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Interview: Valerie Warntz Shares Insights On Her Musical Journey

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Short haircut, sports, French… Now all of that is the part of Valerie Warntz’s life: a young singer-songwriter from Saint Petersburg. We were lucky enough to talk to her on topics such as: how did she celebrate The New Year, why did she decide to learn French, what does she usually eat, and many more.

Hello, Valerie! It’s such a pleasure for us that your first interview this year is for our website. Tell us please, how did you celebrate The New Year 2021? Do you like this holiday?

— Hello! Thank you for the invitation. I don’t like this celebration as a whole, but I was waiting for The New Year 2021 very much and was so excited. Probably that’s because 2020 was, without any exagerration, extremely tough for me, so I was waiting for it to end: it was going very slowly. In December, I got cheerful New Year mood for the first time in many years. I celebrated amazingly too: on my own. Before that, I treated this as a ‘family holiday’, so I always celebrated wity my family, but this time I decided to make a change and celebrate this way. And, to be honest, it was the best The New Year celebration in my life! I’m very introverted-type person. I love my own company. So yeah, on January 31st I made some dishes, bought a juice, and in the evening put on Christmas and New Year music and just enjoyed it while gazing at the sparkling garlands. After that, I ate a little, watched the president’s speech and fireworks, and went to bed. Without any noise and nerves: especially since I’ve noticed that, before celebrations with somebody, something always went wrong: we quarreled or something. And now everything was perfect!

Sounds interesting. As you’ve mentioned stereotypes: we know that last year you also ruined stereotypes about appearence and cut your long hair off. Tell us why did you decide to do it? Did you regret about it?

— No, I didn’t. At first, it was unusual feeling, cause I used to have long hair since childhood, or, at least, they were longer that shoulders. But I got used to it for around a week, and noticed the benefits right away. I’ve already said many times that, as well as many others, in childhood I was pushed to think like it’s not good for women to do a short haircut, and so on. It seemed like a truth, so I couldn’t even think about cut my hair off before. Honestly, I don’t remember exactly, what really inspired me to go ahead and do it. Probably I started noticing more women with haircut and read their stories about how comfortable and economical it is. Yeah, also I was motivated by the fact that long hair often make working out complicated even with a ponytail, and also, while actively shaking a head, hair is falling out a little, so you have to sweep quite often. You don’t have these problems with a haircut. And honestly, if I knew that before, I would do it in childhood.

As you mentioned sports, our next question is: when and why did you decide to do sports?

— Overall, I used to play volleyball at school, and also used to ride a bycicle and jumprope everyday in summer, in the countryside, til’ I turn 12 years old. It was the only physical activity I did. Now I’m 22 years old, so I haven’t done any sports til’ the quarantine: around a year ago I started doing exercises for arms. Though I was doing it for 2 months and then stopped, because 1) as I said before, 2020 was hard for me, so I didn’t have energy and resourses to continue that time 2) I didn’t have enough motivation. But somehow, in the end of October, I stumbled upon Alexandra Trusova, Russian figure skater. I was impressed by her energy, power and muscules. Of course, there is much more in her, but her muscles shape… I was amazed by how athletic she is, and how strong willpower it takes to reach this, not to mention she is 2x Junior World Champion and is in the Guinness Book of Records! That being said, Alexandra inspired me, so in November I started doing sports and stretching. At first it was very hard and unusual, especially since I started doing it right away. But later I started liking it! Now I really enjoy working out, though stretching is really tough, I still do it regularly and do my best.

Tell us about your day. Do you workout everyday? What do you eat?

— I do strength training on Monday and Thursday, stretching — every other day, cardio — I try to do it everyday, back exercises — Wednesday and Saturday. Overall, that’s how my usual day go: I wake up and lay in bed for around an hour, where I just surf through the Internet. Then, I fill my 1,9 l bottle with water for this day and do 15-min dance cardio. After that, if it’s Monday or Thursday, I do strength workout on legs, then — stretching, then — training on arms and ABS. If it’s not, I do either stretching or back exercises. After that I breakfast: it’s usually either smoothie from banana, vegan milk (I like many), flax seeds, peanut butter and probably some salad/spinach/berries, or oat meal with berries. For dinner and/or supper I prefer soups and pasta with vegan cutles and ketchup or simply with oil and salt. I also like bread with hummus or Japanese tofu pate, or to do vegan fish analog from tofu and nori. Sometimes I please myself with pizza or sushi, but try to follow healthy lifestyle. Back to the topic: after that I usually study French and help foreigners with Russian grammar and pronunciation. Then I work if I have to, or play: usually it’s online billiard, solitaire or cards, or races, or parking and design games. I also like intellectual apps: words, Sudoku, tetris. Sometimes I also do tests about correct stress/emphasis in Russian words and use apps for increasing my English vocabulary. Also, I quite often sing in app Smule!

