If you ever doubted that Ayleen Valentine is the queen of edgy, experimental pop, her new single “Stars” will put that notion to rest.
The song opens with a John Cage-type plinking piano, then really revs up fast. The video for the song has the claustrophobic feel of being locked out of your dorm room while tripping. Yet it’s one of the most riveting performances in a long time – and the entire ride takes less than two minutes.
Says Valentine: “The song ‘Stars’ was an outlet for me to release all the weird ideas I had. The drums are unconventional and loud, there’s really no verse or chorus, and the vocal chops are the main melodic element in the song. I had a lot of fun while making this song and used it to fuel my artistic freedom and to show people that not every song has to be the stereotypical a/b/a/b format with a safe production behind it.”
The artist recently dropped out of Berklee School of Music and moved to L.A. to devote herself wholly to a pop music career. Last year she released her debut EP on Irving Azoff’s Giant label, which built its reputation on mostly mellow and non-experimental acts like Air Supply and Kenny Rogers.
Valentine has simultaneously released another single “Anesthetized” and announced a North American tour that kicks off tomorrow. It will be fascinating to see how she recreates the Warhol-meets-Wolf Alice feel of her videos in a live setting.
Watch the videos for both “Stars” and “Anesthetized” below, or find them on streaming services.
