The Long Shot

While I was immediately attracted to Vivian’s unique vocal style and delivery, it was the refreshingly unusual melodies and emotional depth of her songs that attracted me, and ultimately inspired some of the best work of my career. As a producer, I enjoyed creating a unique sonic and musical environment for each of Vivian’s songs, allowing the strength of her vocal performance and lyric storytelling to lead the listener through the album’s journey. I am extremely proud of this record, as The Long Shot embodies not only the diverse talents of an impressive young artist, but also captures the sense of discovery and the fun we had recording it. —R. Walt Vincent Producer Pete Yorn, Liz Phair, and Tommy Keene When you see Vivian Cook play live you’ll hear a woman with a voice you won’t forget, backed by a killer rock ’n’ roll band. Her lyrics and melodies would have you believe she’s twice her age of 25. That’s because she’s lived a lot of life in those short years. She grew up in Palo Alto, CA, and graduated from Georgetown University with degrees in Theatre and Theology. Vivian then moved to Los Angeles to record The Long Shot, named after the subject of the e-mail Vivian sent to gold record producer R. Walt Vincent asking if he would like to work with her. About those songs, Vivian says, “My songs are mainly about my friends. I figured out a long time ago that they’re my most valuable asset, that I wouldn’t be me without them. They’re about navigating the stormy waters of adolescence and surviving, which isn’t a given. They’re about getting dealt a winning hand, only to get f***-all in the next round. And composting, because even s*** can be turned into something beautiful.”