30 Nov 2020
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Valere - Single Review: Undercover

20 Aug 2020 // A review by Isla Norman
Following the success of her earlier releases Like That and Make Believe, Valere is back with her most sincere piece of work to date.


Undercover begins with a choir of synths and swells into the questions "Do you know if your minds made up yet? Do you want my heart?". It's a vulnerable question to ask. The verse builds an ethereal soundscape that has come to be associated with Valere’s sound. The use of electronic chimes and xylophones send the listener into a dream-like daze. Undercover is the track that Valere is "most proud of" because it’s her at her "most honest".

The track boasts a strong vocal performance delivered with character. Valere’s expert use of vibrato adds colour to phrases, and her naturally powerful voice is effective. On the surface Undercover is a mid-tempo banger, but it’s worth listening carefully to the creative lyricism that makes up the heart of the track. She delivers her message with conviction — you can love her and all her 'colours', or don’t bother at all. Valere describes Undercover as "a plea for people to be upfront about how they feel" — an important message for anyone willing to give everything to somebody who doesn’t deserve it.

The epic eerie bridge features affected vocals and impressive production — no surprise, when it was co-produced by dream team Michael Collier (Leone) and Valere herself. With an album due for release later this year, Valere is an artist whose career is worth following.

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ ( 5 / 5 )
 
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About Valere

Ethereal, serene and heartfelt, Valere brings an eclectic mix of soul and synth known to move audiences. Valere is songwriter and producer Shana Llorando, whose palate of warm new wave sounds, R&B melodies and intricate rhythms mesh into arrangements that are both kinetic and intimate. The word ‘valere’ means ‘to be worth’. This is the heart of Valere; finding one’s worth in the right place and the journey of the search.




Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Valere

Releases

Colours
Year: 2020
Type: Album

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