Award winning soul pop artist Veronica Fusaro is no newcomer to Mumbai city, for the Swiss – Italian songstress has visited the country on two occasions for live performances. Fusaro celebrates life, love, the things she sees around her, nature, into lyrics and songs that ignite a spark in anyone who listens to them.

Since the release of her self-produced EP "Lost In Thought" in 2016, Fusaro has wowed audiences at Glastonbury, the Eurosonic Festival and as support act for Mark Knopfler and Eagle-Eye Cherry. She’s built a solid fanbase and her EPs "Ice Cold" (2018) and "Sunkissed" (2019) both reached chart positions.

With her just released debut album ‘All The Colors of the Sky’ a few months ago, 24 year old Fusaro  joins the ranks of top female artists making music today.

One senses that Veronica Fusaro wrote most of her first album in her basement studio, far away from noise and visual stimuli. In the quiet there she could observe "the modern world of ours” as well as her inner self. Her lyrics sympathetically tackle today’s challenges such as information overload, pressure to succeed and ideals.

In a telephonic chat with Verus Ferreira, Fusaro opens her heart on her life, her music, her album and of course why she loves Mumbai so much. Read on to discover this amazing singer – songwriter whose distinctive vocals and seductive beats have mesmerized many.

So let’s go back to when it all started for you.

It all started off very harmless, I always enjoyed listening to music and making music. I used to sing in the school choirs and school bands, whenever there was an opportunity to sing I was first in the row. In the third grade I then started going to guitar lessons, which I didn’t enjoy that much in the moment, but looking back it influenced my current playing a lot. I went to lessons for three years, and then eventually stopped going because I wanted to play and sing other songs than the ones my teacher suggested me. From there on I started learning on my own, and I also started writing songs. And here we are today, this thing called music that I always enjoyed doing just developed into this passion of mine, into this friend I can always turn to.

Were you in any music bands before moving out as a solo artist?

Haha, yes I was. You’re bringing back some memories… Well the first band I was in was in secondary school, the school band. And then in High School I was in a jazz school band, but I also kind of started my own band, gathering some people I knew from secondary school. We called ourselves Fallout Queens, and we did a few little gigs.

Besides you, is anyone from your family into music?

My parents both listen to music, especially my dad enjoys music a lot, but they’re not musical. My brother is actually really musical, and he started writing songs a while back. I think he’s pretty good.

Did you have a specific moment in your life when you knew that music was what you wanted to do?

I always mention my first gig with the school band in secondary school as the moment I knew I wanted to make music for a living. That was the first time I stood on a stage, and the other students were cheering for us and it was all super fun. Actually committing to being a musician full time, was not a difficult choice per se, but I was definitely a little scary. I was at uni at that time, but I was barely there anymore because I was playing so many shows. So I decided to take the leap and pursue my dream.

You are really open about how your song-writing process is with some really touching lyrics. From your first 'Lost in thought'to your full length album you have just released, how has the songwriting process changed over the past few years. Do you think that’s influenced your music sound too?

I think I just grew as a person and got better as a musician, gained more knowledge and therefore my way of writing changed as well. I was going to write that I probably thought a little less while writing, and now I have the tendency to overthink, but then again we always tend to remember the past being easier than the present. What’s definitely changed is my image and vision of how I want my music to sound. I drifted away from rather electronic sounds and found my true heart loves handmade music.

You recently released your album ‘All The Colors of The Sky’. Tell us something about this lovely title you chose and what it means. What was it like putting this collection together? 

The album title is inspired by the sunset at my grandmas place in Italy. The sky went from blue, to purple, to yellow and red. Truly beautiful. I love looking at the sky, I think there’s something breathtaking about it.‘All the Colors of The Sky' also means a full spectrum of colors and emotions, which are also to be found on the album. That’s why I went for this title.

One of the songs in the album'Because they love you' a great sax interlude. So you fuse various music genres into your songs, jazz, pop and soul pop. Does this come very easy to you, or do you plan each song specifically?

It’s actually a trombone, such a lovely instrument. It comes very naturally to me, every lyrics longs for a specific attitude of the instruments, for specific melodies. I just imagine what I want the story I’m telling to sound like, and then I work on that vision together with the produced, in this case it’s Moses Van den Bogaerde.

What’s the inspiration behind the songs on this new collection? Which is your favorite?

Life and the world surrounding me. I write about things that I care about, that won’t let me sleep. There’s various things I sing about on this album, some songs are about heartbreak, grey clouds and hatred, others about life in this modern world of ours, and again other are about falling in love and healing. And ugh, tough question… my favorite.... they are all my babies.

Songs like ‘Better with You’ and ‘Beach’, offer contrasting fun lyrics. Tell us something about the songs.

