Many people around the world have heard alt-pop singer / songwriter Scott Oatley aka Vân Scott’s voice, but they probably didn’t know it. As a sought-after singer in the Hollywood session scene, Scott has had the chance to perform on some of the industry’s most well-known projects. Since his first professional recording session as part of the High School Music 3: Senior Year cast, he’s had the opportunity to sing for renowned film composers like Danny Elfman and Michael Giacchino, sung on blockbuster scores for La La Land, Jurassic World, and Sing, been a featured singer on ABC's Black-ish and FOX's The Simpsons, and has performed as a background vocalist for The Oscars and The Voice, to name just a few of his credits. But now, Scott has turned the spotlight on his own artistry, putting his multi-instrumental talent and songwriting skills front and center.
His latest single “Taylor (not the name of my guitar)” echoes the nostalgic melancholy that has come to define Scott’s sound. What began as his first homework assignment for songwriting class at BerkleeNYC became the backbone for a retrospective sophomore album that looks back on love lost. The self-produced track boldly goes against the current trend of sub-3-minute pop sound bites, betting instead on the power of pristine storytelling within a 5-verse traditional song form. The alternatively titled “Taylor” is now available for pre-save ahead of its February 9 drop.
“Taylor” is the third single from Scott’s upcoming full-length album titled Songs I Never Wrote (Because They Would Have Been About You). It follows the September release of the infatuating and upbeat “Impress You'' and October’s lonely sad boi anthem, “Long Long Time.” The remainder of the album will continue to be released gradually, song by song, before culminating in its final LP form later this summer. Vân has already begun his regional touring of the US this year, continuing as he did last fall when he hit the road for his first ever tour with 16 shows across 8 cities. His bicoastal “Look Mom, No Vân!” Tour was in partnership with Sofar Sounds, playing intimate, grassroots shows across California and the Northeastern US to music lovers with an affinity for artist discovery. They are the lucky few to have gotten a sneak preview of the songs and stories yet to come in 2023.
A recent graduate from Berklee School of Music’s inaugural Songwriting and Production Master’s program at BerkleeNYC, Scott chose to spend his time at school focusing on his next major artist project, a sophomore album. As part of the program, Scott studied and recorded at the legendary Power Station Studios in Manhattan, under the direction of Will Wells, a Grammy and Oscar-nominated writer, producer, and performer. While still a student there, Scott’s single (and Track 3 from his debut album) “What’s Coming Next?'' was declared the Overall Grand Prize winner of the 2021 USA Songwriting Competition. The decision to start afresh across the country in order to formally study his craft was a bold and focused move that now enables Vân Scott to be a bicoastal writer, producer, and performer.
Vân Scott began releasing singles and videos at the end of 2019 while finishing songs for his debut album, Almost Gone (AWAL / Oat Brand Music), which came out in July of 2021. During the recording process, he was fortunate enough to be mentored by influential music producers Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins and Mike Elizondo. “There was one afternoon I spent with Rodney where we talked for hours about production philosophy,” says Scott. “I played him a bunch of demos that day and he gave me tips on how I should approach the productions.” “As for Mike,” says Scott, “I used to meet with him pretty regularly at his Tarzana studio to play my latest demos. He always gave me invaluable feedback and helped me uncover more of my own unique voice, at the same time introducing me to obscure artists I’d never heard of for inspiration. Eventually, I reached a point where I walked in with my first three singles off the debut album, and we both knew it was time to record and share those songs.”
Sincere and true to himself, Vân Scott’s journey has only just begun. Although Scott has now left the Big Apple to make Los Angeles his home again in 2023, he continues to foster his bicoastal relationships and fanbase with collaborations and touring stints that promote each new release. Like his musical influences Coldplay, John Mayer, Mutemath, and ‘70s icons, like Elton John, David Bowie, and Freddie Mercury, Scott hopes that his music encourages others to embrace who they are, and to be their best self.
