LAOPRESS:  Give us a bit of Vanida back history?

VANIDA:  I was born in Chiangrai, Thailand on July 12, 1979 but my parents are from Laos. My family and I came to the U.S. A. in 1987. Yes, it was a big change but it was for the best "smile".

I always dream of becoming an artist, but I’ve never thought I'd made this far. Initially, I just want to have an album for remembrance.  I can at least look back and say "I have fulfilled my dream!"

I currently reside in Dallas, Texas. I am still attending school for medical coding and billing. But still try to manage some times to compose music for myself.

LAOPRESS:  When did you first bitten by music bug?

VANIDA:  If baby could talk inside the mother's womb, my mother would've heard me singing already "laughing". I'm just joking. Another word, I was born with the love of music.

LAOPRESS:  When did you release your first CD?

VANIDA:  My first CD released on Lao's New Year in 2001. To many, my album seems new. Because they'd never heard of me. If it wasn't for ai Noy Sydanon, I don't think I'd posted here on your site. I like to take this opportunity to thank him and Ai Bounchanh from Wattay Production also. Thank you very much for you support.

LAOPRESS:  How many albums have you released?

VANIDA:  This is my first album and hopefully the next one will come out soon. I am not going to say when because I don't want to break the promise. I'll keep it as a surprise.

LAOPRESS:  How would you describe the resulting sound of your latest CD? Type of music/sound/vision/.......

VANIDA:  Not up to my satisfactory level yet, but I will try to do better on my next album. There's always room for improvements, right?

LAOPRESS:  Was there something significant that happened in your life that you needed to write a song in your first album?

VANIDA:  It's the thought of wanting to be different. I want to bring in something new and I want us to expose to something different other than same thing all the time. This is the kind of music I love and I want to share this with everyone.

LAOPRESS:  What is your favourite song in your new CD? Why?

VANIDA:  My favourite song is song # 5 Beua. It makes people that I know cry when they listen to this song and It’s from personal experience I'm also touched by this song.

LAOPRESS:  Musical influence or role models?

VANIDA:  There are so many artists on my list that I really inspired and admired by their productions and personalities. To name a few: Thanh Voradeth, Ketsana, Phone, Noy Sydanon, and more….

LAOPRESS:  What do you use as inspiration for your songs?

VANIDA:  All songs base on the reality of everyday live. The way we live our lives. I believe that at one point in our lives all of us have experienced suffering and happiness.  The suffering is pretty much what my songs are all about. I was able to put a lot of feeling and emotions into the songs.

LAOPRESS:  How happy have you been with the response to your last album?

VANIDA:  Even though it's not really up to my expectation level yet. It's new to a lot of people. There are positive feed backs as well as negatives. Which I think it's normal.

LAOPRESS:  Do you ever get nervous when performing live or in front of large audience?

VANIDA:  Yes, very nervous especially the first song. Thing would get smoother after second song or so.

LAOPRESS:  Are you planning to go on tour soon?

VANIDA:  In fact, yes, my next tour will be on November 1st in Montreal, Canada and the fallowing night November 2nd in Ontario, Canada as well.

LAOPRESS:  What do you do for fun? Hobbies...?

VANIDA:  I am trying to compose my own music on my free time, which I hardly have. I do listen to a lot of music, too.

LAOPRESS:  Is being a star difficult?

VANIDA:  Well......I'm not sure if I'm at that point yet. But I'm pretty sure that there are some difficulties going on.

LAOPRESS:  Have you got what you want out of your music career?

VANIDA:  Yet, it's too soon so to speak. If I can actually turn this into a career, which I hope I could, then no, I don't think I have yet.

LAOPRESS:  Have people changed their tastes in music?

VANIDA:  I really hope that some have. I don't know yet.... We'll have to wait and see.

LAOPRESS:  Is there anything else that you would like to add?

VANIDA:  I'd like to take this opportunity to thank LaoPress for your support and for giving me the opportunity to be part of the group. I am very grateful.

I'd love to stay in music business and sing to the world for as long as I could, but that won't happen without the support from all of you "my fans".

I hope for my acceptance into your world. Thank you very much.

Best regards, Vanida