Vanessa Bley (Miami, Florida, USA, March 30, 1985 - October 25, 2019) was an American singer, songwriter and member of Beast Patrol and Twin Danger.


Vanessa Bley was born in Miami and raised in a small (population around 1000) upstate New York town. Although a rather isolated farming community 3 _ hours from Manhattan, it is a strangely cosmopolitan place: A long time haven for artists seeking either voluntary or involuntary refuge from New York City, the town has a unique environment of small town values and the non-conformist sensibilities of the artists that have been drawn there…………………………………………………………………………………….

Ms. Bleys parents were two of those New York exiles. Her father is the renowned avant garde jazz pianist Paul Bley, who began playing in New York in the early 1950s, and her mother is a video artist and founder of the Not Still Art Festival. Growing up in a household where art was held to be paramount – surrounded by music and visiting musicians, art and artists – made a strong and permanent impact on the young Bley. She learned at an early age the personal commitment and sacrifice it takes to create, while also learning the importance of personal and artistic integrity. Both her parents were very powerful and positive role models in this regard…………………………………………………………………………………………….

Although indulging in all the typical pursuits of a child growing up in the country, Ms. Bley was also, quite naturally, drawn to music. She started playing piano on her fathers knee at a very young age, and picked it up quite easily. She then formally studied piano and flute for ten years………………………………………………………………………………………………

Having traveled with her father on many of his concert tours, Ms. Bley was always enamored with New York City. Although she loved the tight knit and highly unique community in which she was raised, her feet and soul itched to make the move down to Manhattan, where she could test her talents and let loose her ambitions. Graduating high school a year early, Ms. Bley eagerly moved to the city at the age of 17, enrolling at the Fashion Institute of Technology while immediately setting out to pursue her true calling: A career in music.
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Concentrating on developing her craft, Bley dedicated herself to songwriting and singing, teaching herself guitar in the process. Since arriving in the city four years ago, she has played solo gigs at such New York institutions as Birdland, CBGBs, and The Bitter End, as well as at many other lesser-known venues. (While also taking some time out in 2005 to record her own material at the Allaire Studios in Woodstock, NY). She has recorded back-up vocals for musicians on major record labels, done commercial work, and played in several bands. Approached early on by leading producers wishing to formulate her voice and style into a commercial package, Bley resisted: Her jazz-influenced songs do not necessarily lend themselves to pop marketing, and she had no desire to become what someone else wanted her to be. (Again, her father, who played his own music his own way for over fifty years, was inspirational in this regard). …………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Bley continues to write prodigiously, channeling her many influences while creating her own unique voice and sound.

www.myspace.com/vanessabley

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