Lovina Falls took a moment to tell us about her music and how she makes it. Let’s see what she has to say!
First off, What’s up with your name? Is there a story behind it?
Valerie Forgione: Lovina Fall was my great, great, great, grandmother. I took the liberty of adding the “s”.
Tell us about your musical past, would you tell us about your early years?
I am a classically trained vocalist and musician, though in my teens, I defected to post rock, shoegaze, and space rock. I became mesmerized by sounds I hadn’t heard before. The textures, the layers, and the ability to electronically morph and modify a single note totally blew my mind.
After college, some friends and I got together and formed Mistle Thrush. We released two albums on an indie label and were then signed to a major labor subsidiary. We received a Warner Chappell publishing deal and were managed by Madonna’s former manager. It was good. And then it wasn’t. We bought ourselves out of our contract and released our last record on an indie label. Many lessons learned.
For the last few years, I’ve been writing music for independent theater, film, and podcasts. As a composer, I’ve been able to experiment with blending classical and organic instruments with electronic and analog sounds. The experience inspired me to make this album.
How would you describe your sound?
Eclectic, lady-made art pop?
Which artists have the biggest influence on your sound?
That’s a tough question. I’ve grown up immersed in music. I’ve been in bands for years and have been surrounded by many amazing and talented musicians. I was also a college radio DJ and worked in a record store. I’ve been introduced to so much music it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what has had an influence. I think the most direct answer is I am inspired by everything and specifically artists who create beautiful songs in unconventional ways.
What’s the last song you listened to?
Ann Peebles, “I Can’t Stand the Rain”.
What’s your source for hearing new music?
I listen to a lot of college and streaming radio. There are so many amazing options out there!
Who is your dream producer?
Flood. His work is extraordinary. I love how rich and full the albums he produces are-even those moments of complete sparsity-and how multi-dimensional the songs sound.
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
Right now? Perhaps Imogen Heap or Trentemøller.
What led you to music, and what motivates you to keep making it?
When I was young, I was a smart, weird kid, and was bullied a lot for being different. Music was my escape and gave me the freedom to be myself with creative, like-minded folks. Now that I am an adult, very little has changed. When I sing, write, or play, nothing else matters. Just music. It’s immensely satisfying.
Tell us about the songwriting process. How does it all come together?
I’ve never been particularly good at planning where things go. I’m more of a ‘press record and see what happens’ kind of person. I’ll start with a piano part, or something less traditional like a truck backing up or the car directional snapping a rhythm, and things go from there. It’s a lot about instinct and opportunity. The vocals come next, followed by the harmonies. I’ll establish the rhythm and low end with whatever is nearby, like a vintage synth or drum machine, a harpsichord, or the bass, and will add both electronic and natural sounds for contrast. It’s a bit of alchemy, and all about how things support one another as opposed to how each can stand out. I guess it’s sort of a metaphor for my ideal world.
How do you connect with your audience? What is the easiest way for them to connect with you?
I connect with fans on social media, and am available @lovinafalls on Instagram, facebook.com/lovinafalls, lovinafalls.com, YouTube, and via email at lovinasounds@gmail.com.
The album “Calculating the Angle of Our Descent” is available for download at Bandcamp, Apple music, Spotify, Amazon, and on all other major platforms. A limited edition 180 gram vinyl LP is also available at lovinafalls.com.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovinafalls/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3yV3V32kJFxqx1NZPeZMXm?si=62REgIxcRFqIjhsBXfzBmw
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkhFRMqtYiE
What’s next for you?
I’m putting together a live show and another video to promote the release. I’m also writing a lot more. It’s as if the gate has opened and the ideas are spilling out onto the sidewalk, running around and collecting things for the next album.
BIO:
Welcome to Lovina Falls, the latest musical project from veteran indie singer/songwriter Valerie Forgione. Valerie first made her name as the lead singer of Mistle Thrush, a band whose combination of indie rock drive, dreamy textures, and sparkling pop song craft made them a beloved fixture in their native Boston and beyond throughout the late 1990s and into the 2000s. Through their existence, Mistle Thrush shared stages with such luminaries as The Strokes, Spiritualized, Sonic Youth, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Lush, and Slowdive; won numerous Boston-area music accolades; were featured in Billboard Magazine, charted on the CMJ charts; and saw their music on TV show soundtracks. Steve Morse of The Boston Globe wrote that Valerie has “some of the most versatile pipes since the dream-pop heyday of Kate Bush.”
In the present day, Valerie has released her first solo album, Calculating the Angle of Our Descent. All songs are written, arranged, and produced by Valerie, as she accompanies her distinctive voice with piano, analog synths, guitar, bass, organ, and drums. From the harpsichord-driven “On Your Side” to the harmony-laden baroque-pop of “Back of My Heart” to the percolating synths and ‘90s-style alt rock of “Vaulted”, Lovina Falls is truly the work of a singular musical vision. Valerie’s intimate and instantly familiar alto will make Lovina Falls welcome to fans of her previous work, while her new sonic and songwriting explorations will endear her to fans of such contemporary indie voices as Fiona Apple, Bat for Lashes, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Sharon Van Etten, and Angel Olsen.
Welcome to Lovina Falls.
