March 26, 2024 • 43 mins
Have you ever found yourself utterly captivated by the eclectic beats of a mixtape, feeling as if the artist has somehow narrated your life's soundtrack? That's the allure of Val Flurry's music, which serves as the centerpiece of our latest episode. We travel through Val's rich musical landscapes, from the raw energy of Afro-Deutsch dance floors to the intimate connections made with global listeners. Her stories of artistry and influence resonate with a philosophy of unity and inclusivity, opening a window into the soul of a creative force that defies traditional demographics.
As the rhythm of the conversation intensifies, we immerse ourselves in the dynamic and sometimes tumultuous world of women in the music industry. Val and I unpack the dichotomy of professional accolades against the backdrop of human connections, celebrating the joy of music beyond the lens of critique. We delve into personal narratives of self-doubt, the privilege of pursuing passions, and the courage it takes to carve out an unconventional path in a world of technical precision. This episode is a salute to the rebels, the dreamers, and the ones who dare to let their artistry speak for itself.
The crescendo of our journey finds us amidst the stark beauty of Antarctica, where the story of an unexpected friendship between kindred spirits unfolds. This tale is a testament to the transformative power of overcoming fears, embracing new experiences, and the serendipity of finding common ground in the least expected places. As the notes of this episode fade out, we're left with the resonating message that regardless of the stage we stand on, it’s the symphony of human connection that truly shapes our world. Join us and feel the harmony of Val Flurry's inspiring voyage through music, art, and life.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Did you know much about Oliver Tree beforehand?
I'm not his demo.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
I don't think I'm his demo.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Yeah, I've heard someone call it a demographic
demo.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Like the Sokazia, I'm not in that demo.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I think most of his followers and stuff are like
Jen's ears, like really young,like 20 year olds and late teens
.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Did you see that he was doing a documentary here?
Yeah, so he's literally beinglike Dave and Adam Brat, but
because he's also called DrOliver Tree, I'm just thinking,
imagine this young generationsee his videos on YouTube.
I think he's got the info andgot it messed up.
What's your demo with yourmusic?
Speaker 2 (00:53):
My demo Val Flurry's followers, I guess, and
supporters are quiteintersectional.
It's like Afro-Deutsch kids,you know who parents immigrated
from.
You know Nigeria and Ghana andnow living in Berlin, you know,
(01:16):
or you know people who are intomusic and technology and the
arts and community.
Those are my demo People whocan find themselves, enjoying
and appreciating everything fromarchitecture, literature to
wellness.
(01:36):
I think I've always been.
The joke is like I'm the middlechild, you know, because I am
and I've always been good, butnot naturally.
It's because I go beyond mynatural comforts to try to make
other people feel comfortable,knowing what it's like to be in
the middle, or misunderstood ornot fully included, and so that
(02:02):
transcends through my music, Ifeel, and who I am as a person
and ultimately like who mysupporters are, like who my demo
is.
Yeah, yeah, so good.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
And when.
Like how did you get into music?
Because it sounded like youwere doing it early on, doing
the design and branding formusic.
Were you playing your own musicbefore then?
Speaker 2 (02:28):
So my relationship with music started really early
on.
I come I always say I come fromlike a large, loud, liberian
family and, being the only girland being a middle child, I've
always had to like find a way tobe heard and while everyone
else was arguing about sportsand politics and what not no one
(02:51):
was really talking about, likemusic and the arts.
So I'm like maybe this could bemy thing.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
And not only could it be my thing, it's like one of
the things where, like, peoplecan actually agree, or like it's
kind of like a unifier, kind oflike food.
It brings people together.
It brings people together.
And so I started making theselike mixed tapes and such.
When I was a kid I had a littlemagazine that I would do.
My family was one of the firstto ever get a computer and I was
(03:16):
like, like everyone likes thesepictures, things that I'm
drawing, and like I would sitbecause my family moved to the
States when I was a kid in the90s.
Then I would try to make friendsand no one would want to talk
to me or even, like the elders,no one's listening to me.
But, like I know they like songs, everyone likes music.
So I would get the cassettetapes and I would listen to the
(03:37):
radio all day and like, just hitrecord on the radio on the
cassette tapes for the songsthat I knew they liked.
And then I like, all day longI'm in front of these like
boombox things like, andsometimes the you know the
presenter would talk and I'mlike, no, I meant to record this
one, or sometimes they would,they would fade out of the song
(04:00):
too soon and I'm like I've beenwaiting all day for them to play
three minutes and 30 seconds ofthe song.
They only played one minute and45 seconds, like now to sit
here further, you know, tryingto get the song.
But I knew it's a thing likepeople liked, so I'd make these
mixed tapes and I would likegive it to people and they
played at, like parties or thecool girls on the streets on the
(04:21):
East Coast.
You know I'm like, oh, I madethis mix tape.
I didn't even know it was kindof mixed tape but I knew they'd
like it.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
I used to do it on Saturday mornings to music
videos.
I'll sit there and record musicvideos.
I think I was really into DeRue, like 91 or something, yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
And so I didn't realize that a lot of what I was
doing is the fundamentals ofbeing a music curator to being a
DJ.
Being a producer is likereading a room, knowing what to
play, what people like, whatpeople don't like, and like it's
really come to serve me lateron in the careers that I do.
So going on from there, likemaking the mixed tapes, and I
(05:06):
became like known as like themixed tape girl you know from
the aunties and their partiesand people in the neighborhood
and I just really leaned in andI started playing in, like you
know, school bands and stuff.
And I was younger like I'mfirst chair clarinet girl and
then into learning to playguitar when I was in high school
(05:26):
and joining bands and recordingand touring.
Like I had a whole another lifebefore electronic music and so
people who know me from thatlife like Warp, tour, post,
progressive, post Punk when theysee me now they're like what
the hell you know?
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Wow, you do have a whole other life.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Yeah, but at the end of the day it's still what like
brings people together and makespeople smile and motivate them.
You know, and it's kind of inmy thing.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
So good and I love that like a part of what I do is
about inspiring and motivatingother people and just bringing
people together.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
So it's really cool that actually we got to like
meet you on the boat becausewe'd seen you at the airport, me
being me and Paul Famous, who'slike an artist, and I think you
spoke with them earlier.
We're like man, she looksreally rad and we hope she's
going to Antarctica too.
We didn't know you know hecould have been going to, I
(06:26):
don't know, argentina orsomething, but like she looks
rad, well she's going toArgentina.
We should talk to herAntarctica.
We should talk to her later.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
It was funny.
It was pretty embarrassingwalking through it, Not
embarrassing.
Well, in Australia it was maybe30 degrees Celsius, which I
think is like 60 or 70Fahrenheit, Maybe I don't know
the difference.
I was wearing that big furleopard print.
They were like an absoluteidiot.
But I feel like at SantiagoAirport and for the Sarenes you
(06:56):
could tell who was going on theboat.
They were just.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
everyone was a little bit extra yeah who was on the
crazy train and who?
Was going home to theirfamilies.
Yeah, or who?
Speaker 1 (07:07):
was going to Patagonia to go mountaineering.
Speaking of bringing peopletogether, you know we've all
been brought together on thisboat with some incredible
musicians.
Yeah, what's been yourhighlight with the music?
What's your feedback from it?
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Wow, I've taken away a few things.
One of them would be likereally leaning into not being
like just enjoying, like I thinka lot of times being a creative
(07:46):
, especially musician, like youhave to be on, you have to be on
all the time and I get to beoff here.
You know, I've been leaninginto just like chilling, meeting
people, like not everyone hasto know what you do, etc.
Like if we have a conversationit's one-on-one and you find out
like great, but like a lot oftimes in our industry, like
people have to like be up andtrying to be loud and extra, but
(08:10):
like I don't think I've gottenmuch of that here.
Like I don't even think I knowwhat two-thirds of the people on
the bus on this um boat.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
I'm glad we're not on the bus.
Yeah, thank god we're not onthe bus here in Ardika.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
I don't think I know what two-thirds or like even
80-90% of the people on thisboat does, and it's just been
like nice to not be on, so justturn off.
I haven't even downloaded theinternet since I've been here
which I may regret later, so askme in a few days but it's just
been like nice not being like,just like just leaning into
(08:43):
being a human in a person.
Before I'm at this, I'm at that.
It's been nice, even like oneof the sets.
The other night, you know,somebody was like oh my god,
this like set is so great, andI'm looking at the performer and
I'm like this person isactually playing.
