"If you're reading about Boston music, Victoria Wasylak probably wrote it."
Victoria Wasylak
JOURNALIST, EDITOR, WRITER
1 woman
4 journalism awards
31 scripted podcast episodes
1500+ articles
Millions of readers and listeners served
Let’s rock.
Seen featured in
Features
How Boston Calling got it 'Boston' back - The Boston Globe
"There was a time when I thought nothing was more “Boston” than watching Pixies perform at Boston Calling in May 2015.
Savor some Tasty Burger to 'Monkey Gone to Heaven,' hear a guy holler 'I saw you at The Rat!,' then beat feet out of City Hall Plaza and moan when the Haymarket T station clogs with people. Nights like that felt like the ultimate Boston experience — bonus points if you sported a Red Sox hat."
Exit Stage Left: Boston Music Suffers With the Loss of Mid-Size Indie Venues - Vanyaland
"Too often, the question in town has become 'where did Boston music go?' when it should be 'are we preventing Boston artists from thriving?' The loss of these independent mid-size venues — which would allow Boston acts to grow significantly — serves as another example of why it’s more difficult to survive as an artist here, as opposed to other large American cities."
10 Reasons Why 'ARTPOP' Is Lady Gaga’s Bravest Album - GRAMMY.com
"Released after Gaga broke her hip and canceled the Born This Way Ball tour, ARTPOP was a canvas of earth-shattering bursts of pain and passion, and an electronic confessional. For her efforts and vision, Gaga's maligned 2013 album would become a blueprint for contemporary alt-pop artists — not just with its experimental clash of genres, but through its winking subversion of industry expectations."
"I think it’s hard not to look out into the world and feel hopeless right now, but I think there are these little pockets of grace that keep occurring, that help us move on and go on."
Interviews
"We all have privilege, but I think that when I tell my story, coming from that place and giving you that perspective, I think that by default that makes me political"
"For so long I believed I would not be able to thrive in the music industry once I was past 35. I believed that deeply in my soul, and as a result, I really sort of folded in on myself for a while, basically due to the death of my mother and some other close friends, that I realized I had to merge myself with music again or I literally would shrivel up and die."
Victoria Wasylak is an award-winning journalist and music critic from Boston, Massachusetts. As Music Editor, Boston, of Vanyaland, she documents the triumphs and struggles of modern artists, with an unwavering focus on local music. She was named “Music Journalist of the Year” at the Boston Music Awards in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023 for her extensive work in the Boston arts scene.
Victoria’s 1,500-plus articles for Vanyaland peel back layers of sociopolitical perspective on the best damn new music, whether an artist has four Spotify followers or four million. Her criticism and witticisms amplify the musicians and movements shaping the landscape of today’s music industry. (Although, on rare occasions, she’s not above panning a Justin Bieber remix or two). When she’s not furiously scribbling show reviews in her notebook at TD Garden, she’s on the phone with some of the best entertainers of our time, from Lizzo to Shirley Manson, Peter Wolf to Carrie Brownstein.
In the podcast world, Victoria has written episodes of the Webby- and iHeartRadio-Award- winning show DISGRACELAND, the number one music podcast in the world. She’s also penned episodes of its sister podcast, BADLANDS, and episodes of the Signal-Award-winning podcast About A Girl.
Victoria is a professional member of the Recording Academy and serves as Assistant Chapter Chair of the Boston chapter of Women in Music.
She unveiled her workshop Pitch Like a Pro: Grab The Attention of Music Journalists in 2022 at Club Passim, and offers private sessions virtually and in-person.
Victoria holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University’s
College of Communication.
About Victoria
Workshop
Pitch Like A Pro: Grab The Attention of Music Journalists teaches creatives how to get their art in the hands of critics and journalists around the world. This two-hour course shares a comprehensive list of materials to include in a pitch, plus hacks for interviewing, writing promotional content, and making your music as newsworthy as possible.
Ready to learn? Inquire via email for private sessions with your organization, or catch the workshop at Club Passim.
HERE'S WHAT GUESTS ARE SAYING:
"Victoria gives musicians the crucial behind-the-scenes knowledge and insight to rise above the noise and get writers' attention the right way. She clearly loves music and musicians, and she's designed her course with one goal—to help you succeed. This presentation is a must for any new or seasoned musician looking to spread the word about their creations."
- George O'Connor, Swarm of Eyes
"I got more out of Vicki's 2-hour 'Pitch Like a Pro' workshop than I have from years of books, articles, and podcasts on how to 'make it' in the music business. Vicki grants you the confidence that you deserve to have your music heard and gives you actionable skills and applicable resources to make that happen. This workshop goes beyond common-sense advice, going as granular as giving you recommendations on timelines, structure, and format of your pitch. If you are an aspiring musician and you don't know where to start, start here. If I had taken 'Pitch Like a Pro' ten years ago, I would be a rock and roll star by now."
- Tim Howd, The Only Humans
Contact
Email for Pitches
victoria.wasylak [at] vanyaland.com