Vân Scott

Los Angeles songwriter Scott Oatley (aka Vân Scott) won the Overall Grand Prize as well as the first prize of the Gospel/Inspirational category of the 26th Annual USA Songwriting Competition with his song “What’s Coming Next?,” co-written with songwriters Jorge Mhondera and Jay Speight.

"I’m so glad to be awarded the Grand Prize in this year’s competition. As an Honorable Mention winner last year, I see this as a testament to perseverance and dedication to my craft. My winning song describes ‘living off the highs and lows,’ and I certainly don’t take this celebratory high for granted. It really means a lot to me to be validated and recognized in this way. It’s a happy byproduct of all the hard work that has brought me to this point, and I look forward to seeing where my music continues to go from here", said Scott Oatley.

Alt-pop singer-songwriter Scott Oatley aka Vân Scott has had the quiet success many only dream of. A sought-after singer in the Hollywood session scene, he’s had the opportunity to do vocal work for influential music producers such as Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins and Mike Elizondo, renowned film composers like Danny Elfman and Michael Giacchino, sung on blockbuster scores like La La Land and Jurassic World, been featured on ABC's Black-ish, and performed as a background vocalist for The Voice, to name just a few of his credits.

Scott is currently a student at BerkleeNYC (Berklee College of Music’s brand new NYC campus at the legendary Power Station studios) working towards his Masters in Songwriting & Production. Earlier this year, he released his first full-length solo album, Almost Gone (AWAL / Oat Brand Music), featuring songs inspired by Scott's experience of doubt and uncertainty as he left his full-time church position to pursue his own music. The 10-song debut includes “What’s Coming Next?” (Grand Prize winner of the 2021 USA Songwriting Competition) as well his singles "Starry Eyed," "Die Young," and "Poster Boy," which won Honorable Mention in the 2020 USA Songwriting Competition. Sincere and true to himself, Vân Scott’s journey has only just begun. He hopes that his music encourages others to embrace who they are, and to be their best self. - Music Connection Magazine

We all know the classic band Queen and their mega hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “We Will Rock You” and “Don’t Stop Me Now”. What is less widely recognized about the group we all know and love is that within their large catalog lays the charming holiday tune “Thank God It’s Christmas”. Vân Scott’s cover of Queen’s hidden gem is a magical and merry offering. The singer has released his new heartwarming animated video just in time for Christmas. Showcasing stunning, gentle vocals that burst with so much emotion, listeners instantly get those warm and fuzzy festive feelings.

Set in the present-day, the accomapnying visuals speak to what all of us are currently going through. The video opens with Scott longingly gazing out his window, displaying the loneliness of quarantine. After his dog begins begging for a walk, he ventures outside in the snow. It is from there his whole perspective changes. Getting brief glimpses of other’s holiday celebrations as he passes their homes, he realizes he is not alone in this. One of the video’s most powerful scenes is when he arrives at an empty church. Scott reveals in a statement, “I’ve spent most of this year helping out with virtual services at my church, broadcasting from a massive, but vacant auditorium. It’s a doleful sight to see, especially as I think of Christmas time, when our largest crowds of the year typically gather to sing carols and reflect on the season. However, the shot soon pans to the cross on top of the steeple, which points to the faith and hope that continues to carry us through these hard times.”

Alt-pop singer-songwriter Vân Scott has reached immense success in the Hollywood music scene. Singing for prominent film composers such as Danny Elfman and Michael Giacchino as well as having sung on blockbuster scores for Mulan (2020), La La Landand Jurassic World, Scott’s definitely got some huge achievements under his belt. Releasing an album in 2021, he shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. - Earmilk

Last week we shined the Christmas lights on a few indie artists who have released new holiday classics, both cover and original. Now that we’re in the 12 days of Christmas, we continue this week with more from a wide array of artistic styles. We’ll have one more round next week in the days so be sure to check back.

