The Violet Vault

In Episode 14 of The Violet Vault , we begin exploring Prince's transformative 1990s with a look at Graffiti Bridge —the ambitious film and soundtrack that marked the end of one creative era and the beginning of another. Discover how Prince revisited familiar characters from Purple Rain , drew inspiration from a real Minnesota landmark, and exercised unprecedented creative control by filming...

In this episode of The Violet Vault , host Ava Cyr explores the fascinating story behind Prince's 1989 Batman soundtrack—an album that became far more than just a movie tie-in. Discover the surprising original plan to pair Prince with Michael Jackson, the mysterious "Gemini" character Prince created to embody both Batman and The Joker, and the hidden meanings behind the album's...

In this episode of The Violet Vault , host Ava Cyr explores the remarkable story behind Prince’s 1988 album Lovesexy , a record born from one of the most dramatic artistic decisions in music history. After abruptly canceling the release of The Black Album —despite hundreds of thousands of copies already being pressed—Prince retreated to Paisley Park Studios and emerged just seven weeks later with...

After a brief hiatus, Ava Cyr returns to The Violet Vault with the first of two special back-to-back episodes exploring one of the most fascinating chapters in Prince’s career. This week, we unravel the mystery of The Black Album —the infamous 1987 release Prince ordered destroyed just days before it was scheduled to hit stores. From its dark, aggressive funk sound and controversial themes to the...

In Episode 10 of The Violet Vault , host Ava Cyr explores the groundbreaking era of Prince's 1987 masterpiece Sign O' The Times . From the dissolution of The Revolution and the abandoned Dream Factory , Camille , and Crystal Ball projects to the creation of one of the most acclaimed albums of his career, this episode examines a pivotal moment of artistic reinvention. Discover how Prince...

 In episode 9 of The Violet Vault , host Ava Cyr travels back to 1986 to explore one of the most pivotal eras in the career of Prince. The episode dives into Prince’s eighth studio album, Parade, and his directorial debut film, Under the Cherry Moon. Ava discusses the album’s unique blend of jazz, funk, soul, orchestral pop, and European influences, along with the story behind the chart-topping hi...

 In episode 8 of The Violet Vault , host Ava Cyr explores Prince’s bold artistic transformation following the massive success of Purple Rain. This episode dives into the creation and impact of Around the World in a Day, Prince’s psychedelic and experimental 1985 release that intentionally moved away from the commercial sound of his earlier work. Ava discusses the album’s Beatles-inspired influence...

 Episode 7 of The Violet Vault follows host Ava Cyr as she explores the creation and legacy of Purple Rain, Prince’s groundbreaking silver screen debut. Ava dives into how Prince envisioned a Hollywood breakthrough following the success of 1999 and pushed for a studio film despite repeated rejection from major studios. The episode covers the evolution of the project from its original concept, Drea...

In this episode of The Violet Vault, Ava Cyr chats with a musician and long-time Prince follower, Damian Anderson about his experience with the purple one. As a Minnesota native, Anderson has been fond of Prince since the early 80s and lead a career in music hoping someday, he'll find the opportunity to play for the purple Yoda. After partying multiple times out at Paisley Park, he finally ga...

 In this episode of The Violet Vault , Ava Cyr explores Prince’s Purple Rain era, tracing how his success with 1999 became the launchpad for a groundbreaking, genre-blending masterpiece. Released in 1984, Purple Rain marked a shift toward a fuller, more collaborative sound with The Revolution, even incorporating live recordings from Minneapolis’s First Avenue. Ava unpacks the mythology behind the...

 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 als...

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 Minneapol...

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...

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 h...

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 sp...