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Los Angeles primarily based indie pop star Rikki Valentina is again together with her newest single “Paranoid”, and if the previous 12 months has proven us something about Rikki, it’s her means to ship genuine storytelling whereas maintaining her sound distinctive and true to herself. Her debut EP, ‘Daddy’s Woman’, launched again in June, gave followers a glimpse into her vulnerability and showcased her mesmerizing voice, and this new monitor does each, whereas taking part in like one other entry in her personal private diary.
“Paranoid” sees Rikki Valentina exploring her personal anxieties, one thing which many who hear the monitor will little question relate to. She’s an artist in a position to create that sense of familiarity we’ve all felt at one level in our lives the place we expect the entire phrase could also be in opposition to us. PopWrapped caught up with Rikki to search out out extra about how she copes with the anxiousness and insecurity her new single addresses and the way she’s stayed impressed over the previous 18 months throughout the pandemic.
When did you understand that music was the profession you wished to pursue? Was there a particular second in your life once you went: “I need to be an artist, share my music and share my songs with the world”?
I attended my godmother’s wedding ceremony after I was six years outdated – I used to be the flower woman, in fact. For her big day, my godmother had a woman a number of years older than me singing Celine Dion songs. I used to be speechless. That have was so inspiring, and it motivated me to discover new issues with my voice.
What’s it like rising up in Los Angeles and the way does that affect your music?
Rising up in Los Angeles has its perks with regards to the music trade. It’s simpler to attach and study from others if you end up surrounded by so many proficient folks. I’ve a love-hate relationship with LA so my experiences undoubtedly encourage my tune writing.
“Paranoid” is one among your most private information thus far; what impressed you to open up and be so susceptible?
Music is my outlet to precise private emotions and discover peace with them, so this single doesn’t really feel as susceptible in comparison with a few of my different songs. At the moment, I feel we’re all equally unhinged and expertise anxiousness every day. The susceptible facet of it must be how I specific consistently feeling misplaced and having a tough time socializing with regards to new faces. I simply don’t need anybody else to really feel as lonely as I did.
You discuss feeling insecure and anxious on this tune, one thing everybody struggles with in some unspecified time in the future of their lives. How do you address it?
I write songs about it [laughs]. Effectively, I nonetheless haven’t provide you with the proper recipe. I’m an introverted extrovert. Put me in a crowd of brand-new folks and I really feel misplaced. It should take me some time to open up, however as soon as I get snug, I’ll crack jokes all evening. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve additionally discovered to not care as a lot. I wrote this tune again in 2019 and really feel I’ve come a great distance with trusting in myself. I really feel that this can be a nice time in my life to launch this tune now that I’m in a extra assured place with myself. Hopefully “Paranoid” can carry consolation to others coping with comparable anxieties and I can present them via my story that it does get simpler.
The advertising and marketing behind this tune is closely impressed by Halloween – what was the inspiration behind it?
I used to be impressed after coming dwelling from a pretentious get together and feeling like folks don’t such as you otherwise you don’t belong in existence. Halloween makes a few of our extra floor degree fears come to life, so I felt that this might be the proper time to speak about a few of our deeper-rooted conscience fears which can be simply as spooky! I like the thought of a tune that makes you’re feeling such as you’re being sucked right into a vortex of agony. I primarily based the visuals in my music video and canopy off of many fears and phobias I’ve skilled, such because the scene of me panicking whereas on the telephone. I had an enormous worry of speaking on the telephone previously, however I’ve grow to be a professional at it now. Nervousness is an excessive expertise so it matches the narrative of horror completely.
Is Halloween one among your favourite events? What’s your favourite Halloween reminiscence?
Halloween is my all-time favourite vacation. Earlier than the pandemic, I used to throw a Halloween get together yearly. The one I had in 2019 needed to be the very best but! So lots of my pals have been in a position to attend. My dad additionally joined the get together and performed beer pong with my pals. It’s a bittersweet reminiscence since he has handed away, however one which I like to reminisce on.
How did you keep and have you ever stayed impressed throughout the pandemic?
I used writing as a strategy to hold me sane throughout the lockdown, I additionally taught myself new methods with regards to producing and expertise. I play a number of roles with regards to my profession so it was open time to absorb information.
What are your objectives for the remainder of the 12 months? What can we count on subsequent from you?
For the rest of the 12 months, I will probably be spending my time engaged on my subsequent tune. I’m planning on releasing it in 2022 and I definitely need to make sure that it’s excellent. Undoubtedly hold an eye fixed out for my new music as it will likely be simply as uncooked as my earlier work!
Try the video for “Paranoid” above and for extra info on Rikki Valentina, go to her website, give her web page a like on Facebook or observe her on Twitter and Instagram.