Home Performing Arts Atarah Valentine.Caught between darkness and lightness.

Atarah Valentine.Caught between darkness and lightness.

SHARE

SCV: It strikes me that your music is a kind of exercise in polarities. From darkness to lightness, and from someone conflicted with their sense of self.

AV: Yes, that’s true. I think for me it’s important to come to an understanding of those emotions, to experience them and of course to confront them. I guess I was always the odd kid out growing up, never really fitting in, and perhaps not wanting to fit in but just to be my own self.

SCV: Is it hard then hard for anyone to be themselves?

AV: Incredibly. I think society imposes a lot of pressure, and it tries to inform you how you should be and if you are not what is expected of you then you’re considered odd, out of place.

SCV: Or brilliant?

AV: (blushing) What’s interesting to me is the way people react to the music, and also to my look. I’m often surprised how much it catches people’s inspiration, fancy but then there are people who are I think very provoked by it.

SCV: Provoked?

AV: Yes. I’ve had men for instance, I guess your very straight laced guy who comes from the suburbs maybe (which is where I come from coincidentally) feeling really threatened by the emasculation of my look. After all, I’m not saying you can’t be masculine, but I think it’s healthy to embrace one’s feminity as well, and I think it’s here people are conflicted.

SCV: Yet the irony is your songs are all about conflict.

AV: Yes, that’s true. I’m intrigued by the idea of darkness and lightness, the range of emotions we subject ourselves to and by which defines our experiences.

SCV: Could you tell us about some of your influences?

AV: Oh god no! You’d never believe me and you’d think I was joking. Really pretty much everything, I love pop.

SCV: So tell me now about the album you just released.

AV: It’s my first album and it’s through Atlantic and it was produced by Damian Taylor who also produces Bjork, Produgy and Kasabian.

SCV: How did you guys meet?

AV: We met backstage at the Apollo theater through my manager Leigh Lust.

SCV: How did you arrive at singing?

AV: Well, it’s something that I have been secretly doing since I was an eleven year old boy but after I found the courage to stand there in front of people and sing I couldn’t go back. After all I was studying to be a fashion designer and frankly that would have been the career of least resistance…

SCV: Yes, but who cares about the choice of least resistance.  Talking of which how long did it take to create your album?

AV: Really, I think ten years. After all it’s an amalgamation of all my experiences, of what has defined me, transformed and given me hope even if it once gave me despair.

The album is called “The Marking.”

SCV: Do I get my own signed copy?

AV: (blushing) Sure, yes, I’d love to.

SCV: Now that you’re here what do you think?

AV: I hope the momentum carries on, and people continue liking my music. Actually to be honest, I’m kind of in disbelief that all this happening.

SCV: But then aren’t you always…? It’s what makes your music so cathartic, so enigmatic.

AV: Yes, I like to think so. It’s important to find yourself through all of this.

SCV: Or perhaps to help us get through this?

AV: Yes, I like that. Really.

As I get up to leave I’m already envisioning Mr.Valentino already writing a new song in his head as he looks past the pitch black stage lights and into the brightness of himself. Looking past the empty chairs I realize the city has finally brought in a new gem to its shores or perhaps to put it succinctly the gem has come to our shores.

http://www.myspace.com/atarahvalentine

Atarah will be playing next on April 8 at The Annex on Orchard.

_mg_9861

SHARE
 

4 COMMENTS

  1. Atarah Valentine’s music and creativity evokes true emotions, and puts me in the mind set of the 1980’s eastside village music which was before my time. Bravo Scallywag and Vagabond!

    Ghurron Briscoe

  2. *PHANTASYMIC* sound ~

    has the feeling, mood of Billy Idol and Patti Smith meets Morrisey

    ~ INNOVATIVE~

Comments are closed.