Vegan Queen V
Jim Moore 0:14
Hello, my name is Jim, this is my podcast the bloody vegans. You're very welcome to it. Each week I'll be travelling ever deeper into the world of veganism, discovering along the way a multitude of viewpoints from the political and ethical to the practical. Are we doing this through a series of conversations, aiming to further illuminate my understanding, and hopefully yours, of all things plant centric, and this week is no different is Episode 61. Christmas is fast approaching. And this week, I'm joined by vegan Queen v singer, songwriter, vegan activist, she does it all. Vegan Queen v. and a little bit of a spoiler alert for you at the end of the episode. Stay tuned. You know, when you when you usually get to the end, you get there, the outro music and that's all that's all for this week. Well, this week, slightly different. We've got a vegan Queen V's Christmas single, in fact, it's going to be one of two singles. This Christmas that vegan queen bee is releasing, she's gonna debut the first one on on the body vegans podcast at the end of this episode. And we're going to hear the second one. And at the end of next week's episode, which is very exciting. So without further ado, here's a conversation between me and vegan Queen v.
Vegan Queen V 1:49
I was vegetarian from the age of eight. And I went vegetarian because I made that connection that it's not right to kill animals, especially when we don't need to. And I sort of went throughout my teens with this in mind, you know, I love animals. So that's why I'm vegetarian. And it wasn't actually until I moved to London, which was January of 2016. And I started working at this music venue. And in that music venues, there were a few musicians who I became friends with, who were vegan. And they basically said, you know, why aren't you vegan? And I was like, Well, why would I be and from that they they showed me the documentaries, like cowspiracy, Forks Over Knives, and Earthlings. And then after that, I was like, I just couldn't believe what I was saying. And I didn't I didn't feel any any guilt that I had not been vegan until that point, but I knew there was that was what I needed to do. It was Yeah, considering animals were the reason I was vegetarian. And seeing how vile the the dairy industry is the egg industry. Yeah, so that was what what made me go vegan. And I've been vegan since May of that year 2016
Jim Moore 3:10
So was that was that it for them them hearing that you were vegetarian and you were vegetarian for kind of ethical reasons that they sort of spotted the logical consistency if you like, and wanted to help you out with that.
Vegan Queen V 3:23
Absolutely. And I really was ignorant to it. And I had never and this this sounds really crazy to me now, considering how I feel and what I know. But I had never questioned where am I my weather, cow's milk that I was drinking was coming from who it was coming from how it had been obtained, how it was even available for me. You know, in the same same with the egg industry just never even occurred for me to think about where these eggs had come from what it means for me to be eating these eggs. And you know, what it means for my health and all that stuff, too. And so I'm you know, I'm so so glad that I was sort of I was schooled, and I feel a hell of a lot better for it.
Jim Moore 4:13
Looking back on on that, and sort of that time, and the fact that you were you were obviously you know, in London, in a in, amongst friends who were musicians and so on, which I'd imagine. I don't know, statistically from profession basis, but I would imagine there's probably a higher percentage of vegans in in the world of ants and and so on. I don't know that I've made that statistic up, but like from the point of view of transitioning to veganism in London and then thinking back to your, your previous world, up north, in you know, Yorkshire and so on. Do you think it was you know, magnitude easier to become vegan in that kind of, you know, urban environment. I'm surrounded by lots of vegan restaurants and, and so on so forth.
Vegan Queen V 5:04
Absolutely, yes. The thing about London is that the animal exploitation side of things that are quite the hidden because there aren't really any farms and there aren't fields where you see sheep and cows and the pigs and, and chickens. And then at the same time as not having those things you as you say you also have the vegan restaurants or the vegetarian restaurants and you know, there's Green Bay, I think it's called in the west of London, which is like an all vegan supermarket. And every single restaurant you'll have either a vegan menu, or at least a menu with vegan options. And yeah, it was incredibly easy to transition even though when I was a vegetarian, trying to eat healthily, I ate things like egg whites and Greek yoghurt so healthy not by going from eating those sorts of things, literally every meal, and to not, I thought it would be really difficult for me, but it was super easy. Like I did there was not one meal or one day that I was like oh I'm really struggling with this
Jim Moore 6:22
and I take it you know you were obviously vegetarian since you were eight years old. So I take it there was a was there a family influence there and you becoming vegetarian to begin with?
Unknown Speaker 6:32
Um,
Vegan Queen V 6:33
there was a my auntie, and it's a bit of a strange one. Her and my uncle live live lived on this? Is it smallholding right with them? You know, little farm? And so, you know, they did, they did? Well, my uncle did eat animals and I'm kind of assuming probably the ones he was raising. But she was vegetarian and you know, they had these animals they had dogs and and I got the chance to really connect with animals and also having her as an influence official definitely was a help for me getting on to my vegetarian journey at least.
Jim Moore 7:16
And being around you know, quite a an agricultural world, you know, in when were you kind of grew up? What was your your vegetarianism at the time, considered quite, quite odd, if you like with sort of, you know, your friendship groups and so on, who I'd imagine there's probably some links within the farming community and so on.
Vegan Queen V 7:37
Oh, yes, some length? And to be honest, yes, it was sometimes met with, yeah, like negativity, but most of the time, I guess, because it is quite obvious to a lot of people that killing at least killing isn't right, or it's not nice. And so I think somebody can understand, if somebody doesn't want to eat that animal. You know, obviously, the dairy industry in the egg industry is slightly more than not different. But on the surface of it, they seem different. And, and I think that's why it's a lot harder for people to get their heads around veganism.
