We had the chance to ask American folk singer Valerie June some questions ahead of her upcoming Irish concert. Despite the interview being conducted over email, to preserve her voice, the American beauty’s sweet nature and kindness still shines through.
As a child growing up in Tennessee how much of an effect did the area have on shaping your musical outlook?
Tennessee is everything to me! I was surrounded by the country music world of Nashville that was to the north of my small town and Memphis, which was to the south with its rock and roll, blues and soul. I felt rich with musical sounds. Dolly Parton is from my state. I watched He-Haw on Saturday nights with Minnie Pearl and all the greats. I lived in the same neighborhood as Carl Perkins. I was just a few miles away from the towns where Tina Turner and Isaac Hayes were born. I was drinking from the same water well as so many awesome musicians.
What is your earliest memory of being exposed to music that made you think “wow I really need to stop and listen to this”?
I can remember my parents taking us to Chuckie Cheese’s restaurant, and the animals were all in a band. The coolest one was a giant gorilla. That along with Walt Disney’s Sing-Along Bare Necessities and I had a bug to begin bellowing at the top of my lungs like I was in a band!
More often than not our parents have a huge impact on the music we listen to. Your father was a promoter for some pretty big music acts. Did being around these artists have an effect on you?
It was a different side of the music world. I was mostly affected in the way of developing business skills from watching my father in his promotion company.
You have self-released three albums to date. Your new album, ‘Pushin’ Against A Stone’ is being released by a record label called Sunday Best. Did you experience a big difference between self-releasing and working in connection with a label? Was your creative freedom hampered?
My record was paid for using money that fans of my self-released albums had donated through my Kickstarter project. It was so wonderful and a high moment for me to raise $15,000 based on the love folks had for my tunes. My creative freedom was not hampered at all because I didn’t sign a record deal until my record was completed, so the labels knew exactly what they were getting. They could just move on if they didn’t feel the music. So it was a win-win for all!
Along with CD and digital downloads a lot of your music releases are also available on vinyl, something that is becoming a rarity lately sadly. What was the thinking behind releasing your work on a format that has found itself filed into a niche market in the last few years?
First off, I love hearing my voice on vinyl! It’s really something that Sunday Best (Record Label) like doing with the artists they have signed to the label. It suits me just fine!
Can you tell us a bit about your new album and what fans can expect?
Folks can expect a taste of all the southern music forms that I love, woven together to make a delicious cake.
Some of the songs were co-written with The Black Keys member Dan Auerbach. How did that come about and what was it like writing with a Grammy winning artist?
Kevin Augunas, one of the other producers on the album, introduced us to each other. I really enjoyed songwriting with Dan. I enjoy the songs in their raw form when they are new, bright eyed babies almost more than anything else.
In a musical age where collaborations between different genres and artists are commonplace, whom would you like to record music with?
I’d love to make music with M. Ward and Gillian Welch and Joanna Newsom and seriously the list goes on!
You are in the middle of a pretty extensive tour. How do you cope being away from family, friends and your home comforts?
I have to be extremely mindful of my energy when I’m on the road and away from my folks. It’s so sweet when my folks send me notes or pictures. It helps keep me going by uplifting my energy. I am learning how to live on the road by understanding my body when it’s in full and constant motion and creating boundaries for myself. It can sometimes be necessary to carve out time to just sit and look at the wall and allow my mind to go home. I can see my bed, my dishes, my quilts, records, pottery. When I sit in silence and go back home for an hour or so, I rejuvenate my heart. It takes a huge amount of heart to be a vessel of raw emotion. My family, friends and kitchen are definitely my heart.
What modern music do you find yourself listening to on the road?
The record labels have loaded me down with the records of other artist on their rosters, so occasionally, we put one on in the van. Besides that, She & Him is a fave!
Throughout all of your songs the standard of lyrics is consistently high. What gives you the inspiration to write such lyrics?
Ultimately, I’m just doing what I’m told. I gain inspiration from writers like Maya Angelou, Townes Van Zandt, Wendell Berry, Van Morrison, Emily Dickinson, and many more. Their words seem to come from a magical place greater than this body.
You recently supported up and coming artist Jake Bugg on the UK leg of his tour (which also featured Irish musicians Hudson Taylor). What was it like to play with a new breed of emerging musical talent, and what was it like to play to a new set of fans that may have been unaware of your considerable talents?
It was nothing less than awesome! They were all so lovely to hear nightly. I got to chat with folks after the shows at the merchandise table. They really were open to my tunes.
What can gig goers expect from your own upcoming Irish concert in The Sugar Club on the 3rd of May?
A sweet surprise…some things you just have to see!
After an interesting interview with a fantastic musical talent, we were left with plenty of other questions that were begging to be asked. Sadly these would have to wait for another time. With a talent as obvious as Valerie’s there is no doubt that she will be back on these shores before too long, hopefully we will get another opportunity then.