This is like a pre-recorded setand they're like given it,
(09:06):
they're all, though, and I'mlike it's not my place to tell
this person who's enjoying whatI can see technically, because
I'm a professional in this fieldLike that's not my place.
They don't need to hear that.
And ultimately, we're havingthe best freaking night and
that's all that matter is theessence of this, you know, and I
(09:29):
think myself a younger me, likeyou know, 10 years ago would
have been like well, and thisand that and a little more, and
I'm like it's not even aboutthat, like why are we here?
Why do we do?
What we do is to see the smileon this person's face and the
energy and to give respect forthis person, who may not be
doing the music the way that Ido the music.
However, they're doing themusic and that is not less or
(09:52):
not more than what I and how Ido it.
You know just, I'm reallyappreciating stuff like that
lately in my life and from otherpeople.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
So people were stepping in and showing up and
giving it their all and whatI've actually.
I've had conversations withlots of people on this boat and
we're all the same.
We're all wanting to do ourbest, give, show up, bring
people together, and behind thescenes, nearly everyone is like
(10:22):
oh, I made so many mistakes, sothat wasn't good enough.
And we're always wanting to bebetter, but we always have to.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
We have to remember that it is enough, and no one
sees that we're so such harshcritics on ourselves yeah, I
mean I especially come from areally competitive background,
like I come from a family oflike international business
people and professional athletesand everything is such a
competition and high stakes andpoker faces, like even within
(10:51):
our family, like you know, someof the people that you're
supposed to feel you're safestand secure around and not to say
like my family's, not likebeautiful and funny and all
those things, but like one ofthe resounding characteristics
of who we are is competition andnot necessarily having room to
make mistakes.
And I'm having to, even in myage, like still work around that
(11:15):
and like still actuallypractice, actively practice,
like it's okay to make mistakesor like things happen on my own
time and give grace to myselfbut that's been hard.
Like being in music for 10years and like I'll get like
little things, like oh, whyaren't you here, why aren't you
there?
But then I meet people and likeI realize like I'm actually
(11:40):
privileged.
It's all hell, like you know,like I get to do things that
people can only imagine they'revery much capable or even more
capable than me.
But like I get the privilege ofbeing able to take the risk,
even though sometimes I'm likewhat the heck, um, or who knows,
there might be someone after methat's been doing it for 20
(12:00):
years and being like I wish Icould do what she's doing, kind
of thing, and everything justhappens in your own time, or
like how much you want to put inor get out of it, so yeah,
actually I'd love to dive a bitdeeper on that as well, because,
as a photographer, I wanted tobe a photographer when I was 18
well, actually, when I was twoyears old because I did used to
(12:22):
take photos of my soft toys inhouse plants and then photo
shoots down the beach in highschool.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
And then I got put off by the industry, being so
masculine when I was graduating,so I went into the fashion
industry instead, and then thenI've gone into the photography
industry and I am not a highlytechnical photographer people
fooled me, cute fooled me, butpeople hand me.
They're like brand newstate-of-the-art cameras and I'm
like I don't actually know howto use it.
(12:49):
It's like can you just put itin manual?
Where's ISO?
and the real basic stuff.
So or they're like what camerashould I buy?
I'm like I actually don't know.
I just always get the best onethat there is.
I shoot on Canon and then Ijust go with that.
I don't really know.
I'm not too technical.
I'm technical as in lighting,but you know I don't use a light
(13:11):
meter.
I don't measure things, I justshoot if it looks good.
It looks good if it doesn'tchange it.
You know there's not too muchto it, but there's people in the
industry that have been arounddoing it a lot longer than me
that are really annoyed at mefor doing it or have said things
to cut me down.
And it's like I just chose anddecided that this is what I was
(13:32):
going to do and I've had tosacrifice things and I've had to
work hard and I've had to stepin it and I've had to do scary
things and ask scary questionsor ask favors of people to be
able to live my dream life.
Like you really have to takerisks and you can do anything
(13:53):
and be anyone that you want to,but if you're going to sit by
the sidelines and judge whatother people are doing instead
of actually just going for it,yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
I agree.
Um, I totally identify withwhat you're saying.
Like maybe even eight years ago, I was like I want to become a
producer, not just a DJ.
And again, my industry still tothis day, there's a lot more
women, but still predominantlymale and, on top of it, just
(14:25):
having the presence of more male, it is a boys club.
It's like specificallyengineered to benefit the
industry than I am.
And like people don't talk,people don't share information.
It's been the women mostly.
Initially it was caddy, butlike I think it's become a lot
more collective with the womenwhere we're talking about like I
(14:48):
learned this thing.
Like let me show you.
Or like creating organizationswho are teaching each other how
to like do production.
Or like how to advocate foryourself.
Or like book each other.
Or if I can't do a job, likeyou need to recommend two other
women who can, if you can't doit for any reason.
Like we've had to come and likefind support and create safety,
(15:12):
nuts and resources forourselves.
And I've also had to look atlike some of the youngest people
younger people in the industryfor help, because they're a
little bit more closed-mindedthan going to like some of the
people that I looked up to inthe industry, like Right now.
I've been on this kick for thelast five, six weeks of just
like I need to make a song aweek.
(15:33):
A song a week, a song a week.
And getting into it like I'm anathlete, like leaning into some
of like what I've known for myfamily, believe it or not, and
like, okay, they're training youknow three times a week or a
lot, or more.
Okay, then you need to sit downMonday, wednesday, friday and
like ask questions and beingafraid to ask the wrong question
or not the right question, butI've been finding like it has
(15:54):
been taking.
Some of the younger people arelike I'll sit down, I'll show
you.
It's not about the competitionper se or just because you know
this information doesn't meanit's going to fall out of my
head now because I've shared itwith you.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Yeah, it's, strengthens it.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Yeah, a bit, and then , like me going in and being
extra where, okay, I've learnedthis thing.
So now I'm telling other twoother women or two other people
of color or two other people whoare less Represented in our
industry, to like get themempowered and on board too.
But I think where a lot ofpeople fail outside of wanting
to do it, is like Creatingactionable steps to get there,
(16:31):
you know, and not to say likethis is going to be the way, the
steps, forever, but it's like Iwant to be this photographer,
whatever.
What does that mean?
Maybe I watch a couple, I'mgoing to watch three youtube
videos which cost you nothingtoday that talks about
photography or whatever.
Okay, I don't have a camera,but I know I can go to that
(16:51):
camera store, um, and like, askquestions to the people that
like, literally, that's how Istarted.
I had no money, I knew nothing,but I would go and sit at bars
in Los Angeles with a notebook,yeah, of like djs that I knew,
some of them I didn't know, butlike I would sit, like, like if
I was training, like watchingfilm for, like sports, and I'd
(17:14):
like, okay, she played that songinto that one.
He did this transition.
Okay, like, how did peoplereact?
Okay cool, um, so okay, thenthere's something here.
What can I take out of it?
I know money and DJ equipmentis stupid, expensive, stupid
expensive, but I knew that therewas a guitar center in
Hollywood and you can stay thereas long as possible and they
(17:34):
can't technically kick you out.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Oh cool, yeah, so always gonna announce me good
afternoon.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Ladies and gentlemen, just wanted everyone to know
that we have found a beautifulspot for our polar punch this
afternoon.
Oh my goodness.
We are going to have theinspirational hip talk from
Devin at 230 pm.
That will be in the auditoriumon deck four forward.
That's for everyone 230 withDevin.
(18:02):
That will be in the auditorium,deck four forward, and then we
will start our polar punch at 3pm.
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
So this guitar center , what?
What is that?
Speaker 2 (18:17):
guitar center is just like um, a store, like a big
manufacturer, like they like.
If you wanted to go to autoparts store, you would go to,
like you know, auto zone andthey sell mufflers and you know,
oil for your car.
They sell all kinds of things,instruments and Hardwares etc.
Just like a big departmentstore for music, basically.
(18:37):
And they have an electronicssection with controllers and
decks and vinyl you know,control vinyls and Cables if you
need, and speakers and all thatstuff.
And because they want you todemo the equipment To inspire
you to buy.
Yeah and they can't kick you out, like you know.
(18:58):
So I'm like they got djequipment and it's already set
up and they want you to play itor in order to buy it.
So literally that's how Iactually met paul.
Paul and I used to um share anoffice space.
We didn't work at the samecompany, but our offices were
next to each other, on thecorner of labrea and sun set in
la, and the guitar center waslike five streets away.