Jim Moore 8:18
There's a, there's a probably a sense, I think it still sort of exists now that veganism is a is perceived by some as a luxury of those living in the city, if you like and, or something that is, you know, for people who don't understand the the ways of the countryside, and so on and so forth. You know, we see this sort of argument within, as a spurious as it is in hunting, you know, that, you know, it's for people who are opposed to it, or just people who don't understand the world of the countryside and so on. As someone who's kind of grown up in that, why do you think that sort of that viewpoint exists? Do you think it's as simple as kind of cognitive dissonance or, you know, what do you think is behind that?
Vegan Queen V 9:04
I think that's a massive part of it. Because you know, when you when you growing up, surrounded by these animals, you have to make a choice in your head, you know, either it's right or it's wrong. And obviously, all the the people and the culture around you, you know, the fact that you like these products, the fact that you've been told that these products are healthy for you. Because the animals have that I feel like yes, even more so you've got this cognitive dissonance because you can see them you can see that they are individuals, you can see that they're living their lives, and you can probably assume they don't want to die. And so to then see them and continue to eat them. You've Yeah, the stuff going on in your your head there to really justify your actions, I think.
Jim Moore 9:59
Yeah, I think Right. And I was reminded of something I saw somebody online talking about a while ago, I think it was George George mom, Bo The, the writer and he was talking about, um, you know, when you kind of go past fields in, you know, in, in the countryside and perhaps on a train or whatever. And in the past, you know, you'd go past those thinking of them as kind of like Delhi, you know, that there's this sort of, you know, peaceful serene world. And then over the course of time, particularly she think about kind of environmental breakdown and collapse, how animal agriculture is from the taking over the landscape, you start to see this patchwork of fields, and actually think what was there before, that's kind of a desert FIDE landscape, if you like, it's just grass, whereas it was, you know, woodland and so on and thick with, with wildlife. So like, I'm just really conscious of, you know, you've moved away from from being surrounded by that into this central central London, kind of, you know, hub, where you perhaps worthwhile aren't seeing those things. And then and then more recently, you've you've kind of gone back home if you like, Yeah, what's that experience been like for you?
Vegan Queen V 11:14
Yes. So I moved back north at the beginning of the pandemic, because all the work dried up, and you, you can't pay rent, you can't live in London without, you know, having a job to pay your rent. So I made the decision to move back up north, at the end of April. Luckily, luckily, there's a situation up here that means I you know, I have somewhere to live, and I don't have to live with my parents, which obviously I love my parents, but it's it's nice to have freedom and, you know, be able to do exactly what you want to do when you want to do it. And so yes, I've been very lucky. But it's been kind of a two sided one, yes, you've got the countryside, you've got the open air. And I've realised having been down to London a couple of times jarring lockdown. And the air is just so much more dirty down there. And I didn't realise it when I was there. But now I've come back up north, it's like, oh, my goodness, and like the the air smells in London. And obviously the noise and the traffic, the pollution. And so having that sort of clarity, I guess, up here is there's been really wonderful. But yeah, there are definitely negatives, sort of being now vegan, being aware of animals that they are individuals that they you know, feel happiness and sadness and pain. They don't want to die, obviously, because we don't want to die we want to live and I'm surrounded by that here with the farms, anywhere, any direction you walk, you're going to see some sort of some form of animal exploitation. And it's it's really difficult Actually, it's it's really makes me really sad and you can't escape it. So it's just yeah, it's everywhere.
Jim Moore 13:17
We'll cut we'll come on to it, you know, in a moment to talk about, you know, the music and so on. But what how is it how's it kind of manifested itself that feeling of perhaps, being confronted with, with kind of animal agriculture in the way that you have been? How's it manifested itself in terms of how you feel, perhaps how you vocalise that, to friends, and so on? Is it? Is it perhaps strained any more relationships to where you were before? Or is it been something that you've been able to just channel into the music?
Vegan Queen V 13:46
Yeah, it's funny, you say that I'm actually at the moment sort of going through something with my family. And because they're not, they're not vegan, they're not vegetarian. And obviously, when I was here, before I was vegetarian, so yes, I, I, you know, didn't want animals to die. But that was kind of as far as it went. Whereas now it's just it's kind of like your heads exploded. There's just so much information and the reality of the world and the hypocrisy, hypocrisy, hypocrisy, I can never say that word hypocrisy and the corruption and it's not now I see all that. And you know, my family is still they don't see it. And that's just been so difficult because it's not it's not just about the animals even though I'm I'm vegan for the animals and that's who I'm campaigning for. And that's who I'm speaking slash singing for. But obviously, the the insane side of the health benefits of a plant based diet I say insane because, you know, we've been told our whole lives meat and dairy is, is literally the opposite. And so having that with my family, you know, I sent them so many different things, different studies, and it's still not getting through and it's, it's, it's really a horrible place for me to be in because like, you know, I really feel like they're damaging themselves. But they won't stop and yeah, it's difficult, it's difficult.
Jim Moore 15:26
That one is is really, really challenging, especially this time of year because you're often confronted with it being sat around the the sort of the dinner tables perhaps a bit more frequently, or perhaps, you know, we'd locked down etc, maybe not so much. But typically speaking at this time of year, year, round the round the family table, and these debates come up, because you know, the foods in front of us and yeah, like, like yourself, have definitely felt that, that it comes from a place of love, you know, you don't want them to do harm to eat to themselves as much as the planet and animals but very difficult to know how to land that message effectively.
