A virtual chat with Canadian singer/songwriter Charles V Rox Vaccaro: dreams, inspirations and future projects

By Francesca Sacerdoti

Charles V.Rox Vaccaro is a Canadian singer/songwriter with a music career that spans through more than 3 decades.  With his latest release, the country rock single ‘Can’t Stop Running’, he showed to his public that he possesses a gentle artistic touch loaded with a unique internal gaze. A skill that comes when the love of music and the need of expression merge together. 

I recently had a conversation with him about his music, inspirations, wishes and future dreams.

«In a few words I would say that I am just an ordinary person who loves music» Charles starts to define himself. And in these words it might be possible to trace his stylistic point of view: all his songs, interpreted by him or written for other musicians, narrate of the simple/ordinary struggles and desires that we all have. And I believe this could be one of the keys to enter his music: from the rock guitar lines, to melodies enriched with intense solos, his creations always mirror the swinging of life events. 

An inner richness that is due also to his various musical influences. « As a child there was all the traditional and the Italian rock n' roll that my parents introduced me to which later trickled into Elvis and Sinatra. – Charles explains - Before I was 10 years old my uncle Leo introduced me to Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Led Zeppelin, Billy Joel and so on. Later on, I was drawn to the 80s hard rock so I had to learn and practice all those styles from the best guitar wizards in the world. In all that my favorite band was The Police. So, I did not discriminate. What I loved most was that I always practiced on my acoustic guitar so lots of 80's rock music had those amazing acoustic pieces which come from Country music, like Poison, Cinderella and the genius of Richie Sambora and most of Bon Jovi's music. Today, I still rock it out but my all-time influences that follow me today are Jimmy Page, Slash, Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana».

«When I actually started to realize that I was good enough to be a performer as well as a musician, at this point I knew that I wanted to be a rock star. I wanted to perform for audiences and make a living and a career out of that and simultaneously introducing them to my music». And indeed Charles had the opportunity to live that dream even if it was just for few years with his rock band Lipstik in the 80s. «The whole Lipstik era was an experience. To have been in that era was a privilege for me. If I had to single out one memory, it would definitely be meeting Whitney Houston for the first time». 

«My style has evolved and definitely matured. – He explains. - My songs have always told a story but now they are stories from the heart and life experiences. What makes it interesting for me is that I really don't write from a super personal perspective so the story is told as an outsider looking in». Can’t Stop Running sums up in part Charles’ approach while somehow overcoming past inspirations and experimenting in new directions. «Can't Stop Running was written in 2014. I always wanted to record it and release it but I never had a project in mind. Last March I was forced to stay home for a couple of months because of Covid-19 and it was at that point that I decided to make this a project. So, I started to communicate with my producer and musical director Peter Ranallo. That's when we started sending each other stems through email. I actually recorded all my guitars and vocal tracks at home. It is the first time I record a song without ever physically entering the studio. As for the instrumentation and arrangements, that was all Peter».

The song is accompanied by a music video directed by Marco Iammatteo that features also Charles’ son Michael Vaccaro. « What a great video! Marco did an awesome job! One afternoon I was at his house and his grandfather was there with us and we were drinking Grappa. True Story! At that moment the script and storyline hit me and that's when I told Marco, "Hey we will use my son Michael as a younger me and your Nonno as the old me." Now I had to convince my son and at first, he didn't want to do it. Finally, he was convinced and he told me that it was an amazing experience for him. Marco went out and found all those beautiful locations and landscapes. That's what made the song and the visual gel into one. All the elements were magical».

However, these single and video releases are not the only news in Charles’ life as he has been nominated by The Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) in Los Angeles in the category singer-songwriter for the song Look Into My Eyes written for the young Canadian talent Ari Skye who Charles previously managed. «The biggest wish of a songwriter is to have a beautiful voice sing your lyrics, story and melodies. Ari's voice is sublime. My experience with Ari has been amazing. She took "Look Into My Eyes" and really made it her own. There is no better feeling than when you work hard and get results. I am there to pass the torch. The youth is here to carry it on. The nomination was a wonderful surprise. Tina Cole, my manager, entered it in The Hollywood Music in Media Awards in Los Angeles and they came back with this surreal news. I feel accomplished and inspired to continue. It will air virtually on January 27/2021». «The nomination was just perfect timing for me – he continues- because it's been a difficult and strenuous year and sometimes you just want to throw it all in the air and good news comes in and it puts you back on track». 

As for the future, Charles has already in mind his next goals and secret wishes. «I have decided to record an EP in the Country genre for 2021 and keep growing my catalogue and hopefully some brand-name artists pick up some songs. At a local level, I can't wait to do the local stuff with the wonderful musical community that Montreal has to offer.  If wishes would come true, I would love to work with Myles Kennedy and Slash». 

When asked how he sees himself in 10 years, he replies «I have never predicted any stage of my life and that has never led me to disappointment. Not to say that I have never been disappointed. One day at a time and always stay positive. The rest lies in the powers that be. As I always say, "Live, love, learn and never look back."».

To listen to Charles V Rox Vaccaro’s latest single Can’t Stop Running: 

https://linktr.ee/Charles_Vaccaro

To know more about Charles V Rox Vaccaro and to discover his music: 

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