Valories | On Our Radar
We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Nashville, Tennessee’s own Valories. We’re so excited to share our conversation.
Moredopemusic: What’s something about your journey as an artist that most people don’t know?
Valories: I have a BFA in Film. I’ve always written for fun, but it wasn’t until taking a songwriting course in college that I considered taking music seriously.
Moredopemusic: How has your sound evolved from when you first started to now?
Valories: When I first started releasing music, I was pretty limited in both my knowledge of production, and what “route” I wanted to take as an artist. I knew I enjoyed writing, loved the process of building a song out, and was encouraged to keep doing so. So I did and I had fun doing it. Most songs started on my guitar – same strumming pattern, same chords – and were then brought to a producer to “bring to life.” Now having a little more production knowledge, more resources, and a more focused vision, I don’t feel as limited, and I’d say I’m more confident in my voice and music now more than ever.
Moredopemusic: How do you handle creative blocks or periods of burnout?
Valories: For me it almost always comes down to protecting my mental state. Burnout usually happens when I overextend myself, work for long periods of time without friend or family time, or when I fall out of rhythm with my physical health. It’s like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, except it’s If You Skip the Gym for a Week and Spiral Into A State of Psychosis. Exaggerated example, but who knows! What helps me most is knowing what genuinely supports my creativity and mental health, and being intentional about not compromising those things too often. If going to the gym a certain number of days a week is what keeps my mind clear, it should be a priority, and maybe even a non-negotiable. I’ve learned that investing in things “outside of music” is actually a direct investment in my creative output. Oh, and trying my hardest to avoid working under the pressure of a time crunch helps tremendously. Planning is obviously necessary and there needs to be dates and goals set for any growth and momentum. But if it’s in my control to avoid putting a deadline on something early on, I will. I know it’ll alleviate so much stress–for me and anyone involved–and give space for us to be fully present in what we’re doing, enjoy the process, and look forward to doing it again.
Moredopemusic: What’s a lesson the music industry has taught you that you think every artist should know?
Valories: Outside perspectives can help you grow, but only if they’re filtered through a clear, personal understanding of who you are and what you want. It’s important to surround yourself with people who encourage and believe in you, and to have trusted sources you can bounce ideas off of, but most times that input only helps if 1. you and those sources are aligned, and 2. if you know yourself well enough to discern what fits. Everyone will have opinions, advice, opportunities… but if you don’t have a clear vision, it’s easy to get pulled in directions that do more hurt than help. I’ve learned to be intentional about who I “let in,” know what I am and am not in control of, often remind myself of core goals and values, and put in the work to understand even the technical side of things, so I can trust myself instead of heavily relying on other parties to pave the way.
Moredopemusic: How do you hope your music evolves in the next chapter of your journey?
Valories: I want the next chapter to build on what’s already there. More releases, more live shows, deeper connections... Ideally, that growth comes with more stability and sustainability. Doing all of this independently is not for the weak; learned that real quick. My hope for this next chapter is to get to a place I can put even more time, energy, and resources into the project without burn out or cutting corners. I’m trusting that showing up consistently, working hard, and following through with the right opportunities will help things grow in a way that feels right.