Vegan Queen V 16:03
It really is. And yeah, they've got quite angry at me. I mean, I've just been very persistent, you know, but very, very calm, but just sort of sending them all the information, the facts, and obviously, the facts contradict the narrative that they have going on in their heads. So they get angry, and they obviously get angry at me because I'm relaying this information. But it's fine, they can get angry at me, I just, I just hope that it's kind of the stage in that that journey. And you know, that one day, something will click and, you know, they'll they'll choose a plant based diet, because it's, you know, as we know, it's the best diet of her every single reason.
Jim Moore 16:54
Yeah, 100% often think, you know, five minutes before we all decided to go vegan, we were probably resistant, you know, until we until something clicked. So I do think, you know, perhaps what you say is part of a journey, even if you know, somebody might be quite a way back from the end goal of that journey.
Vegan Queen V 17:15
Yeah, I think that's where I struggle a little bit trying to emphasise because although I was incredibly ignorant, as I say, for not actually questioning where these products I was consuming were coming from, I still thought that I was doing the right thing. And as soon as I found out, I wasn't doing the right thing. It didn't take me long at all to adjust my lifestyle to follow you know, what I should be doing, really. And obviously, a lot of people don't have that in them. Or at least not straightaway. And I because I never had that, oh, I don't care. It's my food. Oh, I don't care, you know, and we're meant to eat me or animals are put here for us to eat all that stuff. I never I never had that all these excuses. So I do find it quite difficult to put myself in another person's shoes who you know, do have these excuses arising when they hear the truth basically.
Jim Moore 18:19
You Yeah, it really is it really is challenging to have empathy when there's so many sort of incontrovertible facts, you know, but but I suppose with the same token, we do live in an age of misinformation, you know, and, and sort of, you can find a study or a stamp to prove anything. Definitely found that recently, you know, that they are if you saw it, but that was a Oxford University study that, that talked about bone density and, and fractures and so on. And they didn't really come to the conclusion that if you were vegan, you are more likely to break your ankle or whatever. But that was at least the headline and, and so we have I've had a few folks sort of send that one my way. Which is, which is always quite interesting. So yeah, I think you could always find something to backup your your viewpoint until you're ready to change, you know, like that. It's difficult when when somebody is just not ready.
Vegan Queen V 19:23
Yeah. Is the I mean, it's all part of the whole thing. If you go vegan, then you are more enlightened, and then you feel better and your body feels better. You You think better, you sleep better, you have more energy, but because of society and how we're brought up and you know, money and jobs and nine till fives, it's just so impossible to get to that point. I think for a lot of people.
Jim Moore 19:53
They make a really good point, actually about that. The sort of the nine to five and in the in this The thick of sort of modern Western culture if you like it, because I often think this, you know, a worry sometimes I, you know, I talk about veganism a lot, obviously with the, with the podcast and so on. And so when you know, when you're in that, that bubble, you sort of assume everything is natural and logical, and everyone's done the same amount of research or read the same things. And then sometimes, you know, confronted with, you know, a social justice mood issue that I haven't necessarily looked into, and somebody is equally as passionate and knowledgeable about that thing. And, you know, I was trying to at least challenge myself to be open to that, and sort of draw the parallel with where I was at with veganism. And I think that that does give you a hope that veganism gives you that. But I do think you're right, insofar as there is a limited amount of hours in people's days and trying to get across every single thing that our kind of culture is doing wrong, is is is raised as a real challenge that because there's so much that that is that there's an injustice out there, and you'd almost have to completely disconnect from society not to be doing some level of damage to something or someone which is more just of amusing than a question. We get just sort of go right back. I'm really intrigued as to where you started out on your musical journey. You know, what was the, the initial kind of seed of inspiration? Was it something that you came to, you know, in your kind of very young life?
Vegan Queen V 21:43
Yeah, music musics been a massive part of my life. I, I started playing the violin when I was seven. And I thought that my mom wanted me to play the violin, but she says no, it was my choice. So we're just gonna have to agree to disagree there. But anyway, I picked up the violin and really enjoyed it. And then when I was 10, my sisters were having piano lessons, of course, I wanted piano lessons. So I started piano when I was 10. And from that, I started listening to you know, pop songs and songs that I really loved, I just kind of naturally from having these lessons and having you know, knowing my way around a piano, and then hearing these pop songs that I really loved, I would then bring them to the piano and work them out for myself on the piano and sing. And artists like Darren Hayes from Savage Garden. And Hanson were a big favourite of mine. And then from sort of playing other people's songs I love just kind of started naturally writing my own, you know, using the same chords and then messing about with the chords and lyrics and all this. And, you know, never stopped writing since that moment. And you know, I've been through bands, different bands, I found a band with my two best mates at high school, which was awesome. Lots of harmonies and things like that, and, and then I went to uni, in Leeds, Leeds, Leeds college music, and then did a degree. And then I did a Master's because I didn't know what the hell I was going to do with my life. And then after that, yeah, it was just sort of into professional musician, world of songwriting sessions and weddings, and, you know, writing my own songs for my artists project at the time. And, and then, that took me to America for quite a few years. I wasn't living there, but I had a visa so I could travel back and forward. And I thought I was going to sort of lay roots in America. But these things got messed up. And I ended up moving to London, and I'm so glad. I mean, I met I miss a lot of people in America, but I'm glad I don't live there. Not that the UK is much better, but it's definitely better.
