Words by
Brion Vytlacil

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Vanessa Daou Web




Last Edit/Update
18 June, 1999

Touch Daou

By Brion Vytlacil

      Knowing that everyone hasn't been exposed to the lush, jazzy chanteuse that is Vanessa Daou, you may try to imagine her. Her music and image collide with a transcendent sigh. Have you ever wished for a dark low-lit back-alley lounge and wanted someone on stage to whisper, perhaps beckon to you from the small stage with a hazy softness that makes you stay for ‘just one more?'  If we could find that space, it would be peopled by women awakening to themselves, men enraptured and throughout the small crowd both wanting, needing to open to the art of voice and atmosphere.

      Vanessa Daou opened the door to this establishment with what has perhaps already become a classic album, Zipless (MCA Records, 1994). Intensely erotic and alluring, the words are by Erica Jong (Peter's aunt), the music by Daou. "This is Peter Daou," the calm, a bit harried, but pleasantly deep voice intoned. In a small moment of shock my spine tingled with the realization that the man, whose careful attention to detail has become the backdrop to the new urban jazz of his wife Vanessa's voice, was talking on the line to me. There are people that you wish to meet and there are people that you want to meet. This is one of the latter, people that are paving the way with a new focus and direction. Talking to them on the phone is a natural and spontaneous experience, for a couple that I have always considered uber-hip. Peter is 33 years old and highly revered in the music arena for his keyboard work and production experience, having worked with Danny Tenaglia, David Morales and a sea of others. He is currently working towards a Ph.D. in Philosophy. Quietly forceful, and with great emphasis he stated to me, "look I believe in gay rights, women's rights, equality in general . . .I want to be able to talk about it, and these letters behind my name will make people listen to what I say".

      Extraordinary, when coming from someone who has an established success in a music career. "Most of the people around us right now are asking the same question, ‘how can you be going to school full time, and releasing a new record?', I just say "I've got to..." I talked with Vanessa, for a couple of hours on their ‘free' night where they sound as if they are cosying up to school books instead of cocktails. Their cat Tiger was setting up some scales in the background. We launched into the conversation with me just being a blatant fan. I complimented her on creating a whole new musical genre. When asked what to call it, this genre blurring amalgam of jazz, pop, sung and spoken word with delicious production, she replied "smart pop". It seems as if every gay man I know has at least one of her discs. Do they want to be her, or, is it just a strange coincidence? This conundrum when posed, she laughingly replied "It's great, I just found out about this cult of listeners, I guess a year and a half ago. I am thrilled, every time someone tells me a story about who is listening, it seems to open my eyes to my work." Singing is not her sole creative effort either, she is a talented artist currently pursuing a Masters in Fine Art.

      Their new effort Plutonium Glow (Daou Music, 1998) melds the future with their signature sound. Much seems to be owed the Internet which is now the home base for the music as well as an online tour of their domain, including galleries of Vanessa's art. The focus has changed from the machinations of a record label to their private space. When talking about the new music Vanessa seems to drift to a new space, or more aptly put "the new Space". "There is this sense of strangeness, almost removal where I feel as if I am looking back at the world from out there," she seems to sigh with longing. If there was a musical ambassador to Mars, I would vote for Vanessa. "Zero G" the most compressed and singular of tracks on the new album conveys "this feeling of claustrophobia, that is at once very personal but very strange at the same time,"she says. Very odd then that the Daou's share a fear of flying. In fact, their tastes in music are also beguiling, with Peter mentioning Charlie Parker and Vanessa dropping names that sent me running: Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Velvet Underground and Bob Marley. "But, your music doesn't sound anything like this," I sputter. I have never been a rock and roller, and hearing that I wondered how they arrived at their smooth vocalese. "It just seemed to flow from us, it is what he and I came up with and it grew from there."

       Vanessa is a delightful creature, one that exudes a sexuality that includes everyone. Her videos, live appearances and art have displayed a very up front openness to all beauty. When asked, she slyly states,"I have never felt constrained, when I've experimented, I always include Peter" with peals of laughter it takes us both a while to catch our breath. Vanessa and I ended our conversation with whom she would most like to meet. "Leonard Cohen . . . and Sade, I have heard that she is a woman that finds beauty in even the most simple things, I admire her." Make that a double. Visit them at www.daoumusic.com. Plutonium Glow (Daou Music, 1998) is available on the Internet or at a store near you.

Daou Discography:
The Daou Head Music (Columbia, 1992) Full Length
Surrender Yourself (Columbia, 1993) Single
Give Myself to You (Tribal America, 1993) Single
Are You Satisfied? (Tribal America, 1994) Single
Vanessa Daou Zipless (MCA Records, 1994, 1995) Full Length
Near the Black Forest (MCA Records , 1994, 1995) Import Single
Slow to Burn (MCA Records, 1996) Full Length
Two to Tango (MCA Records, 1996)
Single Plutonium Glow (DaouMusic, 1997, 1998) Full Length.