Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Burden.
Hi Vanessa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a multidisciplinary creator. Finessa x Vanessa was born from the inherent need to stay creative during quarantine. Most people know me as a DJ and vocalist, having spent many years on KOOP 91.7FM w/ my program Beats of Burden or performing w/ bands La Vida Buena ATX, Bidi Bidi Banda and currently Los Alcos. Quarantine changed a lot of things for a lot of people and I am no exception. What is the meaning of your life if you aren’t able to do the things that you have always done to exist in the world? It was a time of deep soul searching and contemplation. The isolation taking its toll daily. I live alone so I was literally going to the Greenbelt daily to hug trees and stay grounded. I really missed and needed any kind of social interaction. A friend invited me to a day market at Sagebrush where I ran into another friend who invited me to setup at a new market at Far Out Lounge. I was conflicted about being in a bar setting as I had recently given up alcohol, but desperate to be around other people that I jumped at the chance to pop up. I always had a love for vintage clothes and had quite a collection of things I wasn’t going to fit into anytime soon! Flipping vintage is in my blood and glad for those days when my Mama would take me to Value Village where we could what I lovingly refer to as “ballin’ on a budget”. Ever evolving and inspired by each new friend (now fam) I met at Far Out Vintage Mall, I began to shape my brand and aesthetic.
Finessa was the name of my solo project, so it was natural to incorporate that into my brand. At first, I began making cropped tops with matching masks and scrunchies from the discarded bottoms. I am part Mexicana, so if you didn’t know already, we like to be “muy muy” or what one would call “extra” by matching everything. Those sold out quick and the response was more than I anticipated for someone who just rediscovered sewing again. I cannot thank those first customers enough for their praise of my work and validation to keep me motivated to create. Next, I started to rework trackpants into sets. Currently, I have been creating fun tube tops with matching scrunchies. All of the fabrics sourced second-hand. I am forever grateful to all the artists who have allowed me to style them. I am grateful to Far Out Lounge and Far Out Vintage Mall for welcoming me into their familia. I am grateful for every person who has purchased something from my small business. They all have given me reason to continue to create in these times of uncertainty. To me, finessing is making something out of nothing. That’s what I’ve done my whole life so why stop now?
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Honestly, I feel really blessed to be a part of the Far Out Vintage Mall fam. I learn so much from each person. If I have questions or am struggling, I do not hesitate to ask one of the vintage veterans. Everyone has their own aesthetic and style, so I think finding your own way to do things can be hard if you’re just starting out. Recognizing what works for someone else may not work for you. I look at it the same way I DJ – I’m not gonna play a song I don’t like because it’s trendy because you can tell I don’t really like it. I don’t sell anything I wouldn’t actually wear because it would be inauthentic.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a bonafide hu$tler. I do all kinds of things for work in these crazy times we are living in. I tapped into my talents and ways to utilize them. I am not unwilling to learn new skills that push me out of my comfort zone. I decided in 2020 that I would no longer dim my shine to make others feel comfortable. I don’t compete with anyone other than myself. I stopped sleeping on myself. All of this makes me ME and there ain’t nobody like ME. That’s what I’m most proud of.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My very first DJ gig w/ my bestie Jamie at the 8th grade dance in the gym. I’m gonna date myself cuz it’s when cassette singles came out and we got on the mic and were like “NO REQUESTS” cuz we LITERALLY only had those cassettes!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: finessaxvanessa
- SoundCloud: beatsofburden
- Other: Losalcos.com
Image Credits
1) Nessa in Virgen top: Audrea Diaz 2) Nessa in front of rack: Lulu Bryant 3) cedar street : Marisol Andres 4)5) Me (all tops in pics by Me) 6) crouching Nessa in reworked Adidas : Terrika Mitchell
