The Violet Vault

In this episode of The Violet Vault, Ava Cyr explores Prince’s groundbreaking 1999 era, highlighting it as a major turning point in both his career and pop music in 1982. Following Controversy, Prince intensifies his creative process, working obsessively in the studio and expanding his sound into a bold fusion of funk, rock, pop, and new wave—solidifying the “Minneapolis sound.” The episode also touches on his personal and professional relationship with Vanity, the rise of his protégé a...

In this episode of The Violet Vault, Ava Cyr guides listeners into the transformative early 1980s—a pivotal era in both music history and Prince’s career. As disco fades and synth-driven pop, funk, and electronic sounds rise, artists like Michael Jackson begin reshaping the industry, opening doors for Black musicians to reach global superstardom. Against this backdrop, Prince returns to Minneapolis, determined to carve out his own creative path. Despite delays in building his home studio, he ...

In episode two of The Violet Vault, host Ava Cyr continues Prince’s story at a pivotal moment—his transition from rising talent to recording artist. At just 19 years old, Prince signs with Warner Bros., securing a groundbreaking deal that gives him rare creative control as the youngest producer in the industry. This episode explores the making of his debut album, For You (1978), highlighting his perfectionism, refusal to collaborate with established acts like Earth, Wind & Fire, and his d...

In the debut episode of The Violet Vault, host Ava Cyr introduces listeners to the early life of Prince Rodgers Nelson, exploring the formative years that shaped one of music’s most iconic and enigmatic artists. From his birth in Minneapolis in 1958 to his upbringing in a musically inclined household, this episode traces the influences that defined Prince’s identity and artistry. Ava dives into his childhood struggles, including living with epilepsy, navigating family changes after his father...

The first time I ever heard Prince was the day he passed. I was twelve years old, sitting alone in my bedroom, when Purple Rain came through the speakers for the first time. I didn’t know who he was or his story, but when the iconic guitar chords began to play, something broke in me and I started to cry. That moment changed me. Even though I discovered him too late in life to see him live, I’ve spent every year since trying to understand the world he created- his music, his genius, his myster...