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All Hail M’Queen: Fashion Edition
Hey babes and lovers! My name is Anna M’Queen, lead singer of the pop/electronic group Five Knives. Welcome to “All Hail M’Queen,” an invitation into my mind, experiences, opinions, and sense of all things varsity. “Varsity?,” you ask. Believe me, as you continue to follow my new column on Listen! It’s Vetrano, you’ll catch on to all things M’Queen eventually. To kickoff this journey, I’m talking fashion. Specifically my fashion. When it comes to my personal style I love to create a look of stylish effortlessness that pushes limits. That’s varsity! For a street look, I usually stick with black and white, and an occasional splash of color. A classic Kate Moss/Ramones look is a timeless style that…
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Introducing: Gary Bradshaw
I was flipping through a local alternative newspaper while waiting to share coffee with a friend in Nashville a couple of months ago. Half-glancing at the pages as I flipped, I stopped on an article about, or what I thought was about, the popular dating app for gay men I’d heard of, Grindr. What I discovered was the recounting of an anonymous writer’s decision to plunge into the online dating scene after failed attempts at meeting people “the old fashioned way.” To keep his identity veiled from the small Nashville community, he’s known in town only as Gary Bradshaw (a clever play on the iconic Sex & the City character). Having briefly tried online…
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Take 5: Shelly Fairchild
We all love to know what inspires our favorite stars and we want to know what – or who– is behind our favorite lyrics. But why is every interview so damn serious all the time? ‘Take 5’ is a regular feature on Listen! It’s Vetrano that gives readers insight into some of the lighter things in your favorite stars’ lives. And next up in the ‘Take 5’ hot seat, Nashville’s resident bad ass and super vocalist Shelly Fairchild. In an interview with Fairchild earlier in the month, we talked about her return to music with the PledgeMusic campaign she launched online (see: Shelly Fairchild Pledges Return to Music here). In no time at all, the campaign…
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#AskAmanda: Hectic Lives & Fashion Faux Pas
Hello internet! My name is Amanda Valentine. I’m a fashion designer, wardrobe stylist and amateur astrologist. For as long as I can remember, I have also been a giver of advice. When I was in elementary school, I stood by a specific tree during recess and would dole out my view on pressing preadolescent issues: boys, fashion, what to get for lunch, who knows… (what were our problems back then?!). People knew where to find me each day and I reveled in providing a logical impartial view. I’m also a classic Gemini, which means I always see both sides to an issue and I love to communicate. From that tree at recess…
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Best Burgers: Nashville
When you’re in search of the best burgers in Nashville, V for Vetrano comes to your rescue. As a self-appointed burger aficionado, and after many visits to the best (and worst) dining in Music City, I often get asked about where to eat. A tough question when you’re dealing with picky eaters with tons of dietary or preferential restrictions. But there is one thing that never fails: burger places. So long as the menu offers a vegetarian (typically a black bean) burger option, you can always turn to the American classic. As Nashville grows and new dining options pop up on each block corner, it might be tough to decide which ones are…
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Introducing: Anna M’Queen
As her name may suggest, Anna M’Queen is not your average girl. The Five Knives frontwoman is a force of nature. Dancing and jumping her way across a stage while delivering fiery, infectious hooks with her bandmates, M’Queen is primed to be one of the boldest new names in music. Nashville-based Five Knives debuted their punk rock, electronic sound in 2013 with the release of their EP The Rising. It wasn’t long after I saw my first glimpse –at a secret showcase that ultimately landed them a record deal with Red Bull Records– that I knew I was hooked. The fresh beats and unique take on electronic-punk was inspired. And with Anna at…
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Nashville Notables: Leslie Fram
In Nashville, hit songs fill the streets like water on a rainy day and stars are easy to find in the city’s top establishments, but there’s more to Music City than might initially meet the eye. A leader in America’s professional landscape, Nashville is home to many start-ups, large corporations and crucial industries. And while it’s fun to learn more about our favorite celebrities; those that spend most of their time in front of cameras or behind microphones sharing their voices, it’s the people behind them that are making the difference. In an effort to give readers a well-rounded view of the city I call home, I am launching “Nashville Notables,” an interview series with…
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Take 5: Trent Dabbs
We all love to know what inspires our favorite stars and we want to know what – or who– is behind our favorite lyrics. But why is every interview so damn serious all the time? ‘Take 5’ is a regular feature on Listen! It’s Vetrano that gives readers insight into some of the lighter things in your favorite stars’ lives. And next up in the ‘Take 5’ hot seat, Nashville singer-songwriter Trent Dabbs. Last month, I chatted with the singer about his new release Believer, his upcoming plans for a sophomore Sugar & the Hi-Lows record and why he loves Music City. You can read my full interview with Dabbs here. But first, Take 5…
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Introducing: Amanda Valentine
Last week, I announced the roll out of contributing writers to expand the the ‘LIV‘ brand with the inclusion of Feys Design Founder, Joe Feys (if you missed Joe’s first contribution to his “Feys Lift” column, check out “Tasteful Spaces” here). Today, I am thrilled to announce the second contributing writer for Listen! It’s Vetrano, Amanda Valentine, who will dole out her unique prescription of advice to help readers sort out their daily woes in the new column “#AskAmanda.” Amanda is the founder of VALENTINE VALENTINE, a Nashville-based clothing and accessory collection, and celebrity stylist. In 2013, Valentine was selected as a designer to compete on the eleventh season of Lifetime’s hit series Project Runway. Following the success…
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Shelly Fairchild Pledges Return To Music
Remember when country music was still country? Before the days of cross-genre, country-pop, tailgate hits? It was a fantastic time for music, especially in Nashville. It was also a time when Mississippi’s Shelly Fairchild was about to break out as the genre’s hottest new starlet. In 2005, Fairlchild released her debut album Ride on Columbia Records and toured with some of the biggest names, including Rascal Flatts and Blake Shelton. Her single “You Don’t Lie Here” was a Top 40 country hit on the Billboard chart and her voice was unlike any others. Following the success of her debut, Fairchild switched gears –both personally and professionally– and released the soul/rock record Ruby’s Money.…
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Trent Dabbs Makes Us Believe
Trent Dabbs is a Nashville treasure. A singer-songwriter that released his first solo record in 2005; the same year he co-founded the musical collective Ten Out of Tenn. Since then, he has released nine albums, including his latest labor Believer, written songs for artists like Ingrid Michaelson, Mat Kearney, Ashley Monroe and The Civil Wars vocalist Joy Williams, and created the successful duo Sugar & the Hi-Lows with fellow singer-songwriter Amy Stroup. With a new album recently released, a second Sugar & the Hi-Lows album on the way and the 10th Anniversary of Ten Out Of Tenn, this may be Dabbs’ busiest year yet. In a brief moment of downtime, I got…
