Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Seymour.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
At the end of 2023 my husband and bassist (Joe) and I decided to take steps to pursue our desire to create original songs with our cover band. In January of 2024, our originals project, Black Heart Society, emerged onto the local music scene with a debut set taking place at Tanqueray’s Bar downtown Orlando. From there we continued to evolve as a band and worked to solidify our sound and goals throughout the year. We have played local venues including Conduit, Will’s Pub, Stardust Coffee, and Muldoon’s Saloon, having met so many wonderful people and bands along the way. With each struggle we faced as a new band, there were many more great moments that have made it all worth it so far. Our lineup consists of me, Vanessa (vocalist), Joe (bass), Corey (drums), Konner (guitar), and Colby (guitar).
Being the frontwoman, I believe singing words that are my own is an important factor in delivering a meaningful performance. Having struggled with mental health and having personally known and witnessed countless others in their own battles, I wanted our music to convey a sense of understanding in an effort to connect our audience through music. We strive to write from the heart in hopes that whoever hears our songs and relates can realize they’re not alone and that sometimes we need to go through the emotions before we can release them. I think music is a strong facilitator of this. One of the reasons our band is drawn to alternative rock and metal as a musical style is because of the intensity this kind of music can lend to the auditory portrayal of the human experience. Each of our personal tastes and influences converge at this sound and it makes writing compositions together feel natural.
In 2025, we have continued to write and play shows in the Orlando area as well as Eastern and Southern parts of Florida. With a new EP releasing this July, our band looks forward to continuing to perform for a growing audience and promote our new music.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We have faced some challenges with breaking into the local music scene and booking shows. This area is home to so many different talented bands that it’s difficult to get a chance to perform, especially when you’re starting out. However, our perseverance paid off after not too long, which has helped us grow our audience over the last year. Another obstacle has been some turnover with members who moved on due to changes in long-term goals and commitments. Getting to the lineup of exceptional bandmates we have now was not an easy road.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Black Heart Society is an alt rock/metal band from Orlando, FL. We turn emotion into music with heavy instrumentals that take inspiration from rock of the 90s/2000s. Through our sound and lyrics, we aim to write for those who want to know they’re not alone. So far, we are most proud of our upcoming EP release this summer (date to be announced). It will feature four songs that all share a common theme of grappling with significant mental states such as grief, anger, optimism, and despair.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I think tenacity is an essential quality for anyone to possess in the music industry. Amidst all the hurdles musicians face along the way, the common denominator among successful artists has been their relentless pursuit of their dream despite it all. Our band, like many others, has had its share of growing pains in the first year. Without maintaining that tenacity, it would have been all too easy to give up, so we didn’t. We decide every day to keep giving our dream a fighting chance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bhsocietyband.com/home
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhsocietyband
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bhsocietyband
Image Credits
Roberto Badillo (full band black and white photos)
Robert McClory (black and photo of just Vanessa and Joe)
Angel Pinango (purple and blue lit photos)
Logan Gray (outdoor photo)
