Vida has made a triumphant return, performing at this year’s TRNSMT Festival. Following their set, Karen had the opportunity to sit down with the band to discuss their recent activities and future plans. Here is what Vida shared with us during the interview.
Karen (Scottish Music Network):
Good morning, everyone.
Vida:
Good morning!
Karen (Scottish Music Network):
My name is Karen, and I’m here on behalf of Scottish Music Network. I’m delighted to be sitting down today for a conversation with Vida.
Vida:
That’s right – just Vida! Short and sweet.
Karen (Scottish Music Network):
Thank you for clarifying! My apologies. How are you all doing today? The weather is absolutely beautiful, which is a welcome change from just a couple of days ago. It’s the perfect backdrop for our chat. How are you feeling ahead of today’s performance?
Vida:
I’m honestly just really excited – maybe a bit warm from the sunshine, but definitely more excited than nervous. No nerves at all, just looking forward to getting out there.
Karen (Scottish Music Network):
That’s fantastic to hear. Are you planning to debut any new material during your set today?
Vida:
We’ll be performing our latest single, “You and Me”. Since our set is only about half an hour, it’s going to be a concise and energetic performance. However, if you come along to our headline show at SWG3 later this year, you can expect to hear some brand new tracks. I’ll be sharing all the details on social media, so keep an eye out for the hashtag.
Karen (Scottish Music Network):
I tried to do some background research before our chat, but there’s not a huge amount of information about you out there just yet. So, I’m looking forward to learning more as we talk today, and I’m especially excited to hear the new songs live. I’ll definitely make it to one of your shows.
Vida:
That would be brilliant – thank you!
Karen (Scottish Music Network):
Are there any other festival appearances on the calendar this year?
Vida:
We recently played at Sound City in Liverpool, which was a fantastic experience. Other than that, we currently don’t have additional festival dates lined up.
Vida:
We are taking things a bit slower this year as Jamie, our bandmate, just became a father – so congratulations and Happy Father’s Day to him!
Karen (Scottish Music Network):
That’s wonderful news! Aside from your SWG3 headline show, will you be performing elsewhere, or are you planning to take some well-deserved time off?
Vida:
We’ll be sharing updates as soon as we can – there may well be more shows announced. We prefer to keep things a little under wraps, build anticipation, and focus on delivering quality performances. We believe in pacing ourselves and not oversaturating the scene, so fans can always look forward to something new.
Karen (Scottish Music Network):
That makes a lot of sense. Could you share some insight into your musical influences?
Vida:
Our influences cover a broad spectrum, particularly from the 1960s through to the 1990s. The Beatles are a huge inspiration for all of us, but we also draw from bands like Stone Roses, Oasis, The Strokes, The View, and Babyshambles. The View, being a Scottish band, has had a significant impact on us, as did Sergeant – so a big shout out to them. It’s really a blend of classic and contemporary sounds from those eras.
Karen (Scottish Music Network):
Are you constantly writing and working towards new music? Is there an album on the horizon?
Vida:
Absolutely. We’ve been steadily working towards our debut album for about five or six years now.
Karen (Scottish Music Network):
That’s quite a journey. It sounds like it will be well worth the wait.
Vida:
We think so! Signing with Run-On Records recently was a major step for us. It allowed us to release four new singles, which has been an incredible opportunity. We’ve been fortunate to work with Chris Marshall, who many will know from his work with Gerry Cinnamon and other emerging Scottish acts, as well as Billy Boyd. Collaborating with them has really helped shape our sound, and we’re thoroughly enjoying the process.
Vida:
Whether the album comes next or we continue with singles, I can promise it will be worth the wait. We’re putting our hearts into it, and it will be something special.
Karen (Scottish Music Network):
I have no doubt about that. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you today. I know you need to get ready for your set, so I’ll let you go. Thank you so much for your time.
Vida:
Thank you! Cheers!
Karen (Scottish Music Network):
We’ll be following your journey and can’t wait to see what comes next. Thank you again, and goodbye to everyone.
Interview by Karen Edmond
Photograph by James Edmond Photography
