A Quick Chat with Paige Valentine

Western Australian singer-songwriter Paige Valentine shares her stunning debut album Lucky Blue, a collection of 10 tracks that trace a sonic line between the music she made in the city, and the music created after her move to remote WA, to a town of 40 people, surrounded by unexplored wilderness and perched on the edge of the world.

Lucky Blue is both a personal and sonic transformation – traversing Paige’s letting go of stability and comfort, of rebuilding and reshaping her life, and of remembering the lightness of living. The journey to Lucky Blue not only helped Paige find herself as an artist, but as a person too. You can listen to Lucky Blue HERE.

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What is the inspiration for your album, Lucky Blue?

It definitely evolved from the beginning to the end of the recording process, but my inspiration really came from the scenery I moved to. Once I had that sound and imagery, we tied together similar sonic elements and lightness to the entire album, so there was a golden thread between the songs. 

I wanted the scenery to be the star (big open plains, long empty roads, etc). It also coincided with three years of big changes and personal growth, so it's an incredible passage of time to have captured in this way. 

Is there a theme or central point within this record? Where did it grow from, and how did it come about?

There are quite a few themes, but the one I keep coming back to is freedom of spirit, or being spirited. During the time I wrote it, I had to keep being brave and make some huge artistic and personal choices, I went down the most unknown road I possibly could have. And there has been so many riches from that experience.

 The music has changed, I have changed, and I can hear every chapter or every facet of that diamond of an evolution on the record. It continues to grow, but the record is so special to me, capturing so much growth. Especially into my womanhood and strength out on the land and as an artist. 

What was the creation of this record like? Take us through the process!

I truly wish every artist could work with the team I had. Andy Lawson, my producer, blew me away with everything from sonic references, understanding me, and having such reverence for the project. The studio had the best vibes and we just had fun every day. It was incredible to relax into it, because a lot of the sounds Palle (guitarist, bestie, cowriter) brought to the table were outside my usual ballad realm, but it was a direction I’d been wanting to go in. 

Palle was incredible, we worked for months sending voice memos on songs, only to have it all changed by a dream I had with a chorus the night before and record something totally different in the studio. 

As a rule, I like having the songs about 70% finished so there is room in the studio for weird cosmic magic. It can totally change depending on who you have play on it, the energy of the room on the day, and so many other factors. I have a 100% success rate with this process so far haha. I feel so lucky to have been nurtured and supported creatively, we were all so hands on in the production, and were so thrilled with the outcome, all while having fun and not taking it too seriously. I cannot wait for album number two already :) 

What is your favourite memory from writing and creating the record?

In the studio, maybe on “Horoscopes”, where the sounds we were recording matched the imagery of the land in my mind’s eye. That was such a breakthrough, I never dreamed it was possible, and from that point the rest of the songs and record all came together. So many funny moments and breakthroughs, it was never a chore or work, it was just lifting up and up and up, constantly. 

Who/what are your influences/inspirations?

George Harrison, musically and philosophically. The whole record if I ever got stuck, I’d turn to Palle and say, “what would George do?” then he’d play four weird chords and a cracking solo, and the song would be back on track. I really admire Nick Allbrook as a writer and performer, his record Manganese almost made me want to quit it’s so good. Same for Weyes Blood, she’s just a force of something between human and cosmic. Anyone with a glint of magic in their eye is an inspiration to me. 

What do you love about making music?

That it always shows me what my truth is. I became really good at convincing myself at certain times when I was a little bit lost, that I was feeling different than I really was, to survive, to be loved, accepted maybe? I’d look back at the page of handwriting after and there would always be these little nuggets of gold in there, revealing the inner compass.

If you had to summarise the record in one-sentence, what would you say?

Spirited, cosmic, stories of the land, it’s outlaws and undying beauty infused with my own stories of change and growth, that you can dance-cry to, drive into the unknown to, find refuge in, and hopefully come out the other side feeling larger than life.