‘Better With You‘ is a love song, a little thank you to somebody who’s able to brighten up my days, who makes every bad and good situation better no matter what. ‘Beach‘ is about wanting to be happy, but instead of finding out the true reason why you’re not happy you distract yourself with pretty little things. Only problem is, that these distractions have an expiration date and the serotonins won’t last for long.

In your promo images and video for ‘Beach' and 'Cry Me an Ocean' you wear some interesting heart shaped glasses.

Yes I do, well observed. They’re a gift from my friend Tom Davies, he designed them.

Most of the songs you write are about love relationships? Are any of your songs personal notes from your life experiences?

They’re almost all personal experiences, maybe sometimes I exaggerate a little or mix it up with a situation a friend of mine has gone through. Writing songs is like therapy for me, I know this is super cliché but it’s true. I am so so so glad there’s music in my life, so I can digest the things and thoughts that turmoil me.

Typically, how do you go about writing your songs? Do you follow one process for them all? 

It varies from song to song. sometimes I write down a sentence that comes up in my mind, and then I go about finding the fitting melody, and sometimes it’s the chords that are trying to tell me what story they want to accompany.

A few of your songs like 'Venom', 'Rollercoaster’are not part of the album playlist. How did you pick and choose the songs you wanted on your album?

It’s quite tough to be honest. I had around 20 songs that were candidates for the album. In the end I just go for the songs that feel like they belong on one record together, songs that tell a story and paint the full picture of an album.

You’ve been in the music scene since 2016, what would you say was one of your proudest achievements?

When I got to open for Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits at the amphitheater in Nîmes, France. The venue is beautiful, and I got to play in front of 13k people. I never sold that much merch after a show either. I really, truly enjoyed it a lot.

Was there ever a time when you thought about doing something else besides music? If you weren’t a musician today, what else could you have been?

Not really… I mean I have different interests and I like to learn about things, but if it’s about picturing myself doing something else it’s really difficult. Nothing feels as right as doing what I’m doing now. Music.

Who would you say is your biggest influence in music?

That’s a tough one… I can name you a few artists that have influenced me throughout the years: Amy Winehouse, Frank Ocean, Lana Del Rey, Vasco Rossi. But also the whole Motown era, I LOVE the Silk Sonic project, I’m really into what Omar Apollo is doing at the moment… and many many more of course.

What have been the challenges you faced in your music career?

I think it’s pretty tough being able to build a fanbase outside of Switzerland, to build a momentum outside of my home territory.

You have been to Mumbai twice, what memories do you have of the city and India in general.

Both times were really really cool. It was great being able to meet some people at my shows who had been messaging me on Instagram before. It’s so surreal to know that there’s people who care about my music so far away from home. I feel very appreciative of how this all came together and that I get to do this. The second show that I got to play (Tata Theatre, NCPA) with my band was especially memorable to me, the venue was beautiful and the crowd was super engaged. What I also remember is obviously the great food you guys have. I got to have a little taste of your diverse cuisine.

So what’s your favorite food. Did you also manage to pick up a few lines of Hindi?

I had delicious paneer last time in Mumbai, I don’t remember the place of the restaurant but it was so so sooo good. Everything at that place was acutally so good, Sunil from 9122 Records took us to that place. As for Hindi, I just know the word Namaste. But I’d love to learn more.

You’ve traveled through many countries while being on tour, would you plan to add India to one of your favorite destinations?

I’d surely add India to one of my favorites places, absolutely. The people are super welcoming, super kind and nice, and your food is great.

The year has just begun and your album hits the record stores. What are some of the goals that you have set yourself to do for 2023?

Firstly I would like to nail the upcoming gigs of my All The Colors of The Sky Tour. I have a new band, new set, and I cannot wait to play the songs of the album live. And then obviously just want to keep spreading the word about my music, and hopefully be able to come back to India for a tour.

You sing some fabulously classic stuff, sonically heartwarming and songs that anyone would like to sing-along. So what according to you would you say is good music?

Thank you for your kind words, appreciate it! For me good music is honest music. People who keep it real, a song doesn’t need to sound perfect in order to be perfect. It just needs to feel right, it’s hard to explain but I guess that’s what music is able to do: It’s able to provoke feelings that are hard to capture by words only. It’s the words wrapped in the right chords, melodies and sounds which make a song special.

Can you give a message to our young readers who will be reading about you and also checking out to your music for the first time?

Hey there, nice to meet you. My new album ‘All The Colors of The Sky‘ is just out, and I poured all of my heart and passion into it. From time to time my world crumbles into pieces, I fall apart, lose myself in the hurry and chaos of this world. Maybe you feel like that too sometimes, and that’s okay. The tears will dry, the warmth will be back. Don’t be too hard on yourself, it’s going the alright. And maybe some of these songs could be your little ray of sunshine that peaks through a grey colored sky. It would make my day if you gave it a listen.

Thank you so much, take care and have a nice day.

Interviewed by Verus Ferreira