Years ago if you were a talented, but unsigned, musician, your best bet of getting your material out there was by playing local shows and mailing out a barrage of demo tapes. These days, with the help of YouTube and Facebook, and social media in general, a voice perhaps only heard within the confines of artist’s bedroom, can now transform talent into world-wide recognition and success. Veronica Ballestrini, the pop-country 21 year old from Connecticut has gone from playing in her hometown and on talent show stages, to touring with Secondhand Serenade, another group who has reaped the benefits of widespread social media popularity. Ask a New Yorker got to sit down with Veronica during the New York stop on their national tour. We asked her about life, love, and most importantly, what she thinks about NYC!
You are in the midst of an exciting nation-wide tour with Secondhand Serenade and appear on the song ‘By the Way’ for their upcoming album. How did this all come about?
I actually met John Vesely (lead singer & guitarist of Secondhand Serenade) in Nashville through mutual friends, and we are both working with the same producer. The song “By The Way” is a duet John wrote with other writers in Nashville, he asked me to sing on it for his record, which was amazing! I love the song. Touring together is definitely a surreal experience and I feel so blessed to be a part of this tour and be able to share my music with more people.
You definitely rocked the New York City show with Masha and Alex Goot (another artist who was discovered via the internet) How does it feel coming back to New York City? Do you miss CT/Nashville?
It feels awesome so awesome to be in New York, so close to home. Growing up in CT we always took trips to NYC, but I had never performed in NYC until the Bowery on this tour, which was an incredible experience and so much fun.
Speaking of your performance at the Bowery Ballroom, you sang quite a few songs about ex-boyfriends and how those relationships ended… do any of them know the songs are about them? Have they ever contacted you?
Yes… One of the songs was titled “Death of Me” which will be on my new upcoming album titled “The Flip Side”; its due out this summer. I write songs from real experiences so I think, if he’s heard the lyrics to this song, he would know it’s about him. The chorus talks about going to Savannah, which is where we went on a last minute trip this summer. In the past I wrote a song called “Temporary Fix” where I totally called out that ex-boyfriend and put his name in the last chorus… He ended up calling me after not talking for 8 months saying how sorry he was…. I laughed. The music video is on YouTube and CMT!
How would you describe your fashion sense? Is it an extension of you?
It’s me. Clothes are important. It tells a lot about a person before they open their mouth.
You are known for playing for Girl Scouts camps and women’s prison facilities. How is that experience different than touring at venues?
The girls at Girl Scout camps, are always so excited and enthusiastic. You would think the Beatles were in the building. We played for over 20,000 girls last year. It’s awesome so much fun playing for them. I was a Girl Scout. And GS taught me a lot about who I am, and I know how excited I would have been to hear music.
Women’s prisons are also a very different but amazing experience… A lot of the women there have been so hurt, and are lost and looking for answers. I didn’t realize the songs I’ve written could affect some of them to that degree, but I still receive fan mail from them. That’s what music is all about, lifting people up and letting them know they are not alone.
You have 5 sentences to leave in a note to yourself that you’ll open 20 years from now- what will it say?
I hope your dreams stay big and your worries stay small. I hope you never need to carry more than you can hold. I hope you always forgive but never forget. I hope you help somebody every chance you get. “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts. Words to live by.