(19:19):
So for at lunchtime, because Ihad a nine or five job at the
time at lunchtime, I knewexactly one hour.
It would take me 10 minutes towalk to the guitar center each
way, which means I had 40minutes to play for free every
day, every day at lunch, and Iwould like practice like in
little things like that.
So just try to improve to thenext steps of saying I'm a dj, I
(19:42):
am a dj, I'm a dj.
Until I saved enough money.
Matter of fact, um, someone, Iguess, returned equipment like a
large dj.
They would rent out equipmentto like professional djs and if
it came back like messed up,they would sell it discounted to
the public.
But because I would go thereevery day, I kind of became
friends with the people who workthere and they were just like
(20:03):
we're gonna use all of our likeemployee discounts to like Get
you further Discount to buy thisbusted equipment.
But now I had equipment rightand I knew how to play finally,
like actually Manually knew howto play from watching the videos
, from going in there every day,and I got the decks and like
never looked back and still keptpracticing to get better and
(20:25):
better but actionable steps toget towards what you want to do.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Until you can do it, you know that is so inspiring
and I hope that you know someonethat's listening to this who
has got a big goal and just likeit's too hard to remember just
to take those little steps eachday.
You know, get up an hourearlier, use your lunch break
and those little tiny bits, youknow, 2% each day, it adds up,
(20:52):
yeah, and that's how you getthere.
100%, yeah, instead of sittingthere and going, oh, that
person's privileged, theirparents bought them all that
stuff, or they can do thatbecause of this.
Well, actually, I started fromnothing.
Like I bought my first, Ididn't even have a camera when,
I graduated because I used theuni camera and I had.
I had my daughter while I wasstudying, so I had a baby, was
(21:15):
studying to be a photographer,didn't own a camera, borrowed
camera gear.
Bought my first lights of ebayfor like 400 dollars but each
time I made money I put it backexactly never got a loan and
just kept learning, kept goingstep by step each day and
getting confident, and it took afew years, though, like what's
(21:35):
this thing around and notfeeling like.
You know you can say thatyou're a photographer, say that
you're a dj.
You know it takes a while toreally step into that, because
you know what I do.
Now I just say I am this, I aman international motivational
speaker, and then that means itcreates no one's going to say
you are that.
You have to say that you're.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
That, I think, the hardest part is like people like
being like well, prove it, showme your work.
And it's not even like theoutside people asking you like
to show you the work.
That's a responsibility on younow to be like oh.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
I gotta do the work.
Yeah well, and it's a motivator.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
What's scary for a lot of people.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Yeah, but if it, if you truly want to do something,
then you can do it like athousand percent.
You're gonna make yourself workfor it.
So it's.
You know, if I decided I wantedto be a dj and I got booked for
a job, I know I would dedicateevery day leaning up to that job
to getting it as good aspossible.
(22:35):
And I might make mistakes, butI'm gonna learn from that and be
better the next time.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
Be good to start somewhere.
Yeah, I always like to say, youknow cause I find myself in a
lot of spaces where there arenot a lot of people who look
like me or have my gender orlike even a remotely similar
storyline as myself, and it's Ireally try to lean into what I
(23:03):
tell other people, you know, wholook up to me.
It's like it's okay to be other, it's okay to be alone, it's
okay to even be the first.
All that's fine, it's human.
Be afraid, but do it anyway.
Be afraid, but do it anyway.
And I mean, if I wasn't goingto do it anyway, there's I
(23:26):
couldn't be sitting here tellingyou today that you know, I'm a
producer or a DJ, even productdesign.
I got into product design laterin life, in my 30s even, and the
same thing I was like, okay, Iknow I have this interest and I
had to go back to school.
(23:46):
Basically I did a training andI'm in this program with like
all 22 year olds, you know kindof thing, and I'm like man, I'm
like a decade older thaneveryone here and like I had to
do an internship even, and I'mlike doing this internship with
like people I'm much older than,but I'm like, okay, be afraid,
(24:07):
be embarrassed, be nervous, butdo it anyway, you still have to
do it.
It's fine, hell, be doublenervous, but still you have to
do it.
Son, you have to do it anyway.
And with also the hopes that,like, maybe if you do it and
people see you who are afraid,or maybe look like you, it'll
(24:28):
make it easier for them or therewill be more people.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
So yeah, it's not just for yourself.
But, it's to show others as wellthat they can do it too, and
that's something that I puttogether.
A few years ago.
I saw all these really talented, creative photographers but
struggling financially, didn'tknow how to get clients, didn't
have a clear brand or brandmessage, and I built a business
(24:54):
academy for photographers calledthe Go To Photographer, to
teach them how to just focus onbeing a really, really good
photographer and being known forone thing.
And when you're known for onething, then no one will wanna go
anywhere else because they'relike that's the person that
shoots coffee cups.
(25:14):
I'm just saying that becauseit's a coffee company and that's
probably not a good niche toshoot, but anyway, I mean how
many?
Speaker 2 (25:21):
people in the world drink coffee.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
And how many clients have money for coffee.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
You know there's an opportunity there.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
So imagine a coffee brand.
They're like well, I'm notgonna go to that architectural
photographer, I'm gonna go tothe coffee cup photographer
because, they're the bestshooting coffee cups and you can
then choose when you'reavailable because you're premium
your price.
You charge a premium rate andthen get to shoot what you
really really love as well.
(25:47):
So I'm really passionate abouthelping other photographers,
because the photographers thatwere around when I started they
didn't wanna help.
They're mostly men, and theyjust wanna brush you aside.
Just massive, yeah.
And then, yeah, there was thiskind of sense of jealousy and
stuff.
And also, cause I changed theway things were done, they told
(26:07):
me to quote a certain way andadd on all these extra things
and I thought, if I'm a client,I don't wanna see a list of
things added on, I just wannasee, like, what's the outcome
from working with you in thebottom line.
Yeah, I don't wanna do thedetails, but that's also the way
in my brain works as well.
Like to simplify things, butyeah, paving the way means that
(26:29):
you can give back and help thepeople that wanna do what you're
doing as well.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Yeah, I definitely agree with that.
When I first started I wastrying to be everything for
everyone musically and I thinkit gave me good training, like
being an open format DJ Like Ican play polka into punk rock,
into Madonna, into like FelaCoutti, you know, if I want it
and do it very, very well.
Yeah, but it burned me out.
(26:56):
It burned me out the minutethat I experienced that burnt
out and did some self reflectionlike who am I, what do I want
to be, what is my lane, or evenwhat are my lanes.
If I don't wanna pick a laneLike what are my lanes, and
really invest into like that formyself, the narrative, the
branding, all of that it gaveback to me exponentially, like
(27:21):
almost doubly, in a short periodof time.
And you know me being able to belike, oh, what kind of music do
you do?
Oh, I do techno and house withthe West African onset.
Yeah, it took me a long time toget there and I think the
quicker that I was able to pickmy lane or like my brand may
(27:42):
have helped my career furtherfaster.
But again, everything and it'stime.
But I do try to encourage thatwith, like the other DJs,
producers, musicians, creativesin general, that I like mentor
or that I speak with.
Like you can change in 20 yearswhat that narrative is for you,
but like, what is your thingnow?
(28:02):
And hone in on that and that isget booked for that, get booked
for that.
Or reach out to people like Ido this or I am that, and then
you know if they're like oh, butdo you also do B and C?
Perhaps you do B and C, butlike your thing is A.
Speaker 1 (28:18):
You don't talk about B and C on social media or on
your website.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
I still get booked for all sorts of random jobs and
if I have availability and it'seasy enough, I'm like yeah.
I'll do that, but I'm not gonnabe like, hey, I also went and
shot this restaurant the otherday.
Yeah, you're going reallynarrow and deep, because then
you're memorable.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
Yes, you know jack of all trades yeah, I mean that's
not a diss to your ego for thepeople who are listening to this
, like it's not saying that youcan't do those other things, but
like you are the best of thebest in whatever your lane is.
And so part of that too is likesome of the music that I've
been making recently, now that Ihave the acumen for production.
(29:00):
You look at people and you'relike, oh, she's really great,
she's crushing it in disco,she's crushing it at, like you
know, base house and you knowmaybe I should try that.
And I'm like you know, go backto the anchor.
You do techno in house 80%.
You do add that with the WestAfrican twist 20%.
