By Greg Prato
For decades, Donnie Vie has remained one of rock’s most distinctive singer-songwriters, blending power pop melodies, classic rock influences, and deeply personal songwriting throughout his career with Enuff Z’Nuff and beyond. While his work has long earned praise from devoted fans and fellow musicians alike, many listeners feel his solo catalog deserves far wider recognition.
That conversation is once again front and center with the renewed spotlight on Beautiful Things, the acclaimed solo release that is getting a fresh push in 2026 through Wicked Cool Records. The reissue arrives at a time when Vie appears creatively energized, reflecting on his past while also looking ahead toward new music and collaborations.
In the following interview, Vie discusses the second life of Beautiful Things, reconnecting with Little Steven, the albums he remains most proud of, the legendary artists who shaped his musical outlook, and what fans can expect from the next chapter of his career.
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Let’s discuss the album Beautiful Things. It was originally released in 2019 but is being re-released.
Well, it was originally available in 2019. It really didn’t have any push or anything like that. It just was “available” — you could come to my site and get it, and this little company, Deko, bless their hearts (originally put it out). This was like the best record I think that I’ve ever made, and if this lived and died that quickly, then I was pretty discouraged about making another one. And if I did get into business with anybody, than I want to still focus on this record, give it another shot. And so my prayers have been answered — we got Little Steven over there at Wicked Cool, and Sammy and Lou and Kurt and all those guys. They’re great, and we’ll see what happens.
How did Little Steven get involved with the project?
Frank Barsalona, he owned Premier Booking and was the first guy who brought the Beatles (to the US), his daughter, he would bring her out to the videos when we were shooting them. So, I got a hold of her, and she gave me Little Steven’s info. Because my chick, she’s very political, and she was telling me about some shit that she was looking at, where Little Steven was expressing his political views and stuff like that. And she was pretty impressed by that. And she was telling me about it, and I was like, “I know him!” Little Steven used to come out to the studio in the old days. We were in New York mixing, he’d come out, we’d hang out and talk about music and talk about actual musical and production things. Because I was into all different kinds of production, all different kinds of orchestration, all that stuff like that. That’s where I was heading, as evolving into that already, even right after the first record. If you hear “Strength,” it’s like a departure. It’s almost not the same band. Maybe he’ll co-produce my next record with me, who knows? But I just reached out to him, I said, “Hey man, how do I submit to your label?” I sent him a couple songs, he said, “Alright, you’re in.” So, just pointed me at the day to day guys, and those guys are real cool. So, the record will be out July 31st (2026). They released a single (the title track) and it did really well, I could tell by my SoundExchange checks, so it got some plays and stuff. And they’re like, “Just rest Donnie, just relax, because the record’s not out yet.” We have a record release show August 6th in New York at the Cutting Room, and that will be the big day for the Beautiful Things record.
Looking back on your time with Enuff Z’Nuff, which album are you most proud of, and why?
I have to say I’ve always been partial to the Dissonance record. Most of it — eight-tenths of it. I just really like that record. It went, as far as I’m concerned, harder rock. Obviously, people called the earlier records with Derek [Frigo] “metal,” and I don’t even consider that stuff…y’know, I’m not a metal guy. I was more of a punk rocker. “New Thing” was written as a punk rock song, and everything just kind of formulated into what it did, for the personnel involved. But like, this record, my latest record, that’s who I envisioned myself as an artist. That’s who I’ve always envisioned myself, that’s who I’ve always aspired to be as an artist. I’ve finally hit that. The new songs that I have…because if I make another record, this was my policy to try to top the last one. And to top that, it’s going to be a lot of work. It’s going to be a hell of a lot of work. But it seems like the basic feel for the new stuff is leaning more heavier again. I hope that doesn’t turn anybody off. I’ll never be metal or anything, but it seems like there’s some heavier attitude songs.
Since this site is called Vintage Rock, who are some of your favorite rock artists from yesteryear?
Well, number one, first and foremost, is the Beatles. That’s because they just covered everything. That’s what turned me on to music, was the Beatles. I had a little Close n’ Play record player…y’know, my childhood, let’s say it wasn’t a happy one. And so I needed something, and it clicked. As soon as I heard the first song, it’s like I had something. “This is for me. I have something that I like and interested in.” And I just kept listening and learning and subconsciously getting an education in how to write a well-constructed song, how to build harmonies, how to orchestrate, but apply orchestration to a song. Different things like that. You can get the full scope from them. They’ve even got songs that can be covered by metal artists, and any genre. But from there I think I went to Rush and Led Zeppelin. Queen was in there too, but Rush I got hooked on. The 2112 record blew me away, because I wouldn’t even really listen to anything else. I was so jaded. And that record opened up a huge bunch of doors for me, as far as learning how to actually play an instrument well, stuff like that. And in the way that they put things together. And then Led Zeppelin, of course, and Aerosmith, and lots of hits from the 70s. But Motown was a huge influence. I got hooked on that, probably by 10 years old. I was had all these Jackson Five and Stevie Wonder [records], and then hits of Motown and stuff like that, and I just love that. There’s a lot of soul and Motown in my singing. From there, then I started expanding a bit. And then Van Halen came along. I love Van Halen and Tom Petty. There’s just great artists, the classics. It’s like, everything else, it’s not like I don’t like it, it’s just that…I don’t really listen to music, truthfully. I don’t have a CD collection, none of that stuff. I have a streamer. I like to stream — TV and stuff like that. But I think you can pretty much hear the influences, just by listening to the body of work that I’ve done.
Future plans or projects?
Well, as I’ve learned, you never know what’s around the corner. Crazy, what could be around the corner, when you feel that, “This is this.” And then all of a sudden, it’s not, and it’s this or it’s that. I have hopes of maybe possibly getting Little Steven to come in to co-produce some songs for the other record. I’ve got an open invitation to their studio out there, which I think I’ll take advantage of. Y’know, make another record, and let’s see if this brings any new life or moves the needle a little bit. It was kind of rusted in place, and let’s see what happens. And if all goes at least OK, then the next record is onward and upward.
