Venomous Valdez is a name synonymous with the local music scene. She has been a cheerleader for the scene in many forms over the years at many posts including; WEBN, WAIF, MPMF, managing local bands, booking local bands for many events, and hosting radio shows for CincyMusic.com on WNKU and The Project.

We sat down with our favorite radio host, Venomous Valdez to discuss her love of the local scene!

CincyMusic.com: You have been the voice of local music for quite some time whether on WEBN, The Project, WNKU, WAIF, and as a band manager. What is your favorite avenue in which to promote music?
Venomous Valdez: I absolutely love the outlet of radio. It allows me to introduce bands to a wider audience that would not just randomly turn up at a bands show. At the heart of it, producing concerts is my favorite avenue. Live music permeates with the human emotion and connection that can not be duplicated in recorded music. 

CM: What is something that Cincinnati may not know about Venomous Valdez?
VV: I'm not really as mean as my DJ name suggests. Please keep that to yourself though, I have a reputation to uphold.  

CM: As a woman in Cincinnati music, do you feel that your gender has ever hindered your path? Do you feel that you have to work harder to get your voice heard?
VV: I certainly had to work harder in the beginning. I also chose to not date within the scene in an effort to be taken seriously. Something you would never hear a male counterpoint use as a strategy. Now that I am well established in the Cincinnati music scene, my gender, whom I choose to date or even my rock-n-roll radio name, are non-issues. My work speaks for itself, as it should.  I have always shown respect to the scene and it has paid it back in kind.  

CM: As an obvious music lover, what has been your all time favorite concert you have attended? 
VV: At this point, I have probably logged over a thousand concerts. There have been many, many amazing nights in my life. The following memory demonstrates what I love about live performances:

While I was in Boston years ago, I was fortunate enough to see Ray LaMontagne in a small venue shortly after he self-released his very first album, Trouble. It was just him and his acoustic. A very shy gentlemen that we, the audience fell head over heels in love with. You could tell he was working through finding how to be comfortable with exhibiting his art in front of people. We were very careful with him. In the opening chords of the song “Burn”, you could hear a pin drop. As the song went on, you could hear he was fighting back emotions. Then he gave in and wept, rendering the audience to tears with him.  Whatever he wrote within that particular song about was still very raw within him. It was a precious moment you can never duplicate. 

CM: What do you want people to take away with them when they think of you?
VV: That I'm a very hard working lady that has endless passion for the City of Cincinnati and its music. 

*Editor’s Note *
Local bands, go submit new music to be played on CincyMusic Spotlight HERE!
The CincyMusic Spotlight is a weekly local music show on The Project 100.7 / 106.3 that features a mix of the region's most talented musicians and a recap of local music news from CincyMusic.com. The show features prominent local music veteran Venomous Valdez. You can catch us on the air every Sunday night at midnight on The Project 100.7 / 106.3.

March is Women’s History Month, in celebration, CincyMusic.com will be featuring important women behind the music scene in Cincinnati. Cincinnati is the home of so many amazing women within the music industry. These women include; a Venue Owner, a well known DJ, Educators, the First Lady of Cincinnati Music, an Assistant Program Director, Writers, Photographers, and a beloved fan.

Stay tuned to CincyMusic.com for our Features on these talented women this month!