Jim Moore 24:10
Certainly the last four years in particular,
Vegan Queen V 24:13
it's been an interesting, interesting times. But then, you know, being a songwriter in piano vocalist, and when I went vegan, I just naturally started writing songs for the animals because that was, you know, the thing I was most passionate about. And up until that moment, it had been mostly songs about relationships and love, girlfriends, boyfriends, and it was I was so bored and so over it. Especially nice to write about something important.
Jim Moore 24:48
Did you know I mean, I've got a few questions I'd love to explore battlax is quite sort of fascinating kind of journey of Firstly, at what point did you decide because for many people you know they they might be deeply passionate about playing music and and maybe have a talent but at what point did you think you know this is definitely the way I want to go this is the career for me
Vegan Queen V 25:12
it was um I'm gonna get the ages wrong here but I think is it 16 on you do work experience
Jim Moore 25:22
experience but i think i think it's around about then isn't it it's around GCSEs
Vegan Queen V 25:26
yeah so at that point and as I said I was playing music in a band with my two best mates and I was doing violin and piano and also drums and guitar although I'm absolutely rubbish at both. And you know, I tried Yeah, so I kind of music was becoming a bigger and bigger part of my life. And you know, I've been writing these songs for a few years at that point. And I had wanted to be Yvette since a very young age because you know, I just loved animals so much. And I went to a school called skips and Hills High School, which is very academic and so yeah, I was kind of swayed in that direction. But then as I said, you know, music was becoming more and more of an important part of my life and I decided to do my work experience we get a week in, you know, in an industry in a place of our choice basically. And I chose while I'm going to go to Kingsway that switches the local vets in in Skipton which is where I grew up and went to school and and I just had a horrible time it just you know the smell when you go into the vet and i don't know that i mean that just didn't seem to be that much love and compassion there is as they are very clinical and I was like yeah this this isn't for me. This journey is not for me incidentally at the same time my best mate who was I was in a band with a she actually went on to be a vet so I kind of you know saw how it would have been through her eyes and we it just wouldn't have worked because you know that's have to work with farmers don't they? And yeah, there's some they have to do some horrible things actually and if you are a vet because you're a compassionate person and you love animals I think actually there's quite a lot of conflicts of interest that happen during you know your your work
Jim Moore 27:30
and you know before the US sort of struck upon this this kind of idea that actually what you wanted to do was combine your compassion your passion for music and your kind of compassion for animals you know into your into your songwriting was that a bit of a you know, hard transition had you developed by that point? You know, an audience for what you did a way to kind of make a living making the music that you were making was that was that a tough switch? Do you kind of lose some people if you like, long that way?
Unknown Speaker 28:01
I'm
Vegan Queen V 28:03
definitely lost a lot of friends of veganism well with a friends new acquaintances. But open till this summer, and I've had quite a somewhat eclectic career probably not no portfolio. That's not a very different word from eclectic portfolio Korea, in which I have, you know, written my own songs for me, but then I've written my own songs for film and TV. Or I've written songs for different artists collaborated with different songwriters, different producers, for myself and for other projects, or being a session vocalist for lots of songwriters who are great songwriters, but they're not so good at singing. And various bands I've been in and I've done weddings and events as a piano vocalist just solo saying and so it's been quite I don't say easy because I've definitely had obviously periods of not a lot of work but it's it's been quite easy to to make an okay you know, career from it and save us money. And then when I went moved down to London, it was very easy in that I had a residency at this music venue for the whole time I was there basically. And then they opened up a new nother venue, which means more work and which was amazing for the paying the London rent side of things, but not so great in terms of concentrating on the animal rights songs. And so as I say, now that that job is no longer I have the time to focus on the animal rights songs and yeah, it's I know it's what I'm supposed to be doing.
Jim Moore 29:58
What was the sort of the first First kind of song that you you wrote in that kind of mould in the guess that almost a form of activism is the way I describe it the the first the first song that you wrote what was the reaction that you got from people within the within the vegan community and then and then perhaps you know outside of it
Vegan Queen V 30:19
um I mean so when I was releasing my songs at the same time I was trying to educate people about you know, the different aspects of veganism and the different aspects of the animal agricultural industries. And so, obviously if you already get it, if you know it, then you know, you appreciate the songs and you enjoy the songs but if you're the opposite, and you don't get it, then obviously as well as being annoyed by my songs, you're going to be annoyed by the fact that I'm posting and I was quite angry at the beginning I'll be honest with you when I saw when I saw these documentaries cowspiracy and Earthlings I thought as I think most vegans do there you know, I had no idea this was the reality and surely if other people see these, these documentaries, they're going to realise what's going on and wake up and you know, feel the same anger that I was feeling and obviously that's that's not the case for a lot of people like my family and a few friends and it got me quite angry they knew the truth but they were still continuing to you know, act in the ways that they were
Jim Moore 31:40
yet completely completely understand that understand, you know, thinking about like, when you you know, you've put a lot with you know, some awesome songs out on your, you know, your YouTube channel, for example, as kind of grown over the, the two or three years that you've been posting some amazing kind of vegan vegan music, vegan focused music I should say, like, what's, what's that? What the, you know, because the online world can be wonderful, but it can also be really, really hostile place. Have you seen some of those those kind of views crystallise one way or the other you know, through through particularly putting your work out there on places like YouTube?
