OMC: What do you derive from your music and from your visual art? Do they express different things or are they different expressions of the same feelings?

NV: As I said before the art and music stuff is very circular. In both cases they're expressions of emotions and thoughts that are very close to me. The act of expressing is a very therapeutic activity. A lot of times the stories in my music and what's portrayed in my visual art are actual events or encounters I've had or my friends have had and I've simply fictionalized some of the details to possibly make it a bit more interesting and also to protect others' privacy...I'm not trying to offend anyone with the things I create. But because the things I create, artistically/musically, are based in real life and often on real events many people young and old alike can relate to it.

OMC: Who inspires you musically? There are traces of all kinds of people in your music: inspired rockers like Bruce Springsteen, as well as folkier influences.

NV: Bruce Springsteen is definitely a top notch songwriter, but there are quite a few musical artists that are closer to home that have inspired me such as, Willy Porter, Bodeans and bands that I've actually had the opportunity to open for like Fade 2 Shade from Minneapolis and Life in General from North Carolina. But the influences don't necessarily stop or start with anyone of the previously mentioned. There's also Led Zeppelin, James Taylor, Rage Against the Machine, Extreme, The Refreshments, Barenaked Ladies, Harry Conick Jr., Stevie Ray Vaughn, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Def Leppard, Sublime, Less Than Jake, Aerosmith, Otis Redding, Miles Davis ... and many more.

OMC: Do you have a band or do you prefer to play solo?

NV: At the moment I'm performing my music solo, but with the right people and instrumentation I could see it expanding into a band format, we'll see, I like to options, but for now I'm content.

OMC: What's your next project?

NV: I'm currently working on my next full length album, "Closure," which will have visual art and a written story that will go together in a similar fashion as "Voices of Home." I'm really excited about this new project, but I have to refrain from giving away too much, so regretfully that's about all I say about it. I expect the project to be finished sometime in January 2003. Then I'm hoping to approach art galleries to show the artwork and set up two or three performances of the entire story/musical/art show at each gallery that I'm able to show in. Also I will continue to do straight music performances at most any venue that will have me, which includes private parties and colleges.

You can keep up with Venturella's doings by visiting his Web site.