Music Reviews
"...Vanessa has a very unique song-writing flavor and delivers with such style, determination and demeanor that she makes you feel like she has been your best and most trusted friend for ever and ever. One tends to hang on every word that springs from her mouth in fear that you are going to miss something very moving and monumental...."
JR McIntire, Rhum Academy of Music & Performing Arts Center, Kokomo, IN
"Seeing Vanessa play is less like attending a concert and more like having a conversation with a close, dear friend. I first saw Vanessa play a few years ago at a cafe in my neighborhood, and I was immediately drawn to her songwriting talent and performance. Her songs have a traditional flavor with a unique and personal twist. Her lyrics range from haunting and sad to refreshingly funny and down-to-earth, and they have a way of reaching right into your heart and experience.
Her recordings on each CD reflect the energy and soul of her live performance and are a must-have if you enjoyed the show."
Robin Galante, SF singer-songwriter
Vanessa VerLee - Bio
When Vanessa was a child she woud tell her parents she wanted to go to Harvard to study cosmetology and cartooning. Nevermind that this prestigious school offered neither career preparation, she was determined to follow her passions and lucky enough to have a supportive family.
That path did indeed lead her to Massachusetts, although not to Harvard, where she studied Communications at Gordon College. While there, her hands found there way to a guitar. Vanessa, who had been singing her whole life, suddenly had accompaniment - and a new platform for her writing. At the age of 20 she began pouring out original songs, recording and performing wherever she could. She has since produced three full length albums ("Until It So Desires" 1999, "Wherever My Feet are Planted" 2001, and "I Don't Know If You Know" 2005). She has played with Mike Roe of the 77s, Jolie Holland, Micheal Musika, among others, but most often plays with her long time partner (and now husband) Jeremy Rourke, typically under the name "Francis and Larise".
In 2000, Vanessa attended a yoga class and her life took another dramatic turn, she was soon practicing four to five times a week and awakening parts of her body and spirit that she never knew existed. In 2003, she deepened her practice with a month long teacher training program at the Integral Yoga Ashram ("Yogaville") in Buckingham, VA. She returned to San Francisco, where she'd been living since 1999, and began leading classes herself. She has since studied with many leading yoga teachers, including mainly Judith Lasater and Ramanand Patel.
In early 2006, Vanessa found her way overseas to further explore her healing path. First to Thailand, where she did an intensive Thai Yoga Massage Course through the Sunshine School of Thai Massage, in a rural village north of Chang Mai. Then to India, where she studied yoga on the banks of the Ganges River, at the Santosh Puri Ashram, near Hardiwar and Rishikesh. Upon returning to the States, Vanessa began offering sessions of Thai Massage and continued teaching yoga.
Later in 2006, Vanessa's deepening interest in Chinese Medicine theory led her to study at the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley, CA. While there she went through both the Basic and Advanced Acupressure programs, as well as doing further courses in Thai Massage and getting certified in AcuYoga.
Vanessa now lives in the Richmond District of San Francisco with her husband Jeremy. She teaches yoga classes at the Jewish Community Center, the Richmond YMCA and privately in her studio. In that same studio, she also sees clients for "Thai Inspired" bodywork sessions that include elements of both acupressure and traditional Thai Massage. Through the years she has continued to play music, gone on a few tours playing gigs around the country, recorded and performed locally.
Recently, a Vedic astrologer told Vanessa that she was destined to work with her hands, through healing and entertaining. Vanessa is grateful that the stars have aligned and allowed her to do just that.