TEXAS LIFESTYLE | REVIEWS
Close Up with
Patricia Vonne By Jennifer Simonson
Sometimes, the only way to move forward is to look back. Long-time Austin musician Patricia Vonne recently released Viva Bandolera, her sixth album and her first all-Spanish song collection. Each previous album has had bilingual tracks, but this album is solely in the language of Vonne’s mother. Growing up in San Antonio in a close-knit family of 10 siblings, music and art were continuously encouraged at home. “My mom wanted to instill Spanish in us because in school she wasn’t allowed to speak it,” Vonne said. “The first thing she taught us was Spanish music.” The title of the album, Viva Bandolera, was taken from a song off Vonne’s first album. “It means female bandit and represents the independent spirit of women.” Vonne also used the Viva Bandolera message to help her pick up the pieces of life after a painful divorce. At 20, while living in New York City, she met her future husband, guitar player Robert LaRoche, who became her musical collaborator. They moved to Austin in 2001 to return to her Texas roots, continuing to make music together. But, along the way, LaRoche’s struggle with alcohol was too overwhelming for Vonne. Like many an artist before her, Vonne took solace in her work, co-writing Dark Mile with Doyle Bramhall. “It was so dark. I never thought there would be anything positive out of it, “ she said. “It was the darkest time of my life, but look where I am now.” Now, she is a deservedly award-winning artist, with half a dozen albums under her belt and several European tours. Her style of Latin rock, which she describes as Texas-influenced roots rock with South of the border flavor, is very popular in Germany and Switzerland. Between times, Vonne also works as a successful real estate agent. (And there’s good news about her ex, who has now been sober for three years.) She is very close with her family, especially her older brother, movie director Robert Rodriguez. The striking Vonne continues to take Flamenco dance classes, language classes, read, perform, and live what she calls the Bandolera lifestyle. “It is all about empowering yourself. I have heard that so often over the years, and now I get it. Viva Bandolera! PATRICIAVONNE.COM
Photo by Linda Hughes
Texas Lifestyle Magazine 71