Getting to know Tilly Valentine

British artist Tilly Valentine starts the New Year in the right way, with the release of her new single ‘Calendar Girl’. We asked her to tell us about herself:

I am… Tilly Valentine, an independent artist based in London. With playful and conversational lyrics, inspired by the likes of pop, jazz, and r&b, my favourite description of my music is “the type of quirky you can pair with a coffee or party”. 

Calendar Girl is… about commitment, longing for something long term. It’s easy to feel like other people are in love with perfect “calendar girls”, but by the next month they’re on to the next. The narrative of Calendar Girl is dreaming of a perfect future. The vintage inspired artwork hints at the underlying characteristics; wholesome, delicate, empowering.

Home is… more than one place. Born and raised in a small town in Oxfordshire, I moved to London aged 16 to attend The BRIT School and have lived here ever since! Home to me is wherever I feel peace and am surrounded by loved ones.

2020 was… the weirdest year in history. I’ll never forget the feelings I felt this year, and the painful distance that somehow brought everyone closer. With that meant facing new and strange experiences; my first ever birthday without family and friends, lost my job when I felt settled in an industry I loved, and the cherry on the cake was when my hometown flooded on Christmas Eve. BUT, I released my debut EP in stores, wrote my favourite songs to date, achieved & overcame challenges I didn’t think possible, and appreciated my family and friends more than ever before. I’ll be remembering the good times in 2020!

I’ve never… done a Something You Said interview before… until now! It’s a pleasure to introduce myself. 

It might surprise people to learn that… before I released my own music as an artist, I had done backing vocals for Sam Smith and Rod Stewart.

In the future… I want to do a jazzy collaboration project with the likes of Tom Misch, Mahalia, HONNE, Olivia Dean, Bruno Major.

…

Keep up to date with Tilly on Insta and get some merch here.