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ON THE RISE TALKS TO VALENTINA HART
Who is Valentina Hart? This mysterious singer-songwriter is making waves in the industry and she's only been here five minutes. The 22-year-old laughs at this comment and shrugs her shoulders, "Meh, five minutes, five years, who's counting?" Despite being a young newcomer in a frightening industry, where hopeful artists are told they only have one shot to make it, Valentina seems surprisingly relaxed for her very first interview. "I think I've rehearsed this moment so many times in my head, I'm just so well prepared that you can't tell I'm freaking out inside right now. The butterflies are eating away at my stomach!" Her debut single "Pantomime" premiered just last week and seems to be spreading across the web like wildfire, with the help of attention from Jennifer Armstrong and Scott Wellington from boyband Weekend, among others. Commenting on gaining attention from such huge names in music, Valentina doesn't seem to know where to begin, "I feel like a lucky little leprechaun. There's so many new artists around, so I feel super special to have such successful singers take notice of my very first song. I sobbed, Instagram it." The fact Valentina is doing all of this without the backing of a major label is impressive to say the least, something she doesn't seem too bothered about at this stage in her career. "I think in this day and age, music is so easy to make available digitally. Like, what do you need a label for? Once I figure out how to get my song up, I'll feel like I've accomplished everything I've ever wanted. How cool is it to have your own song to purchase on iTunes? I'm a music nerd, sorry," she laughs. "Of course I hope I can get the interest of a label who can fund things that I simply can't, but I'd like it to be on my terms. I wouldn't wanna give up any freedom... or my soul!" Whether that time comes or not is yet to be decided, but Valentina is certainly not shy when it comes to telling all on her struggles to get to this point. "I feel like a clown who's run away from home to join the circus sometimes. Just putting this song out on my own has taken me years and years of meeting strangers and asking for favours. I went to New York and had drinks in bars with anyone as lonely as I was, hoping we'd get a little friendly and I'd have a place to crash for the night, not for anything sexual, I assure you," Valentina confesses. "That's kinda what I've been doing since I got here, how am I not dead yet? Gosh, don't answer that. I really hope my mama doesn't read this."
Born in San Diego, California, Valentina explains that this is all she could ever really see herself doing, even since childhood. "Most kids say they want to be an astronaut, a vet or whatever, but I always wanted to be a singer. Well, it was initially a fairy, but I settled for this in the end," she smiles. "My parents were always very open-minded, creative people, so I never got the whole pep talk about how I should strive for a more realistic career as a doctor or lawyer. They just wanted me to be happy, I wish everyone had parents like mine." Speaking of her own sound, Valentina is clearly passionate and knows where she fits in the music landscape, "My themes and lyrics are very theatrical... as if the song I just put out doesn't show that enough, right? It's sometimes a little quirky, sometimes sounds a little otherworldly, but it's always still very real. I listen to a lot of singer-songwriter stuff and mix in more modern influences for my own sound. It's hard to explain, but it comes very naturally, it's just me." She plays us a few tracks that are still in raw demo form, planned to go onto her debut album. One lyric on a song catches our attention, "I didn't wake up like this / But I thought you knew what you were gettin' with". She laughs and nods her head, "I know that Beyoncé lyric was only ever meant to be playful, but gosh, don't we all believe she did wake up like a perfect creature every morning? I certainly don't... I wanted other guys and gals to have something to relate to." The songs she plays seem to pull from a variety of different sounds, blending pop, electronic and alternative genres into songs that while aren't finished, still sound surprisingly promising and fresh. "If there's one thing working on my first album has taught me, it's that it's okay to have songs with a pop structure. I've written songs that could go on for ten minutes, but I now know it's not a crime for your music to be compact and accessible. I had to teach myself that. I guess I was a clueless hipster girl before... gross."
Before she decided to take her music career more seriously, Valentina attended the California College of the Arts, an experience she was fond of, despite dropping out after two years. "I went to an art school, so of course my brain doesn't... function normally sometimes," she smirks. "It was a great experience, I met great people and friends who I'm still close with. It just took me a year too long to be brave enough to realise it wasn't me and that I should give this music thing a go." The following events have all led to the unveiling of her first single. "Pantomime" seems like the perfect introduction to Valentina as a person and as an artist, she's determined, feisty and theatrical, all of which comes across in her debut single. "I had this weirdo relationship with a guy, where we liked each other and dated because I think we liked the idea of it more than anything. I don't think we were ever in love, but we stayed together because it was convenient, if that makes sense. We had someone. I liked the idea of a pantomime to refer to that relationship, because in a way, we were both faking and putting on a show for each other. I dunno, average love songs aren't me. So of course when I write a love song, it's very loud and bold and dramatic, it's me having a big tantrum over an ex. I'm your average stereotypical girl in that sense, but only sometimes. I mean, I only sometimes shave my armpits and I have pet rats. Live and let live, right?" Yes, you read the last part right, which is what makes Valentina so refreshing in a shallow industry, she does things her way, no matter if they're the ordinary or not. In that way, it's hard to imagine her as a global pop icon, but she could sure bring something new to the table if she had the opportunity. "I don't mind being called a feminist, but there's a lot of negativity surrounding that word. I'm a chill hippie, people can do whatever the hell they want. Whether I shave my armpits or not shouldn't be breaking news to some people, but it does actually provoke a strong reaction still, don't ask why! Sometimes I do though, depends if I'm feeling girly or not." And the rats? One of Val's favourite animals. "I have two pet rats, Dreamer and Wonder, aka my babies. I see rats as an underdog in the animal kingdom, similar to how I see myself... gosh, I'm so deep today and I'm blabbering. Am I boring you?"
Our time over the phone with Valentina comes to an end and she sighs with relief on the other end, "Oh my goodness, I don't think I said anything that will get me in trouble with mom. Oh fuck, I'm remembering the start of the interview now. Bad move," she says with a nervous laugh. "Thanks guys, I'll thank you in my album booklet for this opportunity, I swear," Val adds before hanging up. We're holding her to that promise. |
  ACTIVE: Vanity x Nadia Berry |
