Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Silberman.
Hi Vanessa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started playing guitar when I was about 11 or 12. I’ll never forget being in maybe fifth or sixth grade and hearing Nirvana playing from the back of my friend’s dad’s truck. It literally blew my mind. That was the band that made me want to play music.
I moved to LA in my late teens to pursue music. I briefly attended music school while starting a moniker/band called Diamonds Under Fire. While in school, I learned I could get credit for internships and figured out that would be my best way into the music business and to make connections. I decided I would work in the music business to make money while pursuing music myself. I interned at a number of different companies, including Warner Chappell Publishing in the A&R department, guitarist Steve Vai’s record label Favored Nations, Epitaph Records, and a red carpet events company called Tinsel Town Entertainment that was a lot like TMZ. I eventually got my first job doing part-time internet marketing at Epitaph Records.
The Cliff Notes version of my story from there, over the span of about 25 years, is that I ended up doing just about every job in the business: freelance grassroots marketing campaigns, social media, assisting a TV/film sync rep, publishing royalties, graphic and web design, styling, branding, A&R scouting, radio, tour managing, working for a music manager, later managing multiple artists, consulting, assisting music execs, ghostwriting, recording, booking, working the door and selling merch at venues, helping find bands for production deals, pitching bands to agents, labels, and for sync/publishing deals — and just about everything in between.
One of the bigger turning points in my career came when I really wanted to get into recording. I had briefly learned Pro Tools from a producer and found an incredible studio, Conway Recording Studios in LA, but the only job they had open was as the front desk receptionist answering phones and doing some light bookkeeping. At that point, I had already worked in the music business for several years, so in a way it felt like taking a bit of a step backward. But I took the job anyway and remember thinking to myself, “I’ll meet someone.” I ended up meeting producer Dr. Luke, and about four months later I became a runner/assistant for him.
During the time I was working all these jobs, I was also pursuing my band, playing shows, and touring. I later went on to briefly part-time assist Livia Tortella, who was COO/Co-President of Warner Bros. Records. Around that same time, I had a friend who worked for the company producing the Foo Fighters: Back and Forth documentary. He asked if I would be up for helping as a PA because I was in between tours, and he thought it would be useful to have a musician around.
While I was PA-ing, I spent time at Studio 606 and got to know a lot of people from the Foo Fighters camp. After the film was done, I went on tour for several months, and when I returned, I was looking to either do A&R or work for a producer. At one point, I was invited back to Studio 606 to record there with the in-house producer. I was there when they moved in the Sound City Neve board. Ironically, you can actually see me sweeping the floor in the documentary, which is funny because a few months later I ended up becoming the in-house assistant engineer there.
While assisting at Studio 606, I had also started my label/company, A Diamond Heart Production. I was developing and managing bands and artists while continuing to play in my own band. I did a lot during that time, and although working at Studio 606 was a dream job — especially growing up listening to many of the bands I was now working with — I was still pursuing my own music. Eventually, I decided to end my band and focus fully on recording, but then I had a crazy realization: I originally moved to LA to play music, get a deal, and go on tour. I thought that as much as I loved working with and for the people who inspired me to play music, I owed it to myself to give my own music a real shot and continue building my own company and label. I also realized I could always continue recording more as I got older, but at that point in my life, I felt it was my time to tour.
So I left. For a short period, I was part of a pop project and worked on a few freelance projects, including assisting on Ash & Ice by The Kills and a few sessions with Kimbra, along with other miscellaneous music projects.
I ended up deciding to sell most of my belongings, put the rest in storage, and go on tour — which I did from 2015–2020, playing about 800 shows during that time while still recording here and there and putting out releases on my label.
In 2019, I moved to New York because I always loved touring and recording there. I thought touring would be easier from NYC, and I wanted to be closer to Europe. Then the pandemic happened, and I focused more heavily on recording and releasing music. My drummer at the time, Ryan Carnes, and I were collaborating a lot, and since my new solo material was quite different from my past music, we decided to form a band called Lovecolor in 2022. Since then, we’ve done a number of tours and released an album. In 2025, I launched my new solo project, V★Silver. I released about 10 singles since last September.
Throughout all of this, A Diamond Heart Production has continued to grow and has now released more than 135 records to date. Currently, I continue to play and record my own music, record and produce artists, and work across multiple creative areas of the music industry.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I think of music and life as growth through peaks and valleys — it’s part of the journey and learning. I have been extremely blessed in this life with so many incredible artist, music business, and recording experiences, but I think in all honesty, if I’m being really real, the artist/music business path has not been an easy one, and a lot of the struggles are things most people don’t see.
Sometimes it comes with challenging choices. To give an example, choosing to go against what everyone says (I had some people close to me disapprove of me living on the road), or instead of going out and hanging with friends, you practice and write. Sometimes it affects relationships. Or you trade comfort for discomfort in exchange for opportunities.
I think one of the hardest parts, no matter what, is ignoring the outside noise and remaining stable in your own heart, self-belief, and inner trust. You have to be so driven and create your own inner stability, especially when the outside is far from it. As an artist, especially independently, you are constantly juggling many jobs along with the ups and downs.
I think early on I saw that it was very important for me to diversify my income streams and learn as much as possible. Knowledge is power, and I definitely took on the DIY mentality of being capable and having an understanding of all the creative functions, the business side, as well as the recording side. I have always had a passion for understanding the inner workings of things, so I’ve done my best to lean into that.
When people say to pick one thing and focus on that, in theory that’s a wonderful idea, but in this climate I’m just not sure how it’s possible until you have a hit record bringing in consistent income. Even then, you hear most people say you’re only as good as your last hit. So in my opinion, drown out the outside noise and follow your own path and heart toward what you love.
I’d rather occasionally face challenges that I can use as growth opportunities while doing what I love than struggle through doing something I don’t love. I think following your heart is the only way to live.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, engineer, mixer, and the owner of a company/label called A Diamond Heart Production. I also have an artist project called V★Silver and am part of a duo called Lovecolor with Ryan Carnes.
I have been in the music business for over 25 years and, since 2014, have owned my company and worked for myself as my own boss. On occasion, I have also done freelance A&R for other labels, consulting, marketing, and ghostwriting for other companies and people.
Between 2015–2020, I lived on the road and played over 800 shows. I have always bounced between the creative and business roles, and I think they balance each other out.
I am most proud that I have never given up and continue to follow my purpose.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
If people or companies would like to work with me, they can learn more about my recording, production work, and company at the links below. If people would like to support my music projects, they can follow the Instagram accounts below, give some of the songs some spins on Spotify, and check out the music/videos below:
https://www.adiamondheartproduction.com/vanessasilbermancredits
https://www.adiamondheartproduction.com
https://www.instagram.com/vanessasilbermanofficial
https://www.instagram.com/iamvsilver
https://www.instagram.com/lovecolorband
https://www.instagram.com/adiamondheartproduction
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.adiamondheartproduction.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessasilbermanofficial
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-silberman-597ba645/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamvsilver
- Other: https://www.vanessasilbermanofficial.com/iamvsilver
