34. How to Lead Your Music from Creative Instinct Instead of Survival, with Valentina Sounds

Ep.34: There’s something magnetic about artists who refuse to be boxed in. The ones who follow their instincts even when the music industry begs for simplicity. Valentina Sounds is one of those artists, and the result is a catalog that swings from playful sarcasm to soul-heavy honesty without ever losing its identity. In this episode, I sit down with Italian-born, Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter Valentina Sounds to talk about the winding path behind her genre-blurring sound. We dig into her classical training, her theater background, the stories behind her standout tracks, and the personal resilience baked into her latest work. Valentina opens up about navigating harsh early criticism, why she’s leaning into a more cohesive rock-soul direction, the challenge of re-inhabiting old emotions in the studio, and what she hopes listeners feel when they press play. If you’ve ever struggled to define your artistic identity, or questioned whether your work matters, this conversation is a reminder that sincerity, quirkiness, and craft can all coexist beautifully.We Chat About:How Black Sonic Revolver built a decade of underground momentumThe unexpected origins of the band nameWhy comparisons to other artists make Leon shyThe balance between embracing inspiration and refusing to be pigeonholedThe therapeutic side of songwriting and why inspiration can’t be forcedThe chaos of early shows, including being thrown into a drum kit mid-setWhat it means to build community, not just an audienceThe tension between being an artist and being a content creator in 2025How the band captures their live sound on recordWhat “success” looks like in the short term and the long termThe legacy Leon hopes the band leaves behindAbout Valentina Sounds:Award winning Valentina Sounds (Valentina Raffaelli) is an Italian born/Philadelphia based singer-songwriter, performer, voice coach, and music director. Valentina’s music is catchy and creative, blending pop melodies with her background in jazz and composition.Connect with Valentina:Visit her website: valentinasounds.comListen on Spotify: Valentina Sounds on SpotifyBuy her music on Bandcamp: Valentina Sounds on BandcampFind her on Apple Music: Valentina Sounds on Apple MusicFollow her on Instagram: @valentinasoundsJoin her on Facebook: Valentina Sounds on FacebookWatch her videos on YouTube: Valentina Sounds on YouTubeFollow on TikTok: @valentinasoundsmusicTrack her live shows: Valentina Sounds on BandsintownOther 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:“Eat the Chocolate” — Valentina Sounds“I Don’t Feel Like Doing Anything” — Valentina Sounds“Wake Me Up” — Valentina Sounds“Monsters” — Valentina Sounds“10 Years a Piano” — Valentina Sounds“FUN” — Valentina Sounds“Deep Red Bells” — Neko Case“Lover Girl” — LaufeyAlbums & Projects:Bring On the Fire — Valentina Sounds10 Years a Piano – Valentina SoundsDeep Red Bells appears on Blacklisted — Neko CaseArtists & Bands:Billie EilishAdeleRadioheadEarly ColdplayThe NationalOffspringGreen DayAretha FranklinStevie WonderLaufeyRayCecilia FerronborgNico Case