(29:21):
And like the music that I makeis authentic to me, I can go to
sleep at night, even if I'm theonly person dancing to it in my
house.
I'm happy with it.
But it's been amazing to seethat translate like the feedback
from other people, like I'venever heard anything like this
before.
Like what is this, you know?
And like it can be a little bitlonely where it's like there's
(29:43):
literally no one else in my lane.
You do not see other peopledoing the music that I do
Playing the music.
Okay, maybe I played a technosong and then I played an after
beat song, but, like this beingmy thing you know, the valve
flurry thing has been likephenomenal and I'm meeting so
many people like they're like,oh my God, this is great, great,
great.
So it's really encouraging toknow that it's also like
(30:06):
authentically myself and goinginto 2024.
Like, one of the goals that Ihave for myself is to be doing
these releases, like my ownmusic, for once every four to
six weeks.
So the music that I've beenworking on, like just even
getting comfortable playing itout and being like, oh, I've
never heard anything.
This is so you feels reallygood.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Yeah, we did that yesterday in the cafe and we all
had a little listen to some ofyour music.
Thank, you, and that must havebeen nice for you to see other
people react and get thatfeedback as well.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
Yeah, it's still nervous, I still struggle
talking about it again becauseof the competitiveness of how I
grew up, but like, the more I doit, the more comfortable it's
getting, and especially likeknowing that people are liking
it.
So like, oh, okay, cool, maybesitting down and investing the
time and energy and finding mylane and doing the work and all
(31:04):
of these things that I've beendoing to get here has been
worthwhile and yeah, I'm lookingforward to it.
Like the first single, calledStatues, is going to come out on
the weekend of January 20th andyeah, it's just like seeing
even people trying to shazam it.
Sometimes when I'm playing itout, like I sneak it out into
set, sometimes various songs,and you'll see people trying to
(31:25):
shazam it.
Or sometimes they'll come up tome afterwards gigs like, oh,
I'm trying to find the song,what is that?
And I'm like you're going tohear it next year, you know kind
of thing, or in 2024.
So, yeah, excited.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
And where is it going to come out?
Where can people find it?
Speaker 2 (31:39):
It'll be on all platforms internationally.
So right now we're stilldeciding on what date, but it
will be the week or the weekendof January 20th.
Speaker 1 (31:49):
Okay, and what is your name on Spotify?
Speaker 2 (31:54):
Yeah, so Val Flurry.
My full name is Misange Bodhi.
Everyone friends call me Sonnyfor short, but my like creative
endeavors persona is Val Flurry,so V-A-L-F-L-E-U-R-Y like
flurry, french flower, yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
And I'll pop it in the show now so everyone can
find you.
And there was one thing I justwanted to go back to.
You mentioned being a producer.
Is that something that youstill want to do?
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Yeah, 100%, these, all the songs that are coming
out in 2024, and so on.
Like on my productions, youknow, I think finally having
like a competence, like I toldyou, those actionable plans
ended up into me being able tobecome a producer ultimately,
(32:45):
and like work on my own songs.
I'm not opposed tocollaborating, like I can name a
few folks that I worked on withthe records that actually
helped inspire me, and we wereaccountability buddies, even
like it's Monday, it's 10 am.
Have you worked on your songs,you know?
Or like on Friday, I go over tomy friend, you know, zach Adams
house, and he's like listeningto the songs, like, oh, I think
(33:06):
you should change this or Ithink you should do that kind of
thing.
Just like also having thosepeople you can count on.
I had to find them.
I didn't know anyone.
You know, I recently moved toPhiladelphia and, as you said,
like some people were like, oh,that's how you make music, like
kind of judgmental in a way thatI do things, but there's a
million ways to skin a cat, ifyou will.
(33:28):
And I have my songs and I foundmy people who were supportive
and helped me stay accountable,and now I'm ready to put it on
the world.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
So good, and that's the thing.
It's really important to havepeople in your network who can
give you constructive feedbackand keep you accountable.
I mean an accountability groupwhere each week we talk about
we've got our year goals, sixmonths goals and three months
goals and we say what threethings did you do last week
towards that and what threethings are you doing next week?
(33:58):
And we keep it in an Excelspreadsheet.
It's actually great, becausesometimes I don't even know what
I did in the last week, but itmakes you conscious that you're
doing the steps towards thebigger picture as well, yeah,
it's what gets you there.
And I want to know one thingabout this trip in Antarctica
it's been a privilege for bothof us to come, to put everyone
(34:20):
on this boat, to be in thisspectacular place.
What's been your moment of awe?
Wow?
Speaker 2 (34:31):
My moment of awe in this place has been one of them
has been leaning into this ideaof ancestral enjoyment.
Being Liberian, we'veexperienced two civil wars in a
(34:52):
relatively short amount of time,when I lost two thirds of my
family.
Outside of that, my motherpassed when I was younger.
She passed at the age of 47.
And one of my life goals is Idon't know that I'm going to
become this huge artist and beable to affect or impact
(35:16):
millions of people, but if I inmy lifetime can have a good
impact on at least 47 peoplewould be amazing.
It would be so wonderful andthat would be part of my legacy
in the world.
And so part of that has beenalso trying to make sure my
(35:41):
ancestors who could not make ithere, and also the future,
whatever, that is, anise's andMatthew's if I have or don't
have children people that I'mimpacted.
How can this trip that I'mexperiencing and my
contributions will affect themsome way?
I brought my mother's necklaceher wedding ring is on the
(36:03):
necklace and I dipped it in thewater and I was like see, mom,
now you've been to Antarctica aswell and just trying to have
this ancestral enjoyment and mebeing here means that they get
to enjoy too.
And when my niece's andnephew's maybe hear about my
story one day and she went,where did she get that?
(36:24):
Maybe that can motivate them tofind, exploration and enjoy in
their lives as well.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
So beautiful and profound Thank you.
I feel like I know for surethat everything that you have
shared right now is going toinspire and motivate more than
47 people.
Thank you.
So your job is done in one dayin like half an hour.
(36:52):
So I see so much for you aheadand I love it when people tell
me their dreams, because itplans to see in my head and I'm
a big manifesto, like, if youtell me you're going to do
something, I create that visionof you doing it and I see you
there, oh, awesome.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
Yeah, so Recalling you up regularly.
Speaker 1 (37:13):
So the more people you tell like obviously the
right people that aren't goingto judge you by that, or people
that do dream big and believe,and I really wish for everyone
to be able to have that and dothat.
That's what this podcast does.
It's called seen and heard, soto really give people the
confidence to be seen and heardand step into their power and
(37:37):
own their gifts and share andinspire others to do the same.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
Yeah, it's very important, especially on the
community level.
Like, definitely start withinyourself, but I really try to
like lean into, like how doesthis affect other people too?
And again, I don't know if thisis the middle child thing, I
don't know if this is being theeldest daughter kind of thing,
but outside of myself and beingseen and heard, like coming from
(38:04):
the smallest country that noone has never heard of, and like
trying to take up space,especially for like my people,
my compatriots, like we've justbeen lately I teamed up with
like seven other people becausesometimes, like doing what we do
can be lonely and when you findlike the people who are also
(38:25):
doing similarly.
We decided to come up with asummit that's in Liberia every
December, now called Up NextLiberia, and it's like how can
we be seen and how can we beheard when we're in you know,
industries like culture andinnovation and business
entrepreneurship for ourselves,knowing that there's been a
blueprint for other countrieslike Ghana and Nigeria.
(38:48):
Seven, eight years ago no onewas talking about that.
Now everyone's like Afrochellaand Afrofuture and all these
festivals and fun things, andyou hear it in the music, you
hear it in award shows, grammyawards and things like that and
beyond, and I'm like, how do wenot get forgotten?
How do we step up and make surelike there's visibility and
(39:11):
representation for like what wecontribute?
Even though we're like theunderdogs and small, and
sometimes it just takes like afew people to begin, that will
be an impact.
So I've also been working onthat as well and it just
happened and we have a wholeanother year and, man, just
looking at the footage andseeing the feedback from what
(39:33):
we're starting, it's just soexciting to know that there's
gonna be more and more in thefuture years.
Speaker 1 (39:40):
I'll share information about that as well.
Speaker 2 (39:43):
I'm so proud of you and I'm so grateful I got to
meet you on this trip.
Yes, likewise, likewise, it'sso good.
Speaker 1 (39:49):
I remember you were sitting in front of me on the
plane from Santiago and I waslike who is she?
