Album Notes

Vanessa Draper says she isn't a musician. Possibly that's true. Her melodies aren't complicated. Her CD isn't laden with production, rather it's straight forward and to the point. The point being, the lyrics. A true lyricist, Vanessa Draper is often described as a "writer's writer" by her musical peers. In her hands, a simple turn of phrase becomes a magical experience...moving the listener along whichever path she chooses to steer them down.

Like many, Vanessa began playing music and writing in high school, but being born in, and attending school in the music-laden community of Nashville, Tennessee, her early introduction to music was less an adolescent phase, and more like a college education in the craft and art of songwriting.

When asked about her influences, Vanessa states, "Early favorites were Jackson Browne, Jim Croce, Karla Bonoff; Other 'biggies' for me are Nanci Griffith, Shawn Colvin, John Hiatt, and most certainly, Mary Chapin-Carpenter. To me, what these people have in common is the ability to be painfully honest with and about, themselves, without losing sight of the light....that's where I want to be."

"If I Ever Disappear", released on Independent label, 'sweet-T Records', reflects Vanessa's love for the mountains of the Southeast both in content and design, as well as brings you face to face with, simply put, fine songwriting.