40,000 Spotify plays. What does the track mean to you and how does it feel to know so many people have heard and resonate with one of your songs?
‘Lullaby’ means a lot to me because I wrote that song, I’m pretty sure when I was 16 or 17, and it was about that introduction to infatuation and I feel it has such an innocence to it that gets lost as we get older. The funny thing about putting the track out was that it was in the middle of COVID lockdowns here in Sydney and in the midst of what seemed like a hopeless situation came this amazing sense of connection. People received the track so well right off the bat and I wasn’t expecting that so it’s very dear to my heart. I’m so appreciative of every person who listens and loves the art I put out it’s truly a blessing.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences? And who would I see under “Recently Played” on your streaming service of choice?
I’m loving what Sabrina Carpenter is putting out so that’s in there.
I think as kids we grow up to be exposed to the music our parents love so, for me, growing up was Michael Jackson, Prince, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and my mum’s favourite Andy Gibb and the Bee Gees who started out here in Australia.
But my musical taste is diverse! I loved AFI when I was younger so, for me, great music is great music. But if I want to feel free and happy I put on Latin music and dance around the room.
If you were allowed to “steal” one song in the world and claim it as your own, what would it be and why?
Ooh, that is an insanely amazing question. Mmmmmmm it’s almost impossible to answer there are sooooo many. If I have to pick only one it would be Andy Gibb’s ‘Words And Music’ because it sums up how I feel about music and the role of the songwriter’s ability to create the impossible.
German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said, “Without music, life would be a mistake.” What would your life look like without music and what fills your days when you’re not busy creating?
I probably would have created music if it wasn’t invented already, as this is something I need to do and believe I was born to do. I’m always creating. Right now, I’m co-writing a movie, but I’m always singing in the car, in the shower, at home, out and about, when I’m alone.
Other than that I love spending time with my family and friends, at the beach, or swimming as summer is my jam and it’s starting here right now.
What, to you, is music’s role in society?
It is the soundtrack to our lives. Everything we do in life can be tied in with music. It captures the essence of moments in time and reminds us of feelings we sometimes think are long gone, but there they are like a trusty old friend.
Thanks again for taking the time to talk with us Kristin! It’s been a real treat! What comes next for you musically and I guess, in a broader sense, what do you hope for in your musical future?
Now I’m focused on releasing the music video for ‘Still Here’ with my co-star Antonio Sabato Jr, something I’m so excited to share in common with the great Janet Jackson. Of course, putting more music out…And I have a film I cameo in called ‘Lickerish’ coming out in 2025.
I’m also starting production on the film I’m co-writing titled ‘Karma’ and will be spending time with my family who are my rock and my safe place.
Thanks so much for having me! I’ve had a blast!
I really hope ‘Still Here’ becomes for weddings what ‘All I Want for Christmas’ has become for Christmas.
‘Still Here’ is written with: Tim Newsome, arranged by Katcha Music, and mixed and mastered by Sean Carey (former Thirsty Merc guitarist) at Church Street Studios
BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE UPCOMING MUSIC VIDEO OF ‘STILL HERE’ CO-STARRING ANTONIO SABATO JR AND A DOCUMENTARY BY CITIGRAPHICA MEDIA – BOTH SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE EARLY NEXT YEAR!