That’s deep! By the way, you said through your Instagram that this year you are celebrating 8 years of being vegan. Congratulations!

— Thank you!

Of course we can’t escape asking: why did you decide to study French?

— I wanted to learn it a long time ago, since I visited France for the first time and fell in love with this country 9 years ago. From beautiful Paris to small villages: France is a magical country with calm and pleasant atmosphere. I lived in French families and listened to French speech: it’s very beautiful. Before now, just like with sports, I didn’t have enough motivation to start learning this language, and I also didn’t know where to start. But recently I discovered useful stuff and started learning, step by step.

Very cool! By the way, you also posted in Instagram your attempts to ice skate. It must be Alexandra Trusova who inspired you to do it as well?

— Yes. Before that, I was never interested in figure skating, because I saw only pair skating in show «Lednikoviy Period», which my parents used to watch long time ago. Pair skating doesn’t fascinate me, and that time I didn’t know about women’s single skating. But when I watched it, I was amazed by the grace and, at the same time, power of this discipline and skaters, cause you have to have a lot of strength to skate fast and smooth, as well as to do various elements. It’s amazing and inspiring. Of course, Alexandra Trusova is number one for me, but I also like Alyona Kostornaya and 2 juniors: Sofya Akatieva and Sofya Samodelkina. So yeah, I wanted to learn how to roller skate and ice skate too. Now I can do it very slowly, but I have much fun!

That’s amazing, good luck to you! What about music? Do you plan to release something this year?

— I can’t say certainly at the moment. I write new songs when inspiration comes, and think about the concept of the next album. Releasing new music for me is more a spontaneous process: I can release something unexpectedly, just write a song in a day, like «what I needed.» and «Beautiful Places». But now I’m focused on what we’ve discussed earlier.

Ok, thanks, Valerie! We’ll be looking forward to your new music! Good luck and thanks for talking to us!

— Thank you too!

Interview: Valerie Warntz Shares Insights On Her Musical Journey Interview: Valerie Warntz Shares Insights On Her Musical Journey Interview: Valerie Warntz Shares Insights On Her Musical JourneyInterview: Valerie Warntz Shares Insights On Her Musical Journey

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Sean Waterman Finds a Haunting Balance Between Acoustic Intimacy and Electronic Experimentation on His Vulnerable New Single “Faith Crisis”

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Sean Waterman Finds a Haunting Balance Between Acoustic Intimacy and Electronic Experimentation on His Vulnerable New Single “Faith Crisis”

Atlanta singer-songwriter Sean Waterman has long drawn from indie rock, roots-rock, folk-pop, and blues-infused alternative pop, shaping a sound that feels refreshingly organic. Acoustic intimacy sits comfortably beside alt-rock grit, subtle alternative R&B influences, and evocative textures. Holding those elements together is his poetic, emotionally attentive songwriting, which gives even his most introspective reflections an inviting sense of storytelling.

His latest single, “Faith Crisis,” takes that foundation somewhere unexpected. Waterman steps decisively into electro-pop and trip-hop territory, pairing ethereal electronic production with the acoustic guitars and candid vocals that have defined much of his work. The change feels substantial, yet the song retains the human warmth of his earlier material.

Atmospheric synth pads, ambient layers, and programmed sounds create a spacious, almost dreamlike setting. Where his roots-rock arrangements might once have relied on more traditional instrumentation, “Faith Crisis” embraces a darker, more immersive electronic palette. The arrangement has room to breathe, even as its different textures gradually gather weight.

Its rhythmic pulse is especially compelling. Crisp programmed drums and intricate lo-fi beats give the track a steady, mid-tempo drive, while downtempo trip-hop patterns and alternative R&B undertones introduce a lingering sense of unease. Against that carefully constructed backdrop, Waterman’s acoustic guitar remains unmistakable.

Those strums are crucial to the song’s character. Their raw, tactile quality cuts through the polished electronics without competing for attention. The contrast allows the organic and synthetic elements to strengthen each other, giving the production an intriguing depth rather than letting its atmosphere become overwhelming.

Waterman’s singing is just as affecting. Smooth and sultry, his voice carries a vulnerability that suits the song’s reflective subject matter. He begins in a hushed, almost confessional register before gradually opening into a fuller, more urgent performance. His alternative R&B and pop instincts come through clearly in the phrasing, but the emotional exposure remains the real attraction.

