Vivian Slade

Vivian Slade grew up as a Deep South native and continues to live there, emerging in the 1990s as an introspective and occasionally confessional singer/songwriter on the Nashville scene. Her impressive vocal range lends itself to unpredictability, allowing her style to evoke Ani DiFranco's grit, Jewel's sensitivity, or Tori Amos' quirky eccentricity depending on the material. In Jacksonville, FL, her father introduced her to jazz during her youth, though she also developed an affinity for 1970s pop-rock by Elton John, Carole King, Heart, and similar artists. Following high school, she spent a semester studying voice at Mannes College of Music in New York, relocated to Dallas to complete an art degree at Southern Methodist University, and ultimately settled in Nashville. Her self-titled debut album appeared in 1998 on the independent Human Art label.