Vegan Queen V 32:21
Yeah, definitely. I mean, I've been I think I've been quite lucky so far. I've not had like too many trolls or like trolling comments. I've had some really nasty comments but I mean, he just kind of expected don't you, especially with an issue such as veganism but I've kind of got to the point now like if I do get nasty comments, I just I don't even respond anymore unless there's a question in there or something that we can start having a discussion about I don't even give them the time because you know, they clearly don't want to learn or they they're not interested in veganism about what I'm singing about they just want to cause you know, some Distress in me and it doesn't work anymore fortunately for them I think it's
Jim Moore 33:03
pretty good good strong attitude towards and I love that idea of you know, unless there's a question in it I'm not gonna get involved with like nothing that's that's probably good advice for anyone really?
Vegan Queen V 33:16
How easy though isn't it to to want to you know, these people will say something like bacon or something really just really dumb and it's your first instinct to you know, it's that fight or flight isn't it? It's your first instinct Hey now you're on blah blah how can how dare you say this but that's just give yourself you know, an hour or whatever go back to it and then you'll be not be having you know, the blood in your brain will not be in that area, it will have gone back to the rational thinking and calm area and you'll probably realise Actually, it's Yes, just not worth your time.
Jim Moore 33:54
You think thinking about like the this form of this form of activism, making music that highlights the plight of so many animals. If you had you know, many, many folks kind of respond in a way that's sort of almost actually you've you've kind of helped them along that journey. You know, any any folks who are transitioning who've perhaps, listened to the lyrics of one of your songs and it's, it's, it's crystallised a thought for them?
Unknown Speaker 34:24
Yeah,
Vegan Queen V 34:25
I've heard that a few times. And that's, you know, obviously one of the main reasons I write the songs and do the videos for people who aren't vegan to maybe question their actions. But because I've not got a massive following yet. Most of the comments I get are from vegans. And you know, obviously, they are the ones who are searching for vegan music. And obviously, most of their all of their comments are always really positive and I also love that aspect of it. In that, it's turned out that a lot of activists can use my music in their activism. You know, maybe they're holding a stole or something, they want to play something in the background or, you know, maybe a cube of truth or something, I think my songs have been played out a few of those. And you know, because it's just having this music in the background, it just adds something to what is going on. And you know, music can really, you know, it can affect people. And if you have that element as well, I think a lot of people appreciate having the songs, you know, for what the message they're trying to put across as well, which is fantastic. And I'm really glad that my songs can be used in that way.
Jim Moore 35:47
Do you think it's almost an underutilised sort of medium, you know, in the, in the world of vegan activism? You know, to me, your I can't, I can't really name many other artists who focus on raising the issues around veganism. As as, as, as you you know, there aren't many that I can think of, it's Do you think it is, you know, something that is kind of almost missed by the sort of vegan community as a as a, as a potential channel to get the message out there?
Vegan Queen V 36:21
Um, yeah, I mean, that there are quite a lot of people doing vegan music. And I hate to say what I'm about to say, because it's gonna sound like like a complete bitch. But a lot of the music just isn't, I don't want to say it's not that good, because it's not that it's not good. It just doesn't appeal to, like mainstream. And the thing, it's really difficult to get the messages you want to get across the vegan messages, without it sounding cheat. And without it sounding really cheesy, or kind of a bit stupid. And even if you know, the person singing and writing these lyrics, you know, they are, so it means so much to them, I think it's quite difficult to, as I say, get the message across so that the mainstream can, they can reach those people, and they're going to, you know, they're going to enjoy the music, the lyrics aren't going to be too jarring for them, but hopefully, enough to make them think about what they're doing.
Jim Moore 37:25
I think that that's a really valid point, actually, and something I definitely noticed within your music is that, you know, it's was there is there's, there's a focus on on an issue and emoting a certain set of, of feelings about the issue. You certainly, you know, outside of like the, sort of the more fun elements, the parody, songs and so on. And that there is a sense of actually making good music is, is just as important as the message. Yeah, you know, would you say that that was kind of intentional from from the outset to you?
Vegan Queen V 38:01
Yeah, well, I'm really appreciative of how my journey has occurred. And I want it to be, I want it to be famous, and I want it to be, you know, a pop star, and I had a plan, I was just going to make loads of money, and then just give it away. I mean, it's kind of still my plan. But that, you know, I didn't as I say, all I wrote about was, you know, the usual things that you hear with the charts that, you know, my boyfriend doesn't love me anymore. And that, you know, I wrote a lot of songs. But having writing written the songs, and you know, with so many, I've had hundreds of CO writes with different people and with different producers, and, you know, if you're doing something every day for years, you're gonna get good at it. Hopefully, you know, and if I had, if I'd become vegan, when I started writing songs, then I wouldn't have had that experience and that skill set to be able to write a good catchy song. And, equally if if I'd gone on to have success with the project that I had, when I sort of first really began putting myself out into the world, it wouldn't have been any good because it didn't have this message of veganism which for me just is so important because it's not just about the animals even though that you know, is that the main thing but it's also about your health and your happiness, and your fitness. And, you know, just your energy levels and and I'm so glad that not I'm kind of coming at this now. What am I trying to say? I'm just I'm glad I'm basically glad I didn't make it before I went vegan.
