Bio
When people ask me what I do, I tell them that I write songs and play guitar. I suppose I fancy myself as an 'entertainer.' There is something about being on stage with just a microphone and a guitar that is really vulnerable, and intimate. It's a sort of 'tight rope' feeling that i've not only become accustomed to, but addicted to as well. I'm sure I'll put together a live band in the very near future, but for now I really like being a troubadour. There is a freedom of being spontaneous as a solo performer that I'm not ready to give up just yet.
Nothing feels better to me than writing a good song. It's like falling in love without the drama and broken heart at the end. The only thing I like better than writing a great new song, is recording it and listening to it blossom. It was a pleasure to record the songs on my debut album; Everything Good All At Once with producer/recording artist Christopher Hoffee. I met him through another songwriter I really like; Steve Poltz. Steve had this band called; The Rugburns in the early-mid nineties that I was a HUGE fan of. When Steve told me I should record with Christopher at his recording studio in San Diego it was really a "no brainer'. I was like, "where do i sign up?"
Several of the songs on the album were born out of a songwriting challenge game played between various participants. This version began with Steve Poltz, Bob Schneider, Billy Harvey, Glen Hughes, Jason Mraz, and Glen Tillbrook, etc. Everyone would agree on a word or group of words and have 24 hours to write a song with that word or phrase in it. The album songs Falling In Love With Jill Kotowski, Pixie Stick Girl, and Leaving Eugene were all derived from that game.
Currently I'm having a love affair with my career as a musician. Like most people, i've worked many day jobs and experimented with academics and other vocations, but nothing seems as gratifying as this. I recently came to the conclusion that it's music, or nothing. I'm not sure where this path is going to lead me. I just feel the irresistible urge to follow it's pull. It's not about 'arriving' somewhere or 'achieving' something; it's more of a gut feeling about the direction I'd like my life to go. Perhaps I can make a living and enjoy the adventure of it all. If you look at life from a present moment basis, it really is ironically; Everything Good All At Once.
Fred Van Vactor's debut EVERYTHING GOOD ALL AT ONCE is available on cdBABY and iTUNES. Also featured on Absolute Power Pop's Best of 2009.
"buoyant pop that's catchy, quirky, and clever" -Absolute Power Pop