INTERVIEW: Vonda Shepard is back with ‘Red Light, Green Light’
Photo: Vonda Shepard’s new album is called Red Light, Green Light. Photo courtesy of Pamela Springsteen / Provided by Lesley Z Media with permission.
Successful singer-songwriter Vonda Shepard is set to release her 13th studio album this Friday, Sept. 23. Red Light, Green Light is the culmination of years of work, mostly when Shepard was at home during the height of the pandemic. Helping her to produce the record was her husband, Mitchell Froom.
Listeners can expect 10 songs, including the recently released single “Shine Your Light,” and for those who want to hear the songs live, Shepard will host an album release party Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Vibrato Grill Jazz in Los Angeles. She also heads out on a United Kingdom tour in October.
Shepard has been in the music business for decades. One of her most beloved memories is her multi-year stint on the TV series Ally McBeal. She wrote the theme song, “Searchin’ My Soul,” and she appeared as the on-screen singer in the downstairs lounge where the lawyers on the show would go to unwind. The success from that series propelled her into stardom, and over the years she has sold more than 12 million albums, in addition to picking up Golden Globes, Emmys and Screen Actor Guild awards, according to press notes.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Shepard about her new recording. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What can your fans expect from the new album Red Light, Green Light?
My fans will find Red Light, Green Light somewhat familiar, as it really stays true to my style of real musicians playing, including lots of piano from me, and my stacked background vocals, which are kind of a signature of mine. It has some heart-wrenching ballads and a few totally funky tunes.
Did having time off during the pandemic help you write and record the album?
The pandemic really was a time to go inward and focus on the writing of this album, so in that way, it did help me. There was nowhere to go to distract myself! And there was so much going on in the world, I had a lot to pull from.
What inspired the new single “Shine Your Light”?
Some of ‘Shine Your Light’ is about my son, especially the choruses, where I sing about wanting to be his satellite and still guide him here and there. Also the second verse, where I sing about being lost “in all the sound and in all the noise,” which refers to ubiquitous electronics and how dreams get “tossed” because of this time spent on them.
Do you feel like your musical style and lyrics have changed over the course of your 13 albums? Are you the same musician today as you were when your first album was released?
Well, my voice has certainly changed! It is deeper with a wider vibrato. I listen back to that youthful, soaring voice sometimes and think, how did I do that??!! I have ventured into more of a soulful sound over the years, compared to some of my earlier albums, that were in the Joni category at times, sonically.
Do you look back fondly at your time on Ally McBeal?
I will always look back fondly at that era. It was an undeniable part of my life and career trajectory, and it was frankly, an utter blast! It was also a Herculean effort, but totally worth it.
What’s a live show with Vonda Shepard like for those who have never attended?
For this next round of shows I’ll be playing five or six songs from the new album with my incredible band, some of whom I’ve been with for over 20 years. We will mix it up and play songs from By 7:30, From The Sun, etc. and end the show with some fun Ally tunes that usually get people on their feet dancing!
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Vonda Shepard’s new album, Red Light, Green Light, will be released Friday, Sept. 23. Click here for more information.
