Each week, OOR Studio reaches out to various artists, musicians, and those with all-around good taste.
THIS WEEK WE TALKED TO VERIFIZERIT ABOUT HER DIGNOSIS ADHD AND HER BRAND NEW ALBUM WHICH WAS NAMED AFTER IT TO SHARE THE FEELING OF UNDERSTANDING THESE ISSUES WITH OTHER ADULTS.
The young artist from Vienna Verifiziert releases her debut album “adhd” on 03.03. The music style of Verifiziert moves between lo-fi house, reggaeton, contemporary R&B and cloud rap – she describes her style as cloud pop. Often her German-language lyrics tell of the everyday, as she has always liked to romanticize everyday situations. In her new album along the theme of self-reflection, Veri invites us to remember past dreamy hopes that in retrospect seem distant from the actual reality.
You were born, raised and live in Vienna – was there a certain point in your life when you realized that you put all your energy into your music?
Yes, but that was actually the very point when I realized that it was possible for me to turn making music into a profession, because until two years ago I wasn’t aware of it as a possibility. I’ve always made music and it’s always been a passion, but I wouldn’t have dreamed of being able to make a living out of it and for it to be successful.
Have there been phases in your musical career where you questioned and doubted everything?
No, I am satisfied that things have grown so organically and that I can always change and evolve musically. I also feel very comfortable with my trusted team.
Your latest track is called “Suzuki Swift”. Do you own a car, and if so, which one? Where does the title of the track come from?
Yes, I drive a car, but not a Suzuki Swift, it symbolizes a time in my life when I was 16 and in a toxic environment.
Last year, you were diagnosed with ADHD, often misdiagnosed or not recognized in women. What did this diagnosis do to you and what has changed trough it?
The diagnosis was a big game changer for me, and it really made my life easier. Before the diagnosis, I blamed myself for a lot of things, felt bad about myself, and was often too hard on myself. Now I have the explanation in black and white, accept it, can deal with it and am at peace with myself. Since it’s only been a year since I was diagnosed in the first place, it continues to be a process of learning for me which takes time, and may never be completed. In the course of doing these album interviews, and the output surrounding those, I want to educate about ADHD and encourage adults with ADHD, especially FLINTA*, while showing them that they are not alone.
You dedicated a whole album to ADHD, what would you like to give to people who might have received the same diagnosis and how might music itself have helped you deal with it?
It’s important for me not to look at the whole thing in such a blatant way. I actually chose the title only a week before the album was due to be delivered. As I just explained, I want to educate and rather than using Neurodiversity as a promotional tool, I want to raise awareness about the topic. Since the diagnosis, I’ve found it always gives me a good feeling, when other women have explained about ADHD, although there have been very few of them. I chose the title because I wanted to share the feeling of understanding these issues with other adults with ADHD.
You’ve collaborated with many different male artists, such as Longus Mongus (BHZ), Alex The Flipper (Mavi Phoenix) and Florida Juicy. Is there a particular reason for that, that it was only male musicians, and to what extent does that represent the music industry?
I wonder if this kind of question has ever been asked of a male artist who only works with men, because those are a very common. To the outside world it may seem that I only work with men, but there are a lot of FLINTA* people in my team who work alongside me and I am very grateful and proud of that.
You have created your very own style with your Cloud Pop. With which artists can you imagine a collaboration in the future?
There are probably too many, I always find it great to collaborate with artists from various genres and then to see what happens. It’s hard to name just a few names, because there are just so many that I find incredibly exciting.
Interview by Helen Weiss
Credit: PR/Aqui Kumar
