Aug 16, 20234 min read

NAS 10 Questions with Cozmicsoulfire

Updated: Feb 18

This time on The NAS 10 Questions we get to know Cozmicsoulfire, AKA Marianne Vedder

Artist, Producer & Songwriter.

The track "You gotta be real" is featured in the New Artist Spotlight Family of Playlists.

Link To New Artist Spotlight Playlists:

https://www.newartistspotlight.org/playlists

1. Tell us a little about where you are from and what you are currently doing.

I am from The north of The Netherlands, Leeuwarden and am currently working on new material for next album and am active in dutch politics for the party of the animals.

2. What inspired you to start playing and making music?

When Kate Bush came into the charts with Wuthering Heights, i wanted to be like her so i started playing guitar and synthesiser and singing and dance classes, joined a band and began writing my own songs around age 16. My Gran she sang with a choir for radioshows and Mum also had beautiful voice, so we sang together a lot, so they inspired me too.

𝟯. Who are your biggest influences?

Kate Bush, Heart (Ann & Nancy Wilson), Patti Smith,Carole King, Lara Fabian and Linda Perry of 4 Non Blondes but also Abba, Michael and Janet Jackson and great producers like Nile Rodgers and Linda P

erry, Ann Micielli from Alicia Keys, Ronan Murphy, & Ken Lewis.

4. What are your goals in the music industry?

To get a great following and fanbase for my songs, get my work with sync

licenses

in movies or advertisements or placements anywhere i can and help and inspire other artists.

I hope to get a live band so i can bring my music on stage again,

5. Tell us about your creative process when you make new music.

It depends; sometines i first have a lyric line and start adlibbing and pla

ying on my guitar for the chords or i play

around with sounds and beats and an instrumental comes out and i adlib with that to get a lyric but i can also get inspired by phrases i hear or words i make new lyrics from.

6. What is your all-time favorite song?

I have so many all time favorite songs; they are danceable like songs from Michael and Janet Jackson, Nile Rodgers as producer on many dance tracks,or have great synth sounds like Fairlight in Hounds of Love album from Kate Bush or Canqao do mar from Dulce Pontes , or great pianowork in songbook from Carole King , it is too hard to pick just one! But it makes me blast and sing out l

oud too like Caruso from Lara Fabian, songs that make you want to sing and dance my all time favorite can differ from day to day!

7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?

Work on your voice, as singer i had long time vocal lessons and gave them for years & still take them from time to time. So practice as much as you can since your voice is a muscle you keep it in training so the emotion in your songs comes out better and reaches the heart of your listeners. For interested artists i recommend Cari Cole she is the best vocal and music industry advice teacher! Also Linda Perry former 4 Non Blondes and now one of the greates producers around learned me to be less bombastic and first make the song stand out before adding all the VST's, beats etc production wise keep it simple and David Bowie loved my creativity and encouredged me to keep going, when i lost my faith in the industry in my space social media days.

8. Proudest accomplishment?

That my fans voted me into radiostations Kink Fm performing gig in Paradiso venue in Amsterdam and currently i am finalist as best international songwriter and You gotta be real is finalist best international music video for 2023 ISSA Awards. And ofcourse that iam songwriting and producing for over 40 years and still going strong!

9. Just for fun! What's been your most embarrassing moment so far?

I did audition for The Voice but getting there was a hassle since the streets were broken up, so had to climb some fences and ripped my trousers so that is how i did audition. My legs firmly close together and keeping a coat on to show no ripped parts....just when you want to show off and be on your best glamorous self....total bummer!

𝟭0. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.

My highest points are the cover and my own bands and great venues i have played. Also i have performed as Kate Bush for long and won prizes with my version of Wuthering Heights. My music played on great radiostations around the world and the feedback i got from David Bowie and Linda Perry on my songwriting,voice and creativity and the way i produce my tracks. Lowest point is my eyesight declining due to glaucoma and eye nerves issues so i cannot drive a car and became an online artist the last 10 years,so it is harder to make an income these days.