Vân Scott – “Thank God It’s Christmas” (Queen Cover)

A Hollywood session singer who’s voice is heard on Mulan (2020), La La Land, Jurassic World, and Sing, Vân Scott imbues Queen’s “Thank God It’s Christmas” with a majestic version that would make Freddie Mercury proud. In addition to his vocals, Scott plays acoustic guitar, ukulele, piano, keyboards, and synths on the track.

“The phrase ‘Thank God it’s Christmas’ carries so much more weight right now because of what 2020 has been like for the world,” he said. “I think all of us are ready to turn the page into the New Year and this seemed like the perfect song to go out with.” - American Songwriter

Undoubtedly one of the USA’s hidden gems, the alternative pop bop maker Scott Oatley aka Vân Scott has an enriched background any upcoming artist would dream of – singing on blockbuster scores for Mulan and La La Land, performing as a background vocalist for The Voice and being featured on countless TV shows are only a few examples. Following his 2020 debut with dazzling single Poster Boy, the LA-based multi-talented artist releases latest in a string of singles and continues to equally amaze as he did when he first self-introduced.

The mellow yet groovy Starry Eyed is a little glimpse into Vân Scott’s impressive lyrical mind in the wake of his friend coming out to him, finding them both re-evaluating their belief systems. The singer-songwriter clearly has a gift for writing songs that bring empowerment from pained emotions as he serves a heavenly high crooning vocal performance over minimal melancholic guitar strums and soothing heart-warming piano notes, giving the spotlight to the doleful and rather controversial narrative.

Reflecting on the newest track, Vân Scott explains:

I had to re-examine my views on faith and sexuality. I was faced with challenging questions about what exactly I believed. Before I knew it, my feelings existed in sonic form. And to just sit in my studio, with the lights off, the glow of the instruments, and the music on loop was incredibly healing for my soul. There’s something expressly vulnerable and spiritual that inhabits that part of this song, and it makes up the bed of the entire track. - Gig Goer

Vân Scott may not be a household name, but most people have heard his voice.

He was asked to sing on Disney’s “High School Musical 3” soundtrack. Since then, he’s had the opportunity to perform for renowned film composers like Danny Elfman and Michael Giacchino as well as influential music producers such as Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins and Mike Elizondo; sung on blockbuster scores for “La La Land,” “Mulan,” “Jurassic World” and “Sing;” been a featured singer on ABC’s “Black-ish;” and has performed as a background vocalist for “The Voice,” to name just a few of his credits.

This is Scott’s time, though.

Born Scott Oatley, Scott recently released the single “Poster Boy,” which followed two recent releases: “Die Young” and “Tough Love.”

“It was actually one of the easiest songs I’ve written,” Scott said about “Poster Boy.”

“Once that popped into my mind, the song wrote itself. I knew what I wanted it to be about.

“In the second verse, I sing about being painted with a halo on my head. I’m not a renaissance painting with the glow around their head. The whole concept comes from my work with the church. I was a poster boy for the church in a lot of ways. I felt I couldn’t be myself.”

“Poster Boy” makes the statement that he’s just like everyone else.

“The song gives people permission to be human,” he said. “People singled me out specifically as this golden child. It comes with the territory. It’s been therapeutic to put this in a song.”

Church was beneficial to Scott. After all, that’s where he met Jerkins, who won a Grammy for Sam Smith songs.

“He goes to my church,” he said about Jerkins. “We were hanging out there one day and I ended up playing a few demos. He gave me feedback and I gleaned production wisdom from him.”

An Air Force brat, Scott has longed to be a musician since he was in middle school. The first song he penned was a “total Backstreet Boys pop ballad.”

He’s hoping to line up gigs since the pandemic quarantine is eased. His music was meant to be enjoyed in groups.

“I want people to feel less alone, and to be reminded that there are plenty of other people out there that share their same worries and fears,” he said.

“I want them to feel better understood and have a stronger sense of belonging. I want them to have hope and to be inspired to be the best version of themselves. I think that people will discover this through my own vulnerability, and I hope that they’ll be able to see and discover more of themselves within my songs.” - LA Downtown News