As the beat gains intensity, his delivery follows it upward. Rich harmonies and world-music-inspired melodic passages shape an expansive crescendo, bringing the track’s carefully layered ideas into focus. The final stretch is particularly memorable, with cinematic acoustic strumming lingering after the vocal peak. Believe me, it is the kind of ending that makes another listen awfully tempting.

Beneath those enveloping sounds, “Faith Crisis” considers the discomfort of questioning long-held beliefs. Its emotional landscape is one of personal reflection, existential uncertainty, and the search for some form of escape when spiritual or emotional life feels unsettled. That tension lends purpose to the track’s movement between intimacy and grandeur.

The song settles into a moody, ethereal, and deeply cinematic atmosphere, balancing late-night melancholy with a genuine feeling of release. Its most absorbing quality is the way the production makes space for doubt without trying to resolve it too neatly. Waterman leaves us with something beautifully isolated, yet strangely cathartic.

“Faith Crisis” is streaming everywhere.

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IurisEkero Finds Emotional Grounding in Shimmering Electronic Textures and an Intimate Vocal Performance on “Here I Stay”

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IurisEkero Finds Emotional Grounding in Shimmering Electronic Textures and an Intimate Vocal Performance on “Here I Stay”

IurisEkero makes electronic pop feel personal. His music moves between contemporary pop, synth-pop, and atmospheric electronic music, with shimmering synths and immersive textures carrying nostalgia, romance, longing, and self-reflection. The balance draws on his bicultural upbringing and deep musical roots. As his sound evolves and reaches international audiences, he continues turning ordinary experiences and complicated emotions into something cinematic.

On his latest release, “Here I Stay,” there is a clear sense of purpose. The song, the first track from an upcoming album scheduled for release on November 6, 2026, centers on the decision to remain present, hold on to a connection and find stability within it. Its defining hook, “Here I Stay (here I stay), I found my home in your eyes…I’m not leaving this time…” brings that feeling into focus. The words are direct, and the chorus is difficult to forget.

The production surrounds those sentiments with a deeply ambient, almost haunting atmosphere. Crisp electronic layers give the song modern polish, while nostalgic warmth runs through the arrangement. Then there is that electric guitar solo, an alluring detail that lifts the mood without breaking the music’s immersive spell.

Underneath, a steady mid-tempo pulse keeps everything moving. The groove pulls you in, yet leaves space for the melody and lyrics to register. The chorus is especially infectious, with the kind of repetition that lingers after the music stops. There is plenty happening in the mix, but the cinematic synthesizers and more organic instrumental accents never compete with one another. Even the guitar has room to breathe.

Vocally, IurisEkero takes an unhurried approach. He pays attention to phrasing rather than forcing the emotions outward, letting each line settle before the next arrives. By avoiding heavy vocal effects, he keeps the performance intimate and conversational, a fitting choice for a song about deliberate emotional commitment. The movement from softer verses into a fuller, more resonant chorus feels fluid and gives the song its tension between exposed vulnerability and quiet resolve.

That restraint may be the clearest sign of where IurisEkero is headed creatively. His electronic foundation remains firmly in place, but the storytelling feels more grounded and the production serves the emotional arc rather than drawing attention away from it. “Here I Stay” holds together because its atmosphere, hook, guitar and vocal delivery all point toward the same idea: choosing to stay, and meaning it.

“Here I Stay” is streaming now.

Follow Iuris Ekero: Website · YouTube · Apple Music · Instagram

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SHANI G Finds a Tender Balance Between Heartbreak and Acceptance on Her Soulful New Trap R&B Single “Crossroads”

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SHANI G Finds a Tender Balance Between Heartbreak and Acceptance on Her Soulful New Trap R&B Single “Crossroads”

Miami, FL, artist SHANI G has shaped her sound around melodic trap R&B and songwriting that feels drawn from the pages of a diary. On earlier releases such as “Comes back around” and “Just For You,” she introduced a voice that can move from exposed emotion to self-assurance and streetwise grit without sounding like she has changed characters. Her delivery is distinctive: soft and airy, often close to spoken conversation, with a lyrical sharpness that keeps even the gentler moments from feeling fragile.

That tension runs through much of her music. Love, heartbreak, loyalty, ambition, independence, and street life all find their way into her songs, but it is the personal angle that gives those familiar themes some weight. Sometimes she holds her feelings at a distance; elsewhere, she lets them come through without much protection. She can move from singing into rapping while keeping the same recognizable voice.

Her new single “Crossroads” leans into the more reflective side of that approach. The production has a clean, polished finish, but it retains the closeness of something made for a late-night listen rather than a crowded room. Soulