27. Creating From Rock Bottom: VLNTYN on Divorce, Discipline, & Darkness in Indie Rock

Ep.027: What happens when the music gets personal… like really personal? In this episode, I sit down again with returning guest Jorge Vallentine, the force behind Milwaukee-based indie rock project VLNTYN, to talk about art that comes from the rawest places. From recording stripped-down heartbreak songs in a church to building a consistent online presence after divorce, Jorge opens up about navigating grief, personal growth, and the liberating power of creating from pain. We get into his new era of music, what it means to write from discipline instead of survival, and why connection, human to human, is the goal. If you’ve ever wondered how to keep making art when life hits hard, or how to share your truth without letting it consume you, this one’s for you.We Chat About:The story behind The Devil You Know and why VLNTYN leans into darker themesHow divorce and rock bottom transformed his songwriting processRecording “Your Talking Dog” in one take, and why it still hits years laterWriting from discipline vs. inspirationCreating a cohesive artist persona that still feels humanWhat he’s learned posting content 3-6 times a day for 8 months straightWhy collaboration is his next big frontier, and how it ties into the male loneliness epidemicBalancing emotional openness with artistic consistencyHis best show of the year, and why unplugging made it unforgettableThe number one way to support indie musicians todayAbout VLNTYN:VLNTYN is the moniker and indie rock project of Milwaukee’s Jorge Vallentine. Taking inspiration from the emotional lyricism of Bright Eyes, Elliott Smith, and the Mountain Goats and combining it with the raw energy of 2000s garage rock, VLNTYN builds a world of contrasts – light and dark, hope and despair, quiet and chaos, love and loss.Connect with VLNTYN:Website: http://www.vlntyn.com/streamingInstagram: @vlntynthebandTikTok: @vlntynthebandYouTube: @vlntynthebandThreads: @vlntynthebandFacebook: VLNTYNOther Resources:Follow the OFFICIAL “loves music” playlist on Apple Music: ​​https://music.apple.com/library/playlist/p.4Y0J406i03DQrX“loves music” playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0qE3kq89oyg3tFNbmRfHEO?si=vopaKQnNS8OHn0r2fFTVBgCheck out the “loves music” podcast website: https://www.podpage.com/loves-music/Julian on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julian.jones.9484Julian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianjones417/Julian on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@julianjones417Check out Julian’s book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6QYX6RLMusic Mentioned in this Episode:Songs:“Trouble” — VLNTYN“My Limit” — VLNTYN“Talking Dog” — VLNTYN“Bottom Out” — VLNTYN“Happy New Year” — VLNTYN & John Beltran“Just Like Heaven” — The Cure (cover performed by VLNTYN)Albums & Projects:The Devil You KnowVLNTYN’s acoustic EP (Spotify-exclusive release)Artists & Bands:Bright EyesElliott SmithThe Mountain GoatsThe CureAdeleTaylor SwiftBon Iver