Premiere: Cici Valentine is Redefining Her Voice
An artist who boldly embraces her individual voice, Cici Valentine is ready to show to the world a different side of herself, fearlessly creating a new path and unapologetically preaching self-love along the way. V has the official premiere of Valentine's new single "Feeling Small" and caught up with the multi-talent to chat about her new sound, look, and what 2019 has in-store for her.
An artist who boldly embraces her individual voice, Cici Valentine is ready to show to the world a different side of herself, fearlessly creating a new path and unapologetically preaching self-love along the way. V has the official premiere of Valentine's new single "Feeling Small" and caught up with the multi-talent to chat about her new sound, look, and what 2019 has in-store for her.
What prompted Girlyboi to call it quits?
After the relationship ended due to unfortunate circumstances, there was a moment that we discussed maintaining the working portion of it, but when you build the music around a relationship and all the lyrics revolve around that, it starts to become disingenuous when those things aren’t true anymore. I decided to make a conscious decision for myself that it wasn’t healthy to linger in that pain I was feeling, and to use it to make my own art. And if there was anyone who was feeling the same type of sadness I was, they could use the new music to relate and feel less alone in their pain.
How long after did you begin creating your own music?
I really needed to take a few months to digest everything that had happened and reflect on it. Luckily when there’s pain, art follows. But it took me a few months.. I’d say up until the end of the summer was I really ready to start opening up and creating music again. It really happened so suddenly though. I woke up one morning, called my engineer and told him to book us a space for the following weekend. I was ready to hit the ground running and put all my feelings into this new project. Looking back, it was the only thing that really got me through what i was struggling with. It was a form of therapy for me.
How would you describe your new sound?
Overall, it’s upbeat but melancholic at the same time. We were actually just talking about this in the studio with our producer and engineer because the influences and sounds you try to achieve can come out so different from what you envisioned. So Dylan who I write all the music with is very inspired by '60s, early brit-rock, and a psychedelic sound. But once we recorded the tracks and put my vocals on it, it really started to take on a '90s feel, like Mazzy Star/Fiona Apple twist with a little more of a drone. Which I was thrilled because that’s the type of music i grew up listening to and inspired me so much when i was younger. Then, we had an important realization that a lot of those '90s bands we love were inspired by the same groups from back in the day. its just how it all gets filtered through the current time and the artist. As for my vocals, I swapped the duality and forthright style of the lyrics of the last arrangement for a more focal, at the same time, ambiguous position. Disaffected and spacey is how I would describe it.
Regarding image, how is your merch changing?
My biggest regret with my last project was not putting in the time for merch. We had a few tees and hoodies but that’s totally my department, being clothing. My bandmate and I have worked tirelessly to create a vintage collection called Vintage Valentine that we can eventually pop-up and sell at our shows. How fun is it to go listen to music and be able to shop unique pieces at the same time? I’m definitely not the first person to come up with that, but I’d like to create a brand around the entire project; where the vintage and the music go hand in hand. And the pieces really do represent the music: sexy, sparkly, and romantic.
How would you currently describe your style?
Currently and forever perpetually living on Valentine’s Day in the 80’s/90’s with lots of sparkles and matching sets. Honestly, I just wear what makes me happy and I always have. I think last year I dressed the same, but this year I’m being more unapologetically bold with my style and wearing that sparkly 90’s off the shoulder top in broad daylight with a bold cat eye and not thinking twice about it.
What can we expect from you in 2019?
New music, an EP... constantly new clothing to shop from and hoping to start playing shows soon!
