From Los Angeles to Stockholm, the 23-year-old Singer/Songwriter Viveka Cousins releases her emotionally charged debut single, "Easy Fix."
Working her way through tiresome internal dialogues by turning to singing and songwriting, Viveka Cousins is heavily inspired by genres across the board like 80s Synth-Pop, Alternative, Folk, R&B, and Electro-Pop. Cousins always experiments with vocal layering and harmonizing for added depth, delivering beauty and grace through her angelic vocals.
Regarding her debut hit "Easy Fix," Viveka Cousins tells a relatable story of making sacrifices for love and the risk of losing parts of yourself in the process. Produced by 808 Death Club, the single brings an incredibly moving and compelling tone that allows listeners to place themselves in the heart of Cousins' storyline.
"Easy Fix" begins with soft church-like keys accompanied by minimal and distant percussion. Viveka Cousins' vocals stand at the forefront and set the track's vastly reflective tone. Approaching the hook, ambient synths strike down and give the atmosphere this vibrant Electro-Pop feel alongside driving sub-bass that amplifies the track's sonic emotion.
As Cousins sings her contemplative story of wanting someone to love, she channels very empowering messages that emphasize who she is and how she shouldn't change herself for someone's affection. The soft and dreamy production perfectly captures Cousins' powerful message and gives listeners a slice of hope and optimism.
We can't express how much we enjoyed Viveka Cousins' debut single "Easy Fix," as it's not only bringing an emotionally empowering message to the forefront, but it allows listeners to drift into a dream with the well-crafted and transcendent production.
Hello Viveka and a warm welcome to BuzzMusic. Congratulations on your dazzling debut release, "Easy Fix." How long was the song in the making, and was it difficult for you to open up and release something so emotional for your big debut?
Thank you! “Easy Fix” was actually developed pretty quickly from conception to the final master. I wrote the lyrics and basic layout of the song one day before sharing with my friend and producer Austin Dhillon (808 Death Club). Within about two months of sharing the idea of the song with Austin, he developed it into what it is now. It was definitely difficult and anxiety-inducing for my first shared piece of music to be something so emotional, but I think that speaks to how quickly I wrote the song and even how quickly it was fully produced by Austin. The emotional component and the “opening up” aspect gave it a sense of urgency. It was exciting but definitely a really vulnerable moment.
Could you take us through the lyrical concept within "Easy Fix," what did you want listeners to grasp and take away from your message?
I think that “Easy Fix” is a reactionary song. The lyrics aren’t so complex and they aren’t trying to hide any meaning. They tell a story of learning about one’s self through a romantic relationship. It’s almost written as a letter, looking back on a moment in time. Even with this though, the words and this story are an extremely common emotional exchange: one person losing their sense of self in an attempt to fix someone they care about. I was trying to communicate a common sentiment or experience about self-worth. I was trying to write how it feels to reach that moment, even if just for a short while, where you see or believe that you deserve better. The lyrics are grounded in both my own and the people around me’s experiences with an emotional exchange. It's almost something you wish wasn’t relatable because it's unfortunate but at the same time it’s strangely uplifting to have that moment of recognition within yourself.
Why did you choose to keep the production within "Easy Fix" so minimal yet so transcendent? Did you have any inspirations that might have influenced the sonics within this track?
“Easy Fix”’s producer, Austin Dhillon, had originally heard the idea for the song and communicated to me that he wanted the focal point to be about my voice and the lyrics. I think that was especially important since it was my debut release. The production felt centered around lifting and highlighting the vocals rather than overpowering them. It was an ongoing question of whether or not to add more percussive elements but without them, I felt like it allowed the vocal harmonies and layering to come through more strongly. In terms of the sonics, Austin knew that I’m a big fan of 80s synth-pop which is where the emphasis and reverb on the synth chords came in for the chorus. He also brought in my favorite element of the song, which is the driving force that comes in at 01:15. Austin had actually recorded then distorted the sound of a washing machine, adding an extra layer of uniqueness.
Since moving to Stockholm, do you feel more inspired to create while in Sweden versus living in Los Angeles? What made you make the move?
I was raised in Los Angeles by a Swedish mother and an American father so living in Sweden was something I always knew I wanted to experience. I’m currently getting my master’s in English Literature at Stockholm University which is what officially prompted the move. I know that I’m very comfortable being in LA and I feel security there that I don’t feel in Stockholm just yet. However, I definitely think my move to Stockholm ignited my desire and my need to create music. It wasn’t until I was so far away from my friends and family, spending a lot of time alone, that I turned deeply inward and began writing. The transition was and still is a lot about learning how to sit in my discomfort, and as a result, trying to write from that place. Once the pandemic began, things felt even more distanced and heightened. I was experiencing a lot of emotions and wasn’t sure how to sort through them but songwriting and singing helped me make sense of that time.
What can we expect to see next from you?
I’m hoping the release of “Easy Fix” will set the tone for at least the lyrical vulnerability or style that I’m going for when I’m writing. I’ve kept writing since creating “Easy Fix” and at this point, I’m just excited to develop and work with producers on my new ideas. I can’t say when exactly yet but I’ll be working to share more music in the new year.