Jim Moore 39:52
No, no. We were
Vegan Queen V 39:54
saying it in a really shit long way. So sorry, everybody.
Jim Moore 39:58
No, no, not at all. think it makes it does make perfect sense, you know, without that prior experience, yeah. Would you be? Would you be able to be doing what you're doing and combine the messages combined the message in such a powerful way? You know, maybe not. Don't know about that. I think you said it far more eloquently. But yeah, I completely completely understand that thinking about like the you know, I'm really intrigued you mentioned this point about the work kind of drawing up and and on was was not directly veganism on the nose. I'm just intrigued from a point of view of speaking to an artist, what, what's the pandemic been like for you from a, from the point of view of, you know, your career, I'd imagine for many artists, this has been a real, a real challenge and continues to be so in terms of like, often the bread and butter of the work is live performance, you know, so, I'm just intrigued to what your experience has been like, and how you've kind of cope through it.
Vegan Queen V 41:05
Yeah. I mean, I had been at this this venue in London. I play different venues. But there's one venue that I was a resident piano vocalist that and, and the first couple of years absolutely loved, it just couldn't believe I was making money doing the thing that I loved. And but then being in the same venue playing the same music, be seeing the same faces, and you know, both band wise and audience wise it kind of eventually as they are kind of getting a bit over this now it's getting a little bit old. And so for me, when long time happens, I was actually I was ready for something new. So that timing wise worked out pretty good for me. I realise that is not the case for everyone. But for me, it was it was good that things had to change. So and I moved up, well, before I moved up north, I actually did a few live streams down in London, set that all up absolute nightmare trying to set up live streams, I can't cannot tell you how fiddly it is how complicated it is. And I spent days trying to figure it out. Because it feels like it should be quite simple. And to be honest, if you just go live from your phone, it is very simple. But if you if you want to have a good, you know, make it look nice. And if you want the sound to be really nice, and you want it to look professional, sound professional. That's Yeah, it's a lot of work. And a lot of different things that can go wrong, and do go wrong. So yes, sorry.
Jim Moore 42:50
I bet No, I bet they'll kind of imagine it's incredibly difficult. You know, that's probably one of the reasons I don't do much live and I don't do much with video.
Vegan Queen V 43:00
Because it's quite, it's quite stressful,
Jim Moore 43:03
new level of complexity is,
Vegan Queen V 43:05
so it was I did a few down down in London, and then I moved up north and continue to do them up north. And I did a first I was doing one every day, which obviously is never going to work out for every reason. And then I kind of settled on twice a week, doing one sort of vegan aimed live stream and then like one sort of just generics pop songs. And I did that for a few months and I kind of just stopped because I thought having sort of a regular regular schedule. And you know, I'd be able to build the audiences and you know, start to make something of it. And I sort of got three months in and I was you know, the audiences were getting less obviously because everybody and their mother were live streaming. And so I decided okay, you're gonna get to take a break from this now and I haven't done a live stream since
Jim Moore 44:04
and has the kind of lockdown enabled you to figure out a way forward because I think there's so many folks who like you and actually I say I didn't do much but I even I didn't even onto the live stream or two at a time. It was like everyone was doing one thing. It was yeah Instagram Live particularly was just full of podcasters and recipe developers and stuff just constantly cooking off or doing a live interview or whatever. And like you I sort of came to the conclusion that this isn't actually what to do. Like Did you have you sort of figured out a way forward for our appreciate you've you've you've had some real time to kind of stake take stock and and really write some some new material. You know, we're talking about the, the forthcoming kind of Christmas song and so on. Our songs as as I think it is now
Vegan Queen V 44:59
to for Two for one with me
Jim Moore 45:01
so for one yes if you kind of come to that that conclusion or is that the kind of the promise of potential return to normality kind of making you think actually I'll go back to where I was before
Vegan Queen V 45:15
now there is no there's no going back no no I am I've had this time to really invest in myself in my fitness in my health and in this project in the animal rights and in the songs is just like it's all I want to do. It's all I want to do is because it's the most important thing that is going on in our world today is you know, animals are the most oppressed group of individuals in the history of you know humanity and it's happening right now and it's getting worse and so there's just no better cause to be you know, fighting for so having having the time you know, because it's not just time that you know you spend when you're working but it's the the energy that you expel when you're you know, obviously on stage you know, I was playing with a band most nights there's lots of energy it was requests so it's like, you've got to be on your toes the whole time. And Bella Tino Mariah and then to Whitney and then the Spice Girls and it's just constant like hit after hit and that I think it's sapped up a lot of my energy and you know, you end up eating crap don't you and you finish work late and you know drinkin and and all this that kind of goes along with the job and so now Yeah, I don't have to I don't have to deal with that and so I have the time and I have the energy to to focus on these songs. And it's Yeah, I've met I met a friend here and I didn't I thought I was the only the only vegan in the village it says that there's a few of us there's like four but which is better than just me there's this made a friend and she's she's I don't want to say that she's my manager cuz she's my friend but she's basically saying Jen Sorry Sorry I'm just let the cat out of the bag without one. No, she she says that you know, the songs are great and it's such an important thing you know to do to write for and she just kind of reignited my passion for it my drive for it. And I think not having not being around vegans for sort of a few months. It really like made my energy low brought me down. And then I met Liz my friend and she's just just as passionate about animal rights as I am and it's great to have her in this in the project and we've decided that it's time to write an animal rights album. Because just as I say the most important thing we can be talking about and discussing right now
Jim Moore 48:15
shows you that sort of future plans what you know, we only see an album you were talking singles just coming up in terms of Christmas and so on. So what what is what is forthcoming for you?
