Paige Valentine Pure Interview

Question: How would you describe your music?

Paige Valentine : I would describe my music as singer / songwriter with alt-pop touches on production. For any of my songs to work they have to be stand alone songs on guitar and piano before they hit the studio.


Question: Can you tell us about Pure?

Paige Valentine : Pure is an exploration of unravelling time to when you first meet someone. It's kind of like reaching a point where both of you are different people who love each other and you can't pinpoint where it started unravelling you just know that it has. So choosing to remember why you love someone and trying to hold onto that while you both evolve.
Pure was inspired by witnessing a number of friends in long term relationships all break up around the same time and I was remembering when they fell in love and how powerful it was and how they could get it back.


Question: Is there a particular message you hope listeners take from your music?

Paige Valentine : I hope my listeners give themselves permission to feel things and that it's ok to grieve a relationship or hope it will improve, that every feeling or experience or longing is ok. I hope it makes them feel understood. We are so harsh on ourselves as human beings and we feel so much. Life can be really messy, uncomfortable and there is so much light, power and growth in those stages. I hope they see a little chunk of my soul and my story resonates in many different ways for the listeners.


Question: How has COVID-19 influenced your music?

Paige Valentine : Strangely I have been incredibly productive, which I wasn't expecting. I thought I would just wallow, or have a Britney Spears-esque shaved head meltdown. Once all my live shows stopped it was pretty scary for the first few weeks, I was also separated from my family and friends who all live in the South West. I decided to stay at my Freo home/studio "Lucky Blue" and listened to a bunch of Joni Mitchell and played a lot of piano. I did quite a few writing sessions with other musicians on zoom which was really comforting and productive. It just really made me realise how lucky we are to be able to play music and express; so the shows so far coming out of lockdown have been really electric and emotionally loaded. It definitely influenced it for the better I became crystal clear on the songs I want to write and where I want to take this project. COVID actually stopped me from being so busy and I got time to know and connect to myself again, which was a really powerful experience.


Question: Are you planning a tour once the restrictions are lifted?

Paige Valentine : I wasn't planning a tour but once 'Pure' got on the radio I had 5 venues reach out asking me to play, so it kind of organised itself in a day! 3 of the 5 so far have sold out and have just been absolutely magic. The seated restrictions and also the fact no one has seen live music for months have just made the shows so incredibly reverent. You could hear a pin drop. I have to stop myself crying often because I just can't believe how insane the energy is in the room and that songs I've sung in my bedroom for so long are being listened to and sung back to me. It's crazy.


Question: If you could have anyone, in the world, attend a show, who would it be?

Paige Valentine : Paul Simon (and my grandparents)


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Paige Valentine : I am motivated at the strangest times. Mostly when I'm driving (I love road trips) so thank goodness for voice memos on the phone. I'm about to take off to the WA wilderness for 5 or so days, so time in nature always inspires me. Often I'll just be doing a meaningless task like gardening or wake up out of my sleep and have this melody in my head. Sometimes it drags me to the piano, other times I let it be a melody that just passes on its way and hope I can remember it later.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Paige Valentine : Leif Vollebek, he's incredible.


Question: What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?

Paige Valentine : I guess growing up and living regionally has been somewhat of a challenge and a blessing. I grew up 3 hrs south of the most isolated capital city on earth. There's not many recording studios or managers and you definitely feel a little out of the loop, but more and more there are incredible opportunities for regional musicians and festivals that showcase local talent. That's the real key, there are so many hidden gems in west australian music I can't wait until the world catches on to some of the music that is written over here, it is world class.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Paige Valentine : I LOVE a slow morning. (I usually write/read late at night) so waking up, popping the coffee machine on, watering the garden, sitting outside in the sun or going for a long walk along the beach in Fremantle is the perfect start to the day. By mid morning I start a work out and some admin. Afternoon I'm usually in the studio for a few hours, early evening I'll try to get to a sunset and when I come home put candles everywhere, have a bath, listen to music, and make some delicious food. In my head I'm a wannabe french-woman so I just make everything as romantic as possible.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Paige Valentine : Honestly it is musics' gift to make me truly be myself. Songs and expression make me be brave and vulnerable, I kept myself small for a long time thinking a lot of self limiting thoughts. It has been so rewarding to keep pushing through that and to have the connections I do to the people who like my songs.


Question: What's next, for you?

Paige Valentine : There are two more shows on the "Pure" single tour which are at Cleaver St 26th of June and back to my beloved Esperance for a show at Woody Island (yes an actual island gig!) on the 4th of July. I'm finishing writing for the next EP over the next five days out in the wild west somewhere. When I come home to Fremantle I'll do a few more days in the studio and continue to plan the next single release and film clip. I'm really proud of the next single and so excited for the story of the EP to unfold as I've loved working with Luna Laure who's directing the film clips to create a visual story with each song.


Question: Can you share your socials? (links please)

Paige Valentine : Instagram  
Facebook  


Interview by Gwen van Montfort