DS: You mentioned Earth, Wind & Fire, but can you name some of your other musical influences?
VM: I have quite a spongey personality and I absorb many influences that I interpret into my sound. I feel like parts of the track Moment could belong in a musical, like The Sound of Music, because it feels all whimsical; but then, with my lyrics, I take the innocence away from it and make it spicy, channeling the essence of Janet Jackson, who typically practises harmonies and softer vocals over hard-hitting beats. It all meshes into my DNA and, along with the musical influences of other producers working on the project, it creates a beautiful combination.
DS: I know you haven’t managed to go on tour yet for Jaguar, but can you set the scene of what one could expect from a live performance of the project?
VM: I was working on organising a tour but, of course, it’s been delayed. I’m excited to perform Jaguar and when I was creating the project, live shows were on my mind. I wanted long instrumentals and breaks in songs so that I could move around more and interact with fans. Visually, I want to invite people into a rainforest. Ideally, there would be musicians playing live instruments, shiny, glistening gold horns, and a strings section. The good thing about my tour being delayed, I guess, is that by the time I release the third instalment to Jaguar, it’ll be just in time for a live show to follow, and that way I can perform more songs – it kind of works out!
DS: To wrap up, thinking forward to the year 2070, what do you want to be known for?
VM: I want to inspire people to be more themselves. Whether that’s the chill person that’s kind of shy, or the outspoken person that has something to say, I want my music to ensure people feel comfortable in their skin. I want to change the narratives surrounding black women, bisexual women, and women in positions of power. I hope to be in a position, one day, where I can sign artists and producers to my label and help nurture the next generation of musicians. Quincy Jones is a great example to me; he has done everything from scoring movies to signing other artists, and I’d love to have a legacy like that. I want to do it all… by 2070!