Vegan Queen V 48:27
So yes, I'm doing a should I should I tell everyone what the songs gonna be? Or we're gonna wait till
Jim Moore 48:36
yes do it do it? You can, you can do that. We'll we'll come back to sort of introducing it more formally at the end.
Vegan Queen V 48:43
Well, what we're working on right now is a cover of Have yourself a merry little Christmas, but we are changing it to Have yourself a merry vegan Christmas seems like a bit of a twist on the think. Because obviously, you know, Christmas time is the time of love and giving and caring whilst people you know, devour the chop took carcass, you know, pour tortured animal to celebrate makes absolutely no sense. So it's important that I think the vegan message is you know, out there at this Christmas time.
Jim Moore 49:30
100% Yeah, absolutely. I couldn't agree more. And and for the for the album. You know what, how far are you along with the progress on it? We're talking
Vegan Queen V 49:40
Yeah, I'm really, really excited about the album. I can't believe it, but having a professional musician, singer songwriter. Basically, since uni, I've never released an album. So this is going to be my debut album, which is kind of Yes, incredibly Fighting. And I want to with the album just cover all the different aspects of veganism and some of its kind of sort of like letters to my family about you know, kind of what what it means to me for them to be vegan and how it why it hurts me that they're not. You know, there's all the different reasons the health kind of aspect being a big one with family. And then there are songs kind of written from the animals perspective. For example, I think one of the first songs we're going to release was inspired by a mother and a calf that we mean and my friend who kind of went on to this dairy farm about four months ago. And the farmer, we were taking videos and Canna trying not to be seen, but the farmer, you thought of a little bit aggressive labour, it was like, Yeah, I can, I can show you show you more if you want. And obviously I was like, Yeah, sounds really good. So he kind of it was weird, but he sort of opened this big door. And inside there was a few few female cows, some of which had literally one of which just given birth, another of which was kind of seen, you know, about start the process, it seemed. But this just seeing this little calf on the, on the floor, and the mother, she was licking him or her. And it was, it was a really weird bittersweet moment, it was so magical to see these two interacting and being so close to you know, carpha just been born and seeing how the mother was, you know, licking and taking care of her, I'll say it was her, I don't know, it was really beautiful. But at the same time, it's like, how long until this calf is taken away, you know, an hour a day. And if it is a, if it's a female calf, then she's gonna have to enjoy having her babies taken away from her. And obviously, if it's, if he's a male calf, then he's gonna get shot, soon taken to the slaughter houses. It's just, it's just a horrific, like what we do. But having, you know, seeing these two and obviously the other mothers as well, but as, as this calf just been born, I sort of had my video and I was focusing on them. And I think we're probably actually going to end up using the video footage and the audio footage in the final track. Because it's, it's so important. You know, where this song kind of came from? And yeah, that was a long answer.
Jim Moore 52:55
You have it. That's it. That's an incredible thing to have seen, you know, and privilege sort of moment, but yeah, tinge with so much sort of harrowing kind of despair of knowing what's going to happen, I can totally imagine just how impactful that must have been.
Vegan Queen V 53:16
Yeah. And obviously, you know, you I'm trying to educate myself, I'm watching people like Earthling Ed, who I am fairly confident is a modern day Jesus. But just watching and listening to people like him and how they interact with people. How, you know, the questions they ask, he's just a met. He's amazing. He's so eloquent and is so so intelligent. And so you know, when you're having these conversations, I'm always like, be more like, Ed, what would it say? But you know, you always come away with how wish I had said that, or why didn't I say that every single day? I have an interactive interaction with somebody. And I always will always be something Why Why didn't I say that? For example, today? a neighbour he was asking about vegan chocolate for his his partner, who was vegan, apparently, which is amazing. But I walked away from the conversation I was like, you know, get this chocolate or this chocolate, you're gonna have a great time. Why didn't I question him? Why didn't I say oh, what's kind of stopping you from? You know, taking that step yourself? And I didn't. Yeah, so you get you get lots of moments like that. But as I say, I think if you just try and educate yourself, watch and listen to as many conversations as you can, because you do find the same things come up and again and again, the same arguments. You know, as ridiculous as some of them are, they are quite popular amongst the omnivore community.
