GGM: You began playing piano at the age of 5. What inspired you to pick up guitar?
QV: I picked up a guitar really to be able to play all those rock songs I knew and loved, all those riffs and chord progressions that were pure magic to me. As gratifying as piano was, I wasn’t getting everything out of it that I needed musically. So I “borrowed” my brother’s guitar, figured out some chords with the help of Mel Bay, and the rest is history! I should say as well, that as soon as I started playing guitar, my writing changed instantly. All of a sudden I could express myself differently and it opened up so many other doors for me. And I could jump around with it! You can’t do that with a piano.
GGM: Being a female rocker, were there any female artists in particular that inspired you in developing your musical style?
QV: The female artists who had a great impact on me – artists like Joan Jett, Chrissie Hynde, Stevie Nicks, Blondie, Janis Joplin, and Melissa Etheridge – they all had a certain attitude that really appealed to me. They were strong and tough in their own ways, total individuals who sang and wrote with fierce honesty. It was important for me to see that you can be that kind of an artist AND a woman, that you didn’t have to fit into a mold, just be who you are and do what comes naturally.
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