Is she going on the trip?
She was really cool.
She's making music, she wantedthe DJs, and then it was scary
for me to ask you.
Remember I was standing behindyou.
I was like are you going onAntarctica too?
Speaker 2 (40:05):
Yes, yes, and sometimes again being scared and
doing it anyways.
And now like, look at us, likeI'm so glad you took that step
and, yeah, I eventually wouldhave found you for sure.
Speaker 3 (40:17):
Cause we had it out for you.
Speaker 2 (40:18):
We're like we're gonna talk to that girl, we're
gonna find her.
So likewise, like like-mindedenergy and just a little bit of
like motivation.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
Yeah, I'm excited to cross paths again and stay
connected and hang out again.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
Thanks so much.
Did you know much about Oliver Tree beforehand?
I'm not his demo.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
I don't think I'm his demo.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Yeah, I've heard someone call it a demographic
demo.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Like the Sokazia, I'm not in that demo.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I think most of his followers and stuff are like
Jen's ears, like really young,like 20 year olds and late teens
.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Did you see that he was doing a documentary here?
Yeah, so he's literally beinglike Dave and Adam Brat, but
because he's also called DrOliver Tree, I'm just thinking,
imagine this young generationsee his videos on YouTube.
I think he's got the info andgot it messed up.
What's your demo with yourmusic?
Speaker 2 (00:53):
My demo Val Flurry's followers, I guess, and
supporters are quiteintersectional.
It's like Afro-Deutsch kids,you know who parents immigrated
from.
You know Nigeria and Ghana andnow living in Berlin, you know,
(01:16):
or you know people who are intomusic and technology and the
arts and community.
Those are my demo People whocan find themselves, enjoying
and appreciating everything fromarchitecture, literature to
wellness.
(01:36):
I think I've always been.
The joke is like I'm the middlechild, you know, because I am
and I've always been good, butnot naturally.
It's because I go beyond mynatural comforts to try to make
other people feel comfortable,knowing what it's like to be in
the middle, or misunderstood ornot fully included, and so that
(02:02):
transcends through my music, Ifeel, and who I am as a person
and ultimately like who mysupporters are, like who my demo
is.
Yeah, yeah, so good.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
And when.
Like how did you get into music?
Because it sounded like youwere doing it early on, doing
the design and branding formusic.
Were you playing your own musicbefore then?
Speaker 2 (02:28):
So my relationship with music started really early
on.
I come I always say I come fromlike a large, loud, liberian
family and, being the only girland being a middle child, I've
always had to like find a way tobe heard and while everyone
else was arguing about sportsand politics and what not no one
(02:51):
was really talking about, likemusic and the arts.
So I'm like maybe this could bemy thing.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
And not only could it be my thing, it's like one of
the things where, like, peoplecan actually agree, or like it's
kind of like a unifier, kind oflike food.
It brings people together.
It brings people together.
And so I started making theselike mixed tapes and such.
When I was a kid I had a littlemagazine that I would do.
My family was one of the firstto ever get a computer and I was
(03:16):
like, like everyone likes thesepictures, things that I'm
drawing, and like I would sitbecause my family moved to the
States when I was a kid in the90s.
Then I would try to make friendsand no one would want to talk
to me or even, like the elders,no one's listening to me.
But, like I know they like songs, everyone likes music.
So I would get the cassettetapes and I would listen to the
(03:37):
radio all day and like, just hitrecord on the radio on the
cassette tapes for the songsthat I knew they liked.
And then I like, all day longI'm in front of these like
boombox things like, andsometimes the you know the
presenter would talk and I'mlike, no, I meant to record this
one, or sometimes they would,they would fade out of the song
(04:00):
too soon and I'm like I've beenwaiting all day for them to play
three minutes and 30 seconds ofthe song.
They only played one minute and45 seconds, like now to sit
here further, you know, tryingto get the song.
But I knew it's a thing likepeople liked, so I'd make these
mixed tapes and I would likegive it to people and they
played at, like parties or thecool girls on the streets on the
(04:21):
East Coast.
You know I'm like, oh, I madethis mix tape.
I didn't even know it was kindof mixed tape but I knew they'd
like it.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
I used to do it on Saturday mornings to music
videos.
I'll sit there and record musicvideos.
I think I was really into DeRue, like 91 or something, yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
And so I didn't realize that a lot of what I was
doing is the fundamentals ofbeing a music curator to being a
DJ.
Being a producer is likereading a room, knowing what to
play, what people like, whatpeople don't like, and like it's
really come to serve me lateron in the careers that I do.
So going on from there, likemaking the mixed tapes, and I
(05:06):
became like known as like themixed tape girl you know from
the aunties and their partiesand people in the neighborhood
and I just really leaned in andI started playing in, like you
know, school bands and stuff.
And I was younger like I'mfirst chair clarinet girl and
then into learning to playguitar when I was in high school
(05:26):
and joining bands and recordingand touring.
Like I had a whole another lifebefore electronic music and so
people who know me from thatlife like Warp, tour, post,
progressive, post Punk when theysee me now they're like what
the hell you know?
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Wow, you do have a whole other life.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Yeah, but at the end of the day it's still what like
brings people together and makespeople smile and motivate them.
You know, and it's kind of inmy thing.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
So good and I love that like a part of what I do is
about inspiring and motivatingother people and just bringing
people together.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
So it's really cool that actually we got to like
meet you on the boat becausewe'd seen you at the airport, me
being me and Paul Famous, who'slike an artist, and I think you
spoke with them earlier.
We're like man, she looksreally rad and we hope she's
going to Antarctica too.
We didn't know you know hecould have been going to, I
(06:26):
don't know, argentina orsomething, but like she looks
rad, well she's going toArgentina.
We should talk to herAntarctica.
We should talk to her later.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
It was funny.
It was pretty embarrassingwalking through it, Not
embarrassing.
Well, in Australia it was maybe30 degrees Celsius, which I
think is like 60 or 70Fahrenheit, Maybe I don't know
the difference.
I was wearing that big furleopard print.
They were like an absoluteidiot.
But I feel like at SantiagoAirport and for the Sarenes you
(06:56):
could tell who was going on theboat.
They were just.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
everyone was a little bit extra yeah who was on the
crazy train and who?
Was going home to theirfamilies.
Yeah, or who?
Speaker 1 (07:07):
was going to Patagonia to go mountaineering.
Speaking of bringing peopletogether, you know we've all
been brought together on thisboat with some incredible
musicians.
Yeah, what's been yourhighlight with the music?
What's your feedback from it?
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Wow, I've taken away a few things.
One of them would be likereally leaning into not being
like just enjoying, like I thinka lot of times being a creative
(07:46):
, especially musician, like youhave to be on, you have to be on
all the time and I get to beoff here.
You know, I've been leaninginto just like chilling, meeting
people, like not everyone hasto know what you do, etc.
Like if we have a conversationit's one-on-one and you find out
like great, but like a lot oftimes in our industry, like
people have to like be up andtrying to be loud and extra, but
(08:10):
like I don't think I've gottenmuch of that here.
Like I don't even think I knowwhat two-thirds of the people on
the bus on this um boat.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
I'm glad we're not on the bus.
Yeah, thank god we're not onthe bus here in Ardika.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
I don't think I know what two-thirds or like even
80-90% of the people on thisboat does, and it's just been
like nice to not be on, so justturn off.
I haven't even downloaded theinternet since I've been here
which I may regret later, so askme in a few days but it's just
been like nice not being like,just like just leaning into
(08:43):
being a human in a person.
Before I'm at this, I'm at that.
It's been nice, even like oneof the sets.
The other night, you know,somebody was like oh my god,
this like set is so great, andI'm looking at the performer and
I'm like this person isactually playing.
This is like a pre-recorded setand they're like given it,
(09:06):
they're all, though, and I'mlike it's not my place to tell
this person who's enjoying whatI can see technically, because
I'm a professional in this fieldLike that's not my place.
They don't need to hear that.
And ultimately, we're havingthe best freaking night and
that's all that matter is theessence of this, you know, and I
(09:29):
think myself a younger me, likeyou know, 10 years ago would
have been like well, and thisand that and a little more, and
I'm like it's not even aboutthat, like why are we here?
Why do we do?
What we do is to see the smileon this person's face and the
energy and to give respect forthis person, who may not be
doing the music the way that Ido the music.
However, they're doing themusic and that is not less or
(09:52):
not more than what I and how Ido it.
