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In an age when so many pop stars are made – through
undue hype – it is refreshing to find Stefani
Vara, a fan of music who backs up her lifelong desire
to sing with a voice so sweet you’ll wonder why
she didn’t decide to become a performer until
she reached high school.
“I’ve always been singing,” the delightful
Vara says. “I always loved music. I didn’t
always want to do it professionally.” Yet, when
Vara decided that she wanted to be a professional
singer, she embraced the choice whole-heartedly, uprooting
herself from her family outside of Houston, Texas,
and moving to New York City.
Vara – whose motto is “Live the life you
want. You’re the creator of your destiny,"
Vara took destiny into her hands, by putting together
several shows. “I was a big fan live music,”
Vara said. “I put together a bass player, a conga
player, and a drummer. I found background dancers
and performed at the showcases.”
It was then that destiny paid her a visit. She met
Siri Music CEO Chauncy Jackson. “Another door
opened when I met Chauncy. We were on the same page
musically,” she added, “Labels are not taking
time to develop an artist, to make their careers last
longer. That is what I love most about Chauncy. He
has taken the time to work with me, develop me, promote
me as more than just a sexy figure. I want a longer
career than one hit song, than one hit album. We want
more."
A single spin of “Lately,” produced by the
Insomniax (JoJo, Bobby Valentino) from her forthcoming
Siri Music debut, Storybook Diaries, makes it clear
that her career is destined for greatness; it is a
distinctive radio hit that channels the pop superstars
of the 1980s while still sounding unique and contemporary.
“That’s what makes the song so different,”
Stefani said. “I really enjoy the tracks because
they’re going out of the box a lot. It’s
not the same pop song you hear over and over again.”
Vara said that the 80s influences, though not specifically
intended when the track was recorded are among the
many pieces of her musical history. “I listened
to Madonna, Garth Brooks, Paula Abdul, Selena, Mariah
Carey. Those artists are a big mix of where I came
from musically. From my dad, I got my R&B influences;
Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross. It was a big mix.”
This varying background helps to explain the eclectic
sounds that will pepper the songs on Storybook Diaries.
“Every song is a story. Part of a storybook that
is my life, my love life. ‘Lately’ sets
the tempo for the rest of the album.” Among the
set's highlights are the sexy, "Easy (U Like
That)," the romantic "We Gon’ Make
It," and the pulsing "In My Heart."
“Pop, R&B and a dash of Rock. I’m open
to where the sound is going. Chauncy [along with Bless'ed
Pen co-writer Kim Croft] has more of an R&B style
but he doesn’t just write R&B music. He writes
deep emotional songs. We’ve worked together to
find something we both like and he’s always open
to [experimentation] which is very evident in many
of the songs on the album.”Looking forward, Vara
hopes to hit the road. “I love performing. I
want people to get excited about coming to see shows
and I want people to see that there’s more to
me than being a singer."
Vara is also the current face of Southpole Footwear
and plans to work closely with the campaign throughout
2008. This self-described “personable, goofy,
organized dreamer” learned during the trials
she has encountered over the years in New York City
that “only the strong survive. Many doors have
shut in my face. But another one always opens. Siri
Music happen to be that door.”
Stefani Vara’s talent, hard work, and determination,
combined with a sparkling personality and exotic beauty
have brought her to the cusp of stardom, but it is
her songs – rich, literate, melodic, and excruciatingly
catch – that will propel her to stardom.
Fortunately, you’ll be able to say you knew her
when.
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