I woke up really late this morning…like summer holidays late. So, when it came to getting something up on Flowerblog, I figured that I would have to snatch some rubbish screen grab of a banjo left in a flower bed in Wiltshire and try make it in some way relevant to all you music enthusiasts…to my shocked and delighted surprise, it turns out that angelic songstress and radiant beauty Valentina shares that similar streak of fatigue and had newly arisen too. The misinformed, talentless music journalist would be quick to jump to Kate Nash-type comparisons, due to the lady in question being from London and sharing a love, with the aforementioned wench, for twinkling the keys…but Valentina is so much more. Here delicate loves songs, and classic musical accompaniment are more akin to Joanna Newsome than a flash in the pan pop star. We at Flowerpot are big fans, anyway. So, we talked briefly about our mutual appreciation of the hallowed snooze button before getting down to the more serious subjects of flowers, Spice Girls and shower gel to get to the raw facts of what this exceptional lady is all about…
I was just wondering when you got into playing music?
Valentina: Hmmmm….well I think that I always wrote songs…just silly stuff to begin with…and I kind of realised pretty early on that this was it really and didn’t really look into doing anything else…so I hope it works out ha!
What was your first song called?
Valentina: God, I can’t remember, but I can remember all of the melodies and stuff…it’s weird…probably something shit like “Perculiar Days”. I had a song called “I Hate You” too…that was funny!
Hate’s always funny – Who was that about?!
Valentina: Ha….I’m not sure…I’m sure I was trying to get at a certain person but it wasn’t actually about them.
Who was that?
Valentina: can’t say! but they have plenty songs about them…
How old are you now?
Valentina: Getting old, 24…considering I thought I was gonna be famous when I was 16…it feels like i’ve been doing this a long time! But I think as you get older your perspectives change and you want it for different reasons…I just want to make music that I’m happy and fulfilled by and hope that somewhere along the way other people enjoy it too!
That’s a good enough reason I think…Just listening through to a couple of your songs now and you can really tell you’re into Joanna Newsome – what are your other influences?
Valentina: Ha, got completely obsessed with her for a while
I do that sometimes. It’s like when you go through stages of always eating the same dinner cos you really like it!! I do that with music…so at the moment it’s Fleetwood Mac, but I love joni Mitchell, Carole King, Kate Bush, Al Green, Bright Eyes…
What’s your favourite Fleetwood Mac song – I like Gypsy, but my mates were obsessed with The Chain in the summer?
Valentina: hmmm…can’t say, it’s too hard. Rumours is literally like a greatest hits album though. Fucking amazing.
It’s not shit…What is your favourite flower?
Valentina: probably a sunflower. Is that a big gay?!
Yep
Valentina: Good. What’s yours?
I’m big into Tulips and Lillies…
Valentina: Actually, I do love lillies
The death flower!
Valentina: Yeah!
Nothing could be more punk
Valentina: I think Daisies are pretty rock n roll I think myself
Yeah, I could agree with that…which era do you wish you’d been alive in?
Valentina: 60’s and 70’s, for sure.
What would you have done in those decades that’s different to what you’re doing now?
Valentina: I just think that there was so many changes happening and it just seemed like an exciting time…with a sense of being able to create something, a sound that had never been done before…I think I struggle with that a lot…the fact that whatever you do…in some way it will always be have been done/touched upon before in some way….Do you know what i mean? Or am i rambling?
Yeah, I know. Like everything is referencing everything else, right?
Valentina: yeah
Right, on a different note, you’ve got an EP coming out soon, right? Who are you releasing that on? Will it be strictly on vinyl?
Valentina: Yes, coming out beginning of next year….not sure release date yet. Think we’re gonna release it ourselves- me and managers, and it’ll be on iTunes, CD and, hopefully, limited 7” too.
Amazing – Do you collect records yourself?
Valentina: Not really I have to say….but my managers collection is absolutely ridiculous. You can’t actually move in his flat anymore! He’s a DJ!
What is your favourite album of all time? First one that comes in to your head – NO TAKE BACKS!
Valentina: Aaaah, I hate questions like this…I can’t…just one???
The first one that came into your head! If it’s East 17 then you’re not allowed to tell me something cooler!
Valentina: It’s so cliché, but “Blue” Joni Mitchell…OK, Spice Girls Spice
There we are! I knew it!
Valentina: But there are more, but you were mean and wouldn’t let me gather my thoughts
That’s the point…it’s like POP quiz!
Valentina: I’m shit at quizzes and exams…
Who is the meanest person you know?
Valentina: My brain is quite slow! Me haha ummmmm…
What makes you so mean?
Valentina: Bus drivers. Hate them. No, i’m not mean!
What would you describe yourself as?
Valentina: ummm…an extrointrovert, attempting to be positive with an underlying pessimism…and pretty nice, I like to think! You?
Handsome
Valentina: Big head
No no, I get told that all the time
Valentina: Yeah me too…definitely handsome haha
Can’t steal my words Valentina! Who are you favourite artists at the moment?
Valentina: i like vampire weekend…ummm Laura Marling to be honest I don’t actually listen to that much “artists at the moment” music..at the moment…like I said, I obsess, then i move on!
I didn’t mean like “Which current up to the minute, top of the pops, buzz band” do you listen to – only like what artists in the last year have released music that you’ve really got down too…
Valentina: Ha! Yeah probably the ones I said…really like Mumford and Sons too…Kwes, one of the producers I’ve been working with has some beautiful songs you should check out and a band called Wolfgang fronted by very talented guy called Max, who i’ve done somewriting with..
Ah ha, I shalll keep an inquisitive ear out for him. Funny you should say Mumford and Sons, as they’re doing something rather wonderful with us next month…What are you doing for the rest of your day?
Valentina: I have to have a shower and I have a meeting with a producer
What is your favourite shower gel?
Valentina: original source mint, it’s amazing.
Tingles…Are you a shower person or are you a re bath person?
Valentina: Both…they both have an equal place in my heart. You?
I’m a fan of showers myself. Don’t really like baths. They’re too intense
Valentina: haha! Exactly! You obviously don’t work hard enough
good bath after a long day…it’s a special thing.
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