Austin, Texas based songwriter Vanessa Lively creates an eclectic blend of folk & world music that beautifully join heartfelt lyrics with soulful vocals. Drawing on a compelling mix of tempos and styles that embrace hints of urban, world, Latin, funk and pop, Lively’s songs fully capture her compassionate nature and love of community. Margaret Moser of The Austin Chronicle describes Vanessa’s music as “folk music on fire with worldly rhythms and a Latin pulse.” Lively was named one of the Top 10 Artists of the Year by KUNC in Colorado and one of the Top 12 Artists of the Year by Where The Birds Fly in Germany. “Austin’s Vanessa Lively is a true multidiscipline artist. She’s a singer, songwriter, musician and painter with a do-it-yourself attitude and a compassionate spirit.” – Mario Tarradell, The Dallas Morning News

Lively was honored in 2017 with the Artist Activist Award by Music To Life. With this award and grant, she was able to start her dream project of creating a music program that works within Austin’s homeless community. She created Home Street Music and is leading the music circles at Community First! Village in East Austin.

Return to Waves

Wash Over Me

What Will You Say Tonight?

Heart of Spruce

Come and Find Me

Bury It

Dive In

She Won't Let Go

We Are Waiting

Unleash the Words

Chasm

I Am a Song

This is a rough cut from our live show at Blue Rock in Wimberley, TX on January 11, 2018. Erin Ivey / Suzanna Choffel / Vanessa Lively singing the closing song "Brokedown Palace" by The Grateful Dead. 

This song is honoring the sweet life of Roger William Lytle (August 25, 2013 - April 09, 2014). Your mama is the biggest Grateful Dead fan I have ever met...we sing for you. You live on in our hearts.

"Brokedown Palace" Live At Blue Rock (Vanessa Lively, Suzanna Choffel, Erin Ivey)

Austin, TX based songwriter Vanessa Lively creates an eclectic blend of folk & world music that beautifully joins heartfelt lyrics with soulful vocals. Drawing on a compelling mix of tempos and styles that embrace hints of urban, world, Latin, funk and pop, Lively’s songs fully capture her compassionate nature and love of community. Lively has been featured recently in Austin Woman Magazine, Spectrum News Austin, The Austin Chronicle, and on Song of the Soul Podcast.

“Austin’s Vanessa Lively is a true multidiscipline artist. She’s a singer, songwriter, musician and painter with a do-it-yourself attitude and a compassionate spirit.” – Mario Tarradell, Dallas Morning News.

In 2017, Lively received the Artist Activist Award by Music To Life. With this grant, she founded a nonprofit called Home Street Music which holds music circles with people who have experienced homelessness. She is releasing a new album in 2022 called Truth Is.