Jim Moore 54:52
Yeah, agreed. I think there there probably are. Four or five things you're always going to get back on there. And The more experience you sort of gather, you realise this, there's so many different ways to answer those kinds of questions or respond to sound like you should judge yourself too harshly. They will know that one today
Vegan Queen V 55:16
No, I know. But all I mean is, there's always something you could have said, it's just accepting that and just trying to be as well well educated as you can. And as calm as you can in those situations, and just trying to, I guess, Think before you speak, which are not always
Jim Moore 55:36
done, I think, kind of try and take the view that like, everybody's, everybody's journey a bit like probably ours, there's, there's a million different conversations, most of which we can't really remember, that sort of registered somewhere in our psyche before we finally watched cowspiracy or whatever it wasn't that, you know, finally flipped the switch for us. And so often think, you know, if you watch Earthling Ed, or whoever you choose to watch that they've they've got kind of crystallised moment that's sort of edited and packaged up have a great conversation. But yeah, I'm sure you've had like, just as much impact on that guy today, just by recommending great chocolate, you know, you don't know where that's gonna lead. In terms of he gets the great chocolate, he gives it to his wife, they perhaps enjoy it together, maybe there's a conversation, you know, and that you could have set that whole thing in motion. And certainly with your music, I mean, you're absolutely saying all kinds of all kinds of things in motion, I'm sure like,
Vegan Queen V 56:39
Yeah, and that's why I'm so excited about this album, because as we were talking about, you know, the mainstream before, that's the, that's the goal for the songs. So that yes, obviously vegans, again, listen to them, and appreciate them, enjoy them, hopefully share them, but I want to get through to obviously, non vegans, I want to get them listening. And that is the message. I mean, they might not completely agree with that, I'll completely get it. But I'm hoping that it'll be very accessible for them. And that at the very least, we'll enjoy, enjoy the music. And I think having a message like that in a song just makes it so much more accessible, so much more palatable. For somebody, you know, you're not saying you're a bad person for killing animals and for eating them. And but you can say the same thing in different words with music, and it is not an accusation. It's music. And that yeah, I think it's really important. And yeah, I'm so excited about this album.
Jim Moore 57:42
I think he can understand why think, you know, with the gifts you've you've gotten the talent you've developed, to, to suppose create an emotion in in somebody to evoke something within them. I think that's, in many ways, actually. More powerful than just just words. It's the old, the phrase about you know, people won't remember what you said, but they'll remember how you made them feel. Yeah, and I think that's so true with your with your museums and why I'm so excited about there being a an album of it. So well.
Vegan Queen V 58:23
Thank you. Yeah, really excited, just, we're kind of getting the the tracklist thing together. We have We're almost there. We've got I think one more chain to crack. And then it'll just be a case of getting them all recorded. And I've got a producer in Germany from my time spent there last year, and veggie world. And I don't know if you if you saw but I pronounce his surname wrong. Let me just let me just get it up. That's what she said. There's a guy called Nico, who's quite a big YouTube personality in Germany, and vegan, and like, he kind of comes from the scientific point of view. And like the health point of view, but he,
Jim Moore 59:09
I think I've seen this Yeah.
Vegan Queen V 59:14
I can't actually return now. He's gonna laugh at me if he has this
Nika anyway, Nico, and he put this a vegan EP together. One of which, at my tracks being one of the songs that you use on the EP. And, and sort of on the back of that, yeah, we did some veggie world tours, which is really cool. But I met this guy, who was actually in the project, he was doing guitar, and a bit of vocals, but he's also a producer, and he's vegan, and that's quite important for me if I can, I want to work with vegans, because they get it and they understand what I'm trying to do. Well, at least a lot more than, you know, a non vegan. What I think
Jim Moore 1:00:01
Absolutely yeah so we you know it's all very much work in progress Do you think you know when when do you kind of hope to have an album out and available to us
Vegan Queen V 1:00:14
I mean the the kind of goal is April May time that's what we're trying to set as the this is when we want it all finished and ready we should think you know since we've not got anything else to do we've got the seriously though I have the time I have the time now I mean I'm I walk my dog twice a day and we will often do longer walks and even do yoga and then different fitness videos and stuff and because that's quite important side of life for me like keeping fit and healthy and but aside you know, around that I have this time now to focus on on the songs and they're the messages I'm trying to get out of the music that will be the the mode of transport these lyrics that's completely weird analogy what's gonna go with it?
Jim Moore 1:01:07
Oh, I like Tim's Yeah. So we'll type times getting away with this but there's a couple more things that we that we definitely need to need to do. And Firstly, before we introduce the song you tell us a little bit about it. It would be great to just find out where folks can find out a little bit more about all things vegan Queen v where would they go to listen to the music and perhaps watch some of the videos etc.
Vegan Queen V 1:01:35
So your your best plays is probably YouTube at the moment which is youtube.com forward slash vegan Queen V and I've got loads of videos up there and my Facebook page is kind of deserted right now as is my Instagram because as I say I'm just focusing on getting the songs done so not much photo or you know regular content going on. But that's that right there will be you know when this this is out of the way this is the important thing at the moment. And I have a few things on Soundcloud as well if anybody's interested again v can Queen v you I think you will find my songs on Spotify I can never say that word without saying in a weird way Spotify but as I was saying before we the copyright claim of the Queen v that means that I think in some areas My music is now not there but I'm fairly sure it's still here in the UK I don't know I probably should try and find that out
Jim Moore 1:02:45
we'll definitely definitely some places to start and I can only recommend folks starting with the YouTube channel is
Vegan Queen V 1:02:52
go back to the YouTube yeah youtube.com forward slash speaking query
Jim Moore 1:02:55
awesome selection on there to get everyone go in and get their appetite ready for April May hopefully of next year
Vegan Queen V 1:03:03
well and also this this new Christmas song which is going to be our fingers crossed in the next week
Unknown Speaker 1:03:08
because then it's going to be too late
Jim Moore 1:03:10
yeah so what what's the tracks that we're about to hear tell us a little bit about it
Vegan Queen V 1:03:15
so this song is called give one thing this Christmas and I think it's quite self explanatory once you start listening to it but it's you know it's just another song to try and make people think as you know this time of year is supposed to be about giving and love and you know compassion and this song kind of brings you back down to earth a little bit I think well
Jim Moore 1:03:38
without further ado let's let's introduce speaking Queen V with give one thing this Christmas.