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Interview with
VALA

(December 10th, 2020)

Interviewer – Dave Bruce

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Have you always wanted to be a musician? When did you get the song writing bug?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a musician.  I started taking piano lessons at 7.  At 10, I started to play the guitar and wrote my first song called, “Crush” with my sister. It was horrible, but it was a start.  I’ve been writing songs ever since.  When I got older, I would envision my songs written in white lettering on a black page, it was my haven in my mind.

How would you describe your sound? Why do you think people resonate with your music? 
My sound is alternative rap.  I guess you could call it melodic rap.  I originally wrote some of my songs on the keyboard and some on guitar and then I wrote the raps to the beat I come up with.  I hope that people will resonate with my music.  I share a lot about myself in many of my songs so people know they are not alone. I think people resonate with vulnerability.  I know I do that when I listen to other music. 

Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today? 
When I was growing up I listened to Amy Winehouse.  I was with her from her album “Frank” to “Back to Black” and everything in between.  When I play guitar, I like to play blues guitar and she combined jazz with blues and made it pop.   It was such an alternative style and I like combining different aspects of music to create my own sound.

Your new single/EP/Album has just been released/is about to be released! Describe its origin and evolution. 
“Follow Me” is based on a conversation between a friend and I wanting to end his life. In the first verse of “Follow Me,” I write “My friend, he put a gun to his head, he said they’ll never understand.” This was the start of the conversation: that if others had his life they would use drugs like he does, and lose everything like he does.  I told him I understood, and that I’ve struggled with the same things.  Being a person who fights with mental health and addiction, I’ve seen a lot of people who think about suicide and I’ve lost friends to overdoses. This became the core of the song — “If you had my life you would be like this too, you would use like I do, you would lose like I do.” 

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Is there an EP or Album on the drawing board?
“Follow Me” is part of a larger album called, “Dream World.”  A few other songs released from the album include, “Life of Sin”, “No,No,No.”  and “Mad World.”  There are a number of other songs that fall under the album and were recorded together, but haven’t been released yet.

Any tours or events coming up soon? What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?  
I am doing two videos for other songs from the album — “Lullabye” and “Gimme a Pill.”  Lullabye highlights more of my rap side.  “Gimme a Pill” is more melodic and is grounded more in the ex-addict side of me.  But, given COVID, I am not touring anywhere right now.

If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why? 
Growing up, of course I always dreamed of touring with Amy Winehouse.  I also wanted to tour with P!nk, Alicia Keys, or Dr. Dre; they have different elements that I admire.  For example, I would have loved to play guitar and sing with Amy Winehouse.  I would love to be featured rapping or work with Dr. Dre.  I like the way P!nk performs.  Alicia Keys has so much soul.  They all have different elements, so it is hard to pick just one of them.  I’m not just singing, I’m rapping too.  I also can’t forget about Snow Tha Product.  She is a female powerhouse who can out rap anyone. 

Do you have any long-term aspirations as a music artist? 
I love to create music and perform.  I want to keep doing what I’m doing and grow my fan base.  Honestly, I would really love to write for people too. 

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What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? What’s been the career highlight so far?  
The best thing about performing for a live audience is feeding off the energy.  If it is a good crowd, you feel like you’re a part of something that is a different language and doesn’t have a name. It’s like you’re feeling what the other people are feeling. You’re empowered by the audience. Unfortunately, the week COVID lockdowns went into place in New York, I was going to start performing my new material to a live audience.  So, my highlight with this new material is yet to come.

Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album- M! Ssundertood P!nk
Artist – Currently Snow Tha Product
Movie – World War Z
Place to visit – Italy – I hope to go again
Venue to play – I’d love to play the Viper Room in LA
Food –  Sushi
Drink – lemonade and ice tea or water
Person in History – It would be cool to meet Robert Johnson and ask him if his deal was real
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?)  The angel on my shoulder or the dragon on my leg.

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Follow VALA
Website – Facebook – Instagram

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AMNPLIFY – DB

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