You know just, I'm reallyappreciating stuff like that
lately in my life and from otherpeople.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
So people were stepping in and showing up and
giving it their all and whatI've actually.
I've had conversations withlots of people on this boat and
we're all the same.
We're all wanting to do ourbest, give, show up, bring
people together, and behind thescenes, nearly everyone is like
(10:22):
oh, I made so many mistakes, sothat wasn't good enough.
And we're always wanting to bebetter, but we always have to.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
We have to remember that it is enough, and no one
sees that we're so such harshcritics on ourselves yeah, I
mean I especially come from areally competitive background,
like I come from a family oflike international business
people and professional athletesand everything is such a
competition and high stakes andpoker faces, like even within
(10:51):
our family, like you know, someof the people that you're
supposed to feel you're safestand secure around and not to say
like my family's, not likebeautiful and funny and all
those things, but like one ofthe resounding characteristics
of who we are is competition andnot necessarily having room to
make mistakes.
And I'm having to, even in myage, like still work around that
(11:15):
and like still actuallypractice, actively practice,
like it's okay to make mistakesor like things happen on my own
time and give grace to myselfbut that's been hard.
Like being in music for 10years and like I'll get like
little things, like oh, whyaren't you here, why aren't you
there?
But then I meet people and likeI realize like I'm actually
(11:40):
privileged.
It's all hell, like you know,like I get to do things that
people can only imagine they'revery much capable or even more
capable than me.
But like I get the privilege ofbeing able to take the risk,
even though sometimes I'm likewhat the heck, um, or who knows,
there might be someone after methat's been doing it for 20
(12:00):
years and being like I wish Icould do what she's doing, kind
of thing, and everything justhappens in your own time, or
like how much you want to put inor get out of it, so yeah,
actually I'd love to dive a bitdeeper on that as well, because,
as a photographer, I wanted tobe a photographer when I was 18
well, actually, when I was twoyears old because I did used to
(12:22):
take photos of my soft toys inhouse plants and then photo
shoots down the beach in highschool.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
And then I got put off by the industry, being so
masculine when I was graduating,so I went into the fashion
industry instead, and then thenI've gone into the photography
industry and I am not a highlytechnical photographer people
fooled me, cute fooled me, butpeople hand me.
They're like brand newstate-of-the-art cameras and I'm
like I don't actually know howto use it.
(12:49):
It's like can you just put itin manual?
Where's ISO?
and the real basic stuff.
So or they're like what camerashould I buy?
I'm like I actually don't know.
I just always get the best onethat there is.
I shoot on Canon and then Ijust go with that.
I don't really know.
I'm not too technical.
I'm technical as in lighting,but you know I don't use a light
(13:11):
meter.
I don't measure things, I justshoot if it looks good.
It looks good if it doesn'tchange it.
You know there's not too muchto it, but there's people in the
industry that have been arounddoing it a lot longer than me
that are really annoyed at mefor doing it or have said things
to cut me down.
And it's like I just chose anddecided that this is what I was
(13:32):
going to do and I've had tosacrifice things and I've had to
work hard and I've had to stepin it and I've had to do scary
things and ask scary questionsor ask favors of people to be
able to live my dream life.
Like you really have to takerisks and you can do anything
(13:53):
and be anyone that you want to,but if you're going to sit by
the sidelines and judge whatother people are doing instead
of actually just going for it,yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
I agree.
Um, I totally identify withwhat you're saying.
Like maybe even eight years ago, I was like I want to become a
producer, not just a DJ.
And again, my industry still tothis day, there's a lot more
women, but still predominantlymale and, on top of it, just
(14:25):
having the presence of more male, it is a boys club.
It's like specificallyengineered to benefit the
industry than I am.
And like people don't talk,people don't share information.
It's been the women mostly.
Initially it was caddy, butlike I think it's become a lot
more collective with the womenwhere we're talking about like I
(14:48):
learned this thing.
Like let me show you.
Or like creating organizationswho are teaching each other how
to like do production.
Or like how to advocate foryourself.
Or like book each other.
Or if I can't do a job, likeyou need to recommend two other
women who can, if you can't doit for any reason.
Like we've had to come and likefind support and create safety,
(15:12):
nuts and resources forourselves.
And I've also had to look atlike some of the youngest people
younger people in the industryfor help, because they're a
little bit more closed-mindedthan going to like some of the
people that I looked up to inthe industry, like Right now.
I've been on this kick for thelast five, six weeks of just
like I need to make a song aweek.
(15:33):
A song a week, a song a week.
And getting into it like I'm anathlete, like leaning into some
of like what I've known for myfamily, believe it or not, and
like, okay, they're training youknow three times a week or a
lot, or more.
Okay, then you need to sit downMonday, wednesday, friday and
like ask questions and beingafraid to ask the wrong question
or not the right question, butI've been finding like it has
(15:54):
been taking.
Some of the younger people arelike I'll sit down, I'll show
you.
It's not about the competitionper se or just because you know
this information doesn't meanit's going to fall out of my
head now because I've shared itwith you.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Yeah, it's, strengthens it.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Yeah, a bit, and then , like me going in and being
extra where, okay, I've learnedthis thing.
So now I'm telling other twoother women or two other people
of color or two other people whoare less Represented in our
industry, to like get themempowered and on board too.
But I think where a lot ofpeople fail outside of wanting
to do it, is like Creatingactionable steps to get there,
(16:31):
you know, and not to say likethis is going to be the way, the
steps, forever, but it's like Iwant to be this photographer,
whatever.
What does that mean?
Maybe I watch a couple, I'mgoing to watch three youtube
videos which cost you nothingtoday that talks about
photography or whatever.
Okay, I don't have a camera,but I know I can go to that
(16:51):
camera store, um, and like, askquestions to the people that
like, literally, that's how Istarted.
I had no money, I knew nothing,but I would go and sit at bars
in Los Angeles with a notebook,yeah, of like djs that I knew,
some of them I didn't know, butlike I would sit, like, like if
I was training, like watchingfilm for, like sports, and I'd
(17:14):
like, okay, she played that songinto that one.
He did this transition.
Okay, like, how did peoplereact?
Okay cool, um, so okay, thenthere's something here.
What can I take out of it?
I know money and DJ equipmentis stupid, expensive, stupid
expensive, but I knew that therewas a guitar center in
Hollywood and you can stay thereas long as possible and they
(17:34):
can't technically kick you out.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Oh cool, yeah, so always gonna announce me good
afternoon.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Ladies and gentlemen, just wanted everyone to know
that we have found a beautifulspot for our polar punch this
afternoon.
Oh my goodness.
We are going to have theinspirational hip talk from
Devin at 230 pm.
That will be in the auditoriumon deck four forward.
That's for everyone 230 withDevin.
(18:02):
That will be in the auditorium,deck four forward, and then we
will start our polar punch at 3pm.
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
So this guitar center , what?
What is that?
Speaker 2 (18:17):
guitar center is just like um, a store, like a big
manufacturer, like they like.
If you wanted to go to autoparts store, you would go to,
like you know, auto zone andthey sell mufflers and you know,
oil for your car.
They sell all kinds of things,instruments and Hardwares etc.
Just like a big departmentstore for music, basically.
(18:37):
And they have an electronicssection with controllers and
decks and vinyl you know,control vinyls and Cables if you
need, and speakers and all thatstuff.
And because they want you todemo the equipment To inspire
you to buy.
Yeah and they can't kick you out, like you know.
(18:58):
So I'm like they got djequipment and it's already set
up and they want you to play itor in order to buy it.
So literally that's how Iactually met paul.
Paul and I used to um share anoffice space.
We didn't work at the samecompany, but our offices were
next to each other, on thecorner of labrea and sun set in
la, and the guitar center waslike five streets away.
(19:19):
So for at lunchtime, because Ihad a nine or five job at the
time at lunchtime, I knewexactly one hour.
It would take me 10 minutes towalk to the guitar center each
way, which means I had 40minutes to play for free every
day, every day at lunch, and Iwould like practice like in
little things like that.
So just try to improve to thenext steps of saying I'm a dj, I
(19:42):
am a dj, I'm a dj.
Until I saved enough money.
Matter of fact, um, someone, Iguess, returned equipment like a
large dj.
They would rent out equipmentto like professional djs and if
it came back like messed up,they would sell it discounted to
the public.
But because I would go thereevery day, I kind of became
friends with the people who workthere and they were just like
(20:03):
we're gonna use all of our likeemployee discounts to like Get
you further Discount to buy thisbusted equipment.
But now I had equipment rightand I knew how to play finally,
like actually Manually knew howto play from watching the videos
, from going in there every day,and I got the decks and like
never looked back and still keptpracticing to get better and
(20:25):
better but actionable steps toget towards what you want to do.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Until you can do it, you know that is so inspiring
and I hope that you know someonethat's listening to this who
has got a big goal and just likeit's too hard to remember just
to take those little steps eachday.
You know, get up an hourearlier, use your lunch break
and those little tiny bits, youknow, 2% each day, it adds up,
(20:52):
yeah, and that's how you getthere.
100%, yeah, instead of sittingthere and going, oh, that
person's privileged, theirparents bought them all that
stuff, or they can do thatbecause of this.
Well, actually, I started fromnothing.
Like I bought my first, Ididn't even have a camera when,
I graduated because I used theuni camera and I had.
I had my daughter while I wasstudying, so I had a baby, was
(21:15):
studying to be a photographer,didn't own a camera, borrowed
camera gear.
Bought my first lights of ebayfor like 400 dollars but each
time I made money I put it backexactly never got a loan and
just kept learning, kept goingstep by step each day and
getting confident, and it took afew years, though, like what's
(21:35):
this thing around and notfeeling like.
You know you can say thatyou're a photographer, say that
you're a dj.
You know it takes a while toreally step into that, because
you know what I do.
Now I just say I am this, I aman international motivational
speaker, and then that means itcreates no one's going to say
you are that.
You have to say that you're.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
That, I think, the hardest part is like people like
being like well, prove it, showme your work.
And it's not even like theoutside people asking you like
to show you the work.
That's a responsibility on younow to be like oh.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
I gotta do the work.
Yeah well, and it's a motivator.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
What's scary for a lot of people.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Yeah, but if it, if you truly want to do something,
then you can do it like athousand percent.
You're gonna make yourself workfor it.
So it's.
You know, if I decided I wantedto be a dj and I got booked for
a job, I know I would dedicateevery day leaning up to that job
to getting it as good aspossible.
(22:35):
And I might make mistakes, butI'm gonna learn from that and be
better the next time.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
Be good to start somewhere.
Yeah, I always like to say, youknow cause I find myself in a
lot of spaces where there arenot a lot of people who look
like me or have my gender orlike even a remotely similar
storyline as myself, and it's Ireally try to lean into what I
(23:03):
tell other people, you know, wholook up to me.
It's like it's okay to be other, it's okay to be alone, it's
okay to even be the first.
All that's fine, it's human.
Be afraid, but do it anyway.
Be afraid, but do it anyway.
And I mean, if I wasn't goingto do it anyway, there's I
(23:26):
couldn't be sitting here tellingyou today that you know, I'm a
producer or a DJ, even productdesign.
I got into product design laterin life, in my 30s even, and the
same thing I was like, okay, Iknow I have this interest and I
had to go back to school.
(23:46):
Basically I did a training andI'm in this program with like
all 22 year olds, you know kindof thing, and I'm like man, I'm
like a decade older thaneveryone here and like I had to
do an internship even, and I'mlike doing this internship with
like people I'm much older than,but I'm like, okay, be afraid,
(24:07):
be embarrassed, be nervous, butdo it anyway, you still have to
do it.
It's fine, hell, be doublenervous, but still you have to
do it.
Son, you have to do it anyway.
And with also the hopes that,like, maybe if you do it and
people see you who are afraid,or maybe look like you, it'll
(24:28):
make it easier for them or therewill be more people.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
So yeah, it's not just for yourself.
But, it's to show others as wellthat they can do it too, and
that's something that I puttogether.
A few years ago.
I saw all these really talented, creative photographers but
struggling financially, didn'tknow how to get clients, didn't
have a clear brand or brandmessage, and I built a business
(24:54):
academy for photographers calledthe Go To Photographer, to
teach them how to just focus onbeing a really, really good
photographer and being known forone thing.
And when you're known for onething, then no one will wanna go
anywhere else because they'relike that's the person that
shoots coffee cups.
(25:14):
I'm just saying that becauseit's a coffee company and that's
probably not a good niche toshoot, but anyway, I mean how
many?
Speaker 2 (25:21):
people in the world drink coffee.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
And how many clients have money for coffee.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
You know there's an opportunity there.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
So imagine a coffee brand.
They're like well, I'm notgonna go to that architectural
photographer, I'm gonna go tothe coffee cup photographer
because, they're the bestshooting coffee cups and you can
then choose when you'reavailable because you're premium
your price.
You charge a premium rate andthen get to shoot what you
really really love as well.
(25:47):
So I'm really passionate abouthelping other photographers,
because the photographers thatwere around when I started they
didn't wanna help.
They're mostly men, and theyjust wanna brush you aside.
Just massive, yeah.
And then, yeah, there was thiskind of sense of jealousy and
stuff.
And also, cause I changed theway things were done, they told
(26:07):
me to quote a certain way andadd on all these extra things
and I thought, if I'm a client,I don't wanna see a list of
things added on, I just wannasee, like, what's the outcome
from working with you in thebottom line.
Yeah, I don't wanna do thedetails, but that's also the way
in my brain works as well.
Like to simplify things, butyeah, paving the way means that
(26:29):
you can give back and help thepeople that wanna do what you're
doing as well.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Yeah, I definitely agree with that.
When I first started I wastrying to be everything for
everyone musically and I thinkit gave me good training, like
being an open format DJ Like Ican play polka into punk rock,
into Madonna, into like FelaCoutti, you know, if I want it
and do it very, very well.
Yeah, but it burned me out.
(26:56):
It burned me out the minutethat I experienced that burnt
out and did some self reflectionlike who am I, what do I want
to be, what is my lane, or evenwhat are my lanes.
If I don't wanna pick a laneLike what are my lanes, and
really invest into like that formyself, the narrative, the
branding, all of that it gaveback to me exponentially, like
(27:21):
almost doubly, in a short periodof time.
And you know me being able to belike, oh, what kind of music do
you do?
Oh, I do techno and house withthe West African onset.
Yeah, it took me a long time toget there and I think the
quicker that I was able to pickmy lane or like my brand may
(27:42):
have helped my career furtherfaster.
But again, everything and it'stime.
But I do try to encourage thatwith, like the other DJs,
producers, musicians, creativesin general, that I like mentor
or that I speak with.
Like you can change in 20 yearswhat that narrative is for you,
but like, what is your thingnow?
(28:02):
And hone in on that and that isget booked for that, get booked
for that.
Or reach out to people like Ido this or I am that, and then
you know if they're like oh, butdo you also do B and C?
Perhaps you do B and C, butlike your thing is A.
Speaker 1 (28:18):
You don't talk about B and C on social media or on
your website.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
I still get booked for all sorts of random jobs and
if I have availability and it'seasy enough, I'm like yeah.
I'll do that, but I'm not gonnabe like, hey, I also went and
shot this restaurant the otherday.
Yeah, you're going reallynarrow and deep, because then
you're memorable.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
Yes, you know jack of all trades yeah, I mean that's
not a diss to your ego for thepeople who are listening to this
, like it's not saying that youcan't do those other things, but
like you are the best of thebest in whatever your lane is.
And so part of that too is likesome of the music that I've
been making recently, now that Ihave the acumen for production.
(29:00):
You look at people and you'relike, oh, she's really great,
she's crushing it in disco,she's crushing it at, like you
know, base house and you knowmaybe I should try that.
And I'm like you know, go backto the anchor.
You do techno in house 80%.
You do add that with the WestAfrican twist 20%.
(29:21):
And like the music that I makeis authentic to me, I can go to
sleep at night, even if I'm theonly person dancing to it in my
house.
I'm happy with it.
But it's been amazing to seethat translate like the feedback
from other people, like I'venever heard anything like this
before.
Like what is this, you know?
And like it can be a little bitlonely where it's like there's
(29:43):
literally no one else in my lane.
You do not see other peopledoing the music that I do
Playing the music.
Okay, maybe I played a technosong and then I played an after
beat song, but, like this beingmy thing you know, the valve
flurry thing has been likephenomenal and I'm meeting so
many people like they're like,oh my God, this is great, great,
great.
So it's really encouraging toknow that it's also like
(30:06):
authentically myself and goinginto 2024.
Like, one of the goals that Ihave for myself is to be doing
these releases, like my ownmusic, for once every four to
six weeks.
So the music that I've beenworking on, like just even
getting comfortable playing itout and being like, oh, I've
never heard anything.
This is so you feels reallygood.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Yeah, we did that yesterday in the cafe and we all
had a little listen to some ofyour music.
Thank, you, and that must havebeen nice for you to see other
people react and get thatfeedback as well.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
Yeah, it's still nervous, I still struggle
talking about it again becauseof the competitiveness of how I
grew up, but like, the more I doit, the more comfortable it's
getting, and especially likeknowing that people are liking
it.
So like, oh, okay, cool, maybesitting down and investing the
time and energy and finding mylane and doing the work and all
(31:04):
of these things that I've beendoing to get here has been
worthwhile and yeah, I'm lookingforward to it.
Like the first single, calledStatues, is going to come out on
the weekend of January 20th andyeah, it's just like seeing
even people trying to shazam it.
Sometimes when I'm playing itout, like I sneak it out into
set, sometimes various songs,and you'll see people trying to
(31:25):
shazam it.
Or sometimes they'll come up tome afterwards gigs like, oh,
I'm trying to find the song,what is that?
And I'm like you're going tohear it next year, you know kind
of thing, or in 2024.
So, yeah, excited.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
And where is it going to come out?
Where can people find it?
Speaker 2 (31:39):
It'll be on all platforms internationally.
So right now we're stilldeciding on what date, but it
will be the week or the weekendof January 20th.
Speaker 1 (31:49):
Okay, and what is your name on Spotify?
Speaker 2 (31:54):
Yeah, so Val Flurry.
My full name is Misange Bodhi.
Everyone friends call me Sonnyfor short, but my like creative
endeavors persona is Val Flurry,so V-A-L-F-L-E-U-R-Y like
flurry, french flower, yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
And I'll pop it in the show now so everyone can
find you.
And there was one thing I justwanted to go back to.
You mentioned being a producer.
Is that something that youstill want to do?
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Yeah, 100%, these, all the songs that are coming
out in 2024, and so on.
Like on my productions, youknow, I think finally having
like a competence, like I toldyou, those actionable plans
ended up into me being able tobecome a producer ultimately,
(32:45):
and like work on my own songs.
I'm not opposed tocollaborating, like I can name a
few folks that I worked on withthe records that actually
helped inspire me, and we wereaccountability buddies, even
like it's Monday, it's 10 am.
Have you worked on your songs,you know?
Or like on Friday, I go over tomy friend, you know, zach Adams
house, and he's like listeningto the songs, like, oh, I think
(33:06):
you should change this or Ithink you should do that kind of
thing.
Just like also having thosepeople you can count on.
I had to find them.
I didn't know anyone.
You know, I recently moved toPhiladelphia and, as you said,
like some people were like, oh,that's how you make music, like
kind of judgmental in a way thatI do things, but there's a
million ways to skin a cat, ifyou will.
(33:28):
And I have my songs and I foundmy people who were supportive
and helped me stay accountable,and now I'm ready to put it on
the world.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
So good, and that's the thing.
It's really important to havepeople in your network who can
give you constructive feedbackand keep you accountable.
I mean an accountability groupwhere each week we talk about
we've got our year goals, sixmonths goals and three months
goals and we say what threethings did you do last week
towards that and what threethings are you doing next week?
(33:58):
And we keep it in an Excelspreadsheet.
It's actually great, becausesometimes I don't even know what
I did in the last week, but itmakes you conscious that you're
doing the steps towards thebigger picture as well, yeah,
it's what gets you there.
And I want to know one thingabout this trip in Antarctica
it's been a privilege for bothof us to come, to put everyone
(34:20):
on this boat, to be in thisspectacular place.
What's been your moment of awe?
Wow?
Speaker 2 (34:31):
My moment of awe in this place has been one of them
has been leaning into this ideaof ancestral enjoyment.
Being Liberian, we'veexperienced two civil wars in a
(34:52):
relatively short amount of time,when I lost two thirds of my
family.
Outside of that, my motherpassed when I was younger.
She passed at the age of 47.
And one of my life goals is Idon't know that I'm going to
become this huge artist and beable to affect or impact
(35:16):
millions of people, but if I inmy lifetime can have a good
impact on at least 47 peoplewould be amazing.
It would be so wonderful andthat would be part of my legacy
in the world.
And so part of that has beenalso trying to make sure my
(35:41):
ancestors who could not make ithere, and also the future,
whatever, that is, anise's andMatthew's if I have or don't
have children people that I'mimpacted.
How can this trip that I'mexperiencing and my
contributions will affect themsome way?
I brought my mother's necklaceher wedding ring is on the
(36:03):
necklace and I dipped it in thewater and I was like see, mom,
now you've been to Antarctica aswell and just trying to have
this ancestral enjoyment and mebeing here means that they get
to enjoy too.
And when my niece's andnephew's maybe hear about my
story one day and she went,where did she get that?
(36:24):
Maybe that can motivate them tofind, exploration and enjoy in
their lives as well.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
So beautiful and profound Thank you.
I feel like I know for surethat everything that you have
shared right now is going toinspire and motivate more than
47 people.
Thank you.
So your job is done in one dayin like half an hour.
(36:52):
So I see so much for you aheadand I love it when people tell
me their dreams, because itplans to see in my head and I'm
a big manifesto, like, if youtell me you're going to do
something, I create that visionof you doing it and I see you
there, oh, awesome.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
Yeah, so Recalling you up regularly.
Speaker 1 (37:13):
So the more people you tell like obviously the
right people that aren't goingto judge you by that, or people
that do dream big and believe,and I really wish for everyone
to be able to have that and dothat.
That's what this podcast does.
It's called seen and heard, soto really give people the
confidence to be seen and heardand step into their power and
(37:37):
own their gifts and share andinspire others to do the same.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
Yeah, it's very important, especially on the
community level.
Like, definitely start withinyourself, but I really try to
like lean into, like how doesthis affect other people too?
And again, I don't know if thisis the middle child thing, I
don't know if this is being theeldest daughter kind of thing,
but outside of myself and beingseen and heard, like coming from
(38:04):
the smallest country that noone has never heard of, and like
trying to take up space,especially for like my people,
my compatriots, like we've justbeen lately I teamed up with
like seven other people becausesometimes, like doing what we do
can be lonely and when you findlike the people who are also
(38:25):
doing similarly.
We decided to come up with asummit that's in Liberia every
December, now called Up NextLiberia, and it's like how can
we be seen and how can we beheard when we're in you know,
industries like culture andinnovation and business
entrepreneurship for ourselves,knowing that there's been a
blueprint for other countrieslike Ghana and Nigeria.
(38:48):
Seven, eight years ago no onewas talking about that.
Now everyone's like Afrochellaand Afrofuture and all these
festivals and fun things, andyou hear it in the music, you
hear it in award shows, grammyawards and things like that and
beyond, and I'm like, how do wenot get forgotten?
How do we step up and make surelike there's visibility and
(39:11):
representation for like what wecontribute?
Even though we're like theunderdogs and small, and
sometimes it just takes like afew people to begin, that will
be an impact.
So I've also been working onthat as well and it just
happened and we have a wholeanother year and, man, just
looking at the footage andseeing the feedback from what
(39:33):
we're starting, it's just soexciting to know that there's
gonna be more and more in thefuture years.
Speaker 1 (39:40):
I'll share information about that as well.
Speaker 2 (39:43):
I'm so proud of you and I'm so grateful I got to
meet you on this trip.
Yes, likewise, likewise, it'sso good.
Speaker 1 (39:49):
I remember you were sitting in front of me on the
plane from Santiago and I waslike who is she?
Is she going on the trip?
She was really cool.
She's making music, she wantedthe DJs, and then it was scary
for me to ask you.
Remember I was standing behindyou.
I was like are you going onAntarctica too?
Speaker 2 (40:05):
Yes, yes, and sometimes again being scared and
doing it anyways.
And now like, look at us, likeI'm so glad you took that step
and, yeah, I eventually wouldhave found you for sure.
Speaker 3 (40:17):
Cause we had it out for you.
Speaker 2 (40:18):
We're like we're gonna talk to that girl, we're
gonna find her.
So likewise, like like-mindedenergy and just a little bit of
like motivation.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
Yeah, I'm excited to cross paths again and stay
connected and hang out again.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
Thanks so much.
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