Veronica D’Souza

Veronica D’Souza has released her latest single ‘No One Is A River’ and she kindly chatted to us:

When did you begin songwriting?

I’ve written songs since I was a little girl. I performed my first self-written song when I was ten years old. It was magical to discover how easy it was to put a few chords together and suddenly have something that felt entirely my own.

Which of your tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

Happiest: Peaches In My Halo.

Angriest: A song that will come out later this year on the album. It channels quite a lot of frustration with power structures and the state of the world.

Most reflective: A Mountain. I had a lot of fun writing the lyrics for that one, imagining a matriarchy as an alternative to the rather exhausting parade of powerful men currently shaping world politics.

One of your tracks is the single ‘No One Is A River’. What was the story/inspiration behind the track?

I lost my dad seventeen years ago, and I was completely unprepared for what grief asks of us. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realised that endings are simply part of being alive. Relationships end, identities shift, dreams unravel, and sometimes whole ideas about a way of life unravels.  world fall apart.

With No One Is A River, I wanted to write a song that could celebrate endings instead of only mourning them. Something you could dance through. I also call it the “letting go song.” And turn it up, when its time to burn some sage on a fire and close a chapter. 

Where did you record the song and who produced it?

It was recorded in my home studio in Copenhagen, and I produced it myself. Producing my own music is a relatively new journey that began a few years ago, and it has completely renewed my love of songwriting. I can experiment endlessly and shape the songs exactly as I imagine them. It was mixed by incredible Jorge Elbrecht in LA. 

Was it a difficult song to write?

Actually, it flowed out quite naturally. The difficult part came afterwards. I tend to write five songs inside one song, so editing becomes an exercise in restraint. The real work is deciding what to leave out and stripping everything back to its essential core. Apparently, I still struggle with that, because I almost always end up with an outro. 

Do you have any further music releases planned for 2026/2027?

Yes. My debut album is coming out this autumn, which I am really excited about. I’ll be releasing a couple more singles leading up to it.

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

Copenhagen.

Swimmable, creative, free, fun, and sometimes a bit small. 

How do you look after your voice?

I’ve sung since I was a child, in a choir, in bands, and when I was 13 I begged my parents for singing classes so I’ve had a lot of technical training.  Before performing, I always do a thorough warm-up and small rituals to get into it. In the studio, though, I’m much less disciplined. I record whenever, whether that’s early in the morning or at two in the night, and I enjoy exploring how my voice changes with different moods and hours of the day.

Do you have any UK/European dates planned for 2026/27?

Not yet. I am working on quite a few very different projects simultaneously, which I love. That also means I’ve learned to compartmentalise and give each project my full attention when it’s its turn. Touring is something I’m really looking forward to, hopefully in 2027.

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?

Something new with the song that only happened then in that moment, and that someone in the audience felt something. 

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?

My voice is my main instrument, but I like bringing unexpected things on stage. The last time it was a glockenspiel. I always bring one small element of play. I don’t play the cello, yet, but maybe one day. 

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

I am working on a novel I started writing 20 years ago, and my dream it to make the soundscape to that. I’ve started. But it might be another 20 years before I finish it.  

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

I’m drawn to artists who take risks, challenge listeners and refuse to stay within one genre. I love people who make slightly strange choices and somehow make them work.

I think Rosalia’s last work is a wonderful example of that. Bringing new audiences to classical music and different traditions. Herbie Hancock’s Live Evil is an all time favourite for me. I’m also a big 90s R&B lover, which comes up in some of my productions. 

What makes Veronica D‘Souza happy and what makes you unhappy?

Unhappy: Whenever I’m asked to fit into boxes that were never built for me.

Happy: Swimming in the ocean, creating things and getting lost in my imagination, and being in Italy.  

Feature Image Photo Credit: Niklas Adrian Vindelev

Veronica D’Souza latest single ‘No One Is A River’ is out now. 

Listen on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/track/2eO6wX0UjAUdulA5buHMX7?si=a8e83fd9f60f421d

For more information visit: https://www.instagram.com/veronicadsouza/