Vika & The Velvets - Career Growth, Working w/Brandy Melville, & Teasing Upcoming Release

Vika, photographed by Jaymie Belknap (@jaymiebelknap on Instagram)

Vika is 22-years-old from Spokane, Washington and currently living part time in Seattle. She is lead singer and rhythm guitar player for her band Vika & The Velvets, which is about 5-years-old. With a multitude of successful hits under her belt already, such as 70s Haze, she has another expected hit coming the industry’s way on March 28, 2025.

Falling In Love With Music

Vika’s jazz musician of an older brother, Caleb, got her into music wh\en she was only thirteen. Her eyes were opened to the world of indie music groups such as Hippo Campus, along with the blues and 50s oldies. This love grew stronger as she taught herself guitar and sought out professional lessons after encouragement from her mom. She always loved to sing, yet it took a long time to feel confident singing in front of people. Sean Burgett, her music teacher for a short period of time, manages small bands in her city under a label called Rock Club. Burgett had invited Vika to sing in an upcoming showcase as a solo act, and she would soon realize her participation would be her big break despite her nervousness.

The Art of Balancing a Music Career And High School

“It was really a magical moment, and there were only fifty people in the crowd,” Vika says when reminiscing about her debut performance singing Liability By Lorde in her hometown. “I looked up and just saw everyone looking at me, and I knew this was something I always wanted to do.” She didn't think pursuing arts would ever be a sustainable option for her, but she had an incredible support system. “They are my biggest supporters,” says Vika when describing her parents. She joined a band at the age of fifteen called Violet Ice and won “Battle Of The Bands”, a competition between multiple musical groups with a prize incentive, with her first original song 70s haze. Her band won first place, along with a prize to record the song for free in a professional music studio. That song made waves and paved her path for success in the industry at such a young age. Vika’s next drop was a song titled Nasty Woman, which changed the trajectory of her high school experience as she began taking her career more seriously. Her peers were supportive of her passion, and she continued to sing throughout high school and even sang the national anthem at her graduation. The dedication and obligation she had to her band had her commuting from school to downtown areas of Spokane, Washington everyday to practice.

Collaborating With Brandy Melville

Brandy Melville, the clothing brand that is also known for notable partnerships with musicians, had been in contact with Vika for a while about scheduling a recording session. After living in San Diego for six years, Vika had made connections across California and agreed to the project after hearing other people’s positive experiences. “It was super fun and they were all so sweet. I got to pick out seven pieces of free clothes,” she says when describing her time in the studio. After promoting the event, bands from Cleavland and New York City got in connection with Vika wanting to work with her and the rest of The Velvets. The environment is very casual, as described.

The Most Beautiful Part of Music Performance

Vika finds her role as a live performer incredibly rewarding. Her favorite part is consistently being with the people and seeing them connect with the music. She says “watching people cry in the crowd, I’m in shock that people connect with these lyrics and melodies the way I connect with them”. She describes this as the most incredible feeling.

Inspirations

Vika’s music follows her life events and changes with the months. It’s consistently inspired by the new people she meets in life. Her music is also influenced by diverse genres, and she blends folk and country elements in her new work. You can hear some blues, honky-tonk drumming patterns when you listen closely! If she could work with any artist, it would be Amy Winehouse, who has been a major inspiration to her.

Latest Release: “Lovely Little Game”

In 2024, Vika released “Lovely Little Game”, a track filled with sparkling harmonies sandwiched between jazzy instrumental interludes. It has been on repeat ever since! Her brother Caleb wrote out the melody on piano, sending her a short 30-second recording, and Vika listened to it over and over, formulating lyrics over the melody. At this time, she was also going through a breakup, and music was a natural form of expression for her - a way to channel these emotions. Inspired by both her recent life events and her and Caleb’s musical experimentation, she decided to turn their ideas into a record. This was an incredible call, for everything came together in the span of a quick studio session! This track (and her 2024 releases) are sentimental and ballad-style, which differs greatly from her upcoming releases and reflects her sheer musical versatility.

What’s on the Horizon?

Vika and the Velvets have an upcoming tour starting this August, and they’re excited to travel and explore this year. Vika also hopes to play a major festival and to tour as an opener for a mainstream artist this year. Carousel Of Love, the new upcoming single off of Vika’s 11 track album coming out in the last week of June, is “an embodiment of an emotional rollercoaster, the kind of roller coaster that happens when you’re really into someone” as Vika states. This is to be recorded with her band Vika & the Velvets. Fans can start listening on March 28, 2025, with the final album being released on June 22, 2025 shortly after.

xoxo, Mia Linder, Creative Projects Coordinator

& Jiya Kumar, Music Affairs Coordinator

March 14 2025

Photos by Jaymie Belknap