Hi. My name is Victoria Wimer Contreras. My stage name is "V. Contreras." My friends call me "V" or if they knew me as a child, they call me "Tory." I'm supposed to share with you all of the accolades i have earned here but I've left that to my best friend to write below.
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I have lived a life of service. Service through music, through 20 years of non-profit work, through finding small ways to make positive changes, through a smile, through a small act of kindness, through my voice. My calling is to impact others through service.
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I started singing at the age of 4 and began writing music in my teens. In addition to a long history of music endeavors, i have been designing clothes since i was very young and am the founder of Yomisma, an eco-friendly, ethical, inclusive brand with a singular vision: to empower women through our clothes and through our business strategies. Please check out my brand, something that aligns with my being on so many levels.
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I stopped singing for a two year period of time because i was disheartened by the music business - by the things i have seen, by the way that it made me sometimes when other's opinions were involved and by the fact that countless people have told me it was time to throw the towel in because "only 25 year Women have a chance at making it in the music industry."
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Through therapy and an amazing book written by Jamie Kern Lima, i have formed a new relationship with music that has truly been an example of live coming full circle. I have rediscovered my "why" with music. I started singing to help easy my anxiety as a young child, i kept singing because of the impact that i saw it could have on others.
Today, this is why i am singing and writing once again and why i will be releasing "Done Playing Small" on August 15, 2024. I'm changing my story. My goal is simple, to inspire other women, no matter what their age to stop playing small and start understanding their worth, their power and know that they have the support of me and other Women to do whatever it is that they desire. You've got this.
About V
Victoria Contreras (V. Contreras) is renowned for her rich, soulful voice and dramatic songwriting prowess. This multifaceted artist began her musical journey at a very young age when she found that singing helped to curb her inherent anxiety. When she was 9 years old, she began writing poetry and short stories, winning many competitions for her creativity and ability to convey emotion in a unique way. Little did she know, her childhood was shaping her future career.
When her parents took her to a Heart concert at 10 years old, she begged them to let her take voice lessons from the Wilson Sister's vocal coach (Maestro David Kyle, based in Seattle.) Negotiations were made (daily lists of chores to be completed) and Victoria began studying with this profoundly impactful vocal coach.
At 12 years old, her hard work paid off and she found herself fronting a 25-piece college jazz band where she learned about phrasing, how to work with other musicians and a whole lot more about her voice and what she might be capable of. In her late teens she began writing music, a new passion inspired by her experience as a member of a Pop/R&B girls group, based in LA where she lived for several years. It was the legendary Randy Jackson who advised the girls to write their own music and asked them to meet with him on a regular basis to share their new songs with him for feedback. At this time, all of Victoria's passions - using her voice, writing poetry and working with others collided. She found that she loved to write music almost as much as she loved to sing and she most definitely loved collaborating with others.
Since then, her songwriting chops have led to collaborations with notable songwriters such as Steve Dorff (Celine Dion, Blake Shelton, Whitney Houston), Jon Ingoldsby (Madonna, Elton John, Ke$ha), and Andrew Joslyn (Macklemore, Ke$ha).
Throughout her career as an artist, V. has worked with esteemed producers and engineers/mixers including Ryan Hadlock (Brandi Carlile, The Lumineers, Vance Joy), and Martin Feveyear (Mark Lanegan, Duff McKagan, Kings of Leon) and Eric Lilavois (My Chemical Romance, Naomi Wachira and Aaron Jones).
Her songwriting talents have earned recognition from the International Songwriters Association, with several of her songs making the Top 40 and Hot AC Radio charts. She has also performed the National Anthem for the Seahawks, Mariners, Sonics, and Sounders games and has been featured in McDonald's and AT&T commercials.
V. has trained with a multitude of vocal coaches with extensive studies in rock, pop, jazz, and opera under the guidance of renowned vocal coaches such as Lis Lewis (Rihanna, Miguel, Demi Lovato, Britney Spears) and Maestro David Kyle (Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Lane Staley, Liza Minnelli).
Passionate about advocacy for music creators, V. serves as a nominated Grammy Board Governor for the Pacific Northwest Chapter and co-chairs the Advocacy Committee. Her advocacy efforts have led to working with the attorney general's office, state legislators, members of Congress and the Senate on initiatives which ensure that music remains a viable for creators.
V. Contreras is a powerhouse of talent and advocacy, driven by a deep love for music and a commitment to making a difference in the music community. Her voice, both in song and in advocacy, inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.