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burning stuff, but also show the sweeter and sultrier side to it. Saxophone is one of these enigmatic
instruments because so much of the tone is in the player’s control and based on the physical
features of each player. The saxophone can imitate a sigh or a scream or a growl just like the
human voice. I love the sweet, vocal-like qualities of it just as much as I love the powerful in-your-

face tones. Every tone has a right time or place. It’s just about “flipping the switch” as my teacher,
Chris Vadala, would say!

I think this album is an expression of all the nuances and all the variances in my voice as a vocalist
and in my saxophone playing. My widely varied influences come out too! It’s got the delta blues,

funk, soul, New Orleans - all that I grew up on and all
that fuels me. I’m immensely proud of this record
because it’s just a statement of who I am at this exact
moment in time - a singer, songwriter, saxophone
player with lots of stories to tell, with and without the

horn. That’s all I can ask a record to ever be!

LL: Track 2, ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ seems very
personal (Lyric: “You’re just like me”)! What
inspired the lyrics?

VC: I have three younger sisters, two of which are in
middle school now. I always joke that I can’t find a
single person who loved middle school! It’s such an
awkward time and I remember at times feeling really
unsure in my body. So, I wrote this song for them to

remember that they are beautiful inside and out, and
also to remind them that their voice matters. But it also
extends beyond them because I think all people feel
insecure or unsure at some point in time. I think we
doubt ourselves too much and we doubt our gut
feelings. I’m hoping that we will all begin to listen to
our gut, and base our decisions, self-worth, and our

confidence around it.

LL: Do you have a favourite track on the album?

VC: It’s such a hard question to answer because I love them all like they are my children, ha! But I
think ‘Bloodhound’ is my favourite song. From the story and songwriting to the production and
layering, it stands out for me as one of the best songs I’ve written so far. The vocals and
background vocals were so much fun to layer. In the studio, we recorded chains hitting a hardwood
floor and an extra bass drum for a depth and “boomy-ness” for this song to really bring home the
story. I love John Hammond’s band. I think that influence came out in the songwriting and
production of this track. But, man, they’re all my favourites! Truthfully.

LL: Please tell us about the players on the recording.

VC: Nick Stevens is on drums and percussion. I know him from high school band! CC Ellis, Scot

Sutherland, and Cornell Williams all play bass on this record. CC is my touring bass player and
fellow Berklee grad. He’s a great player and a fantastic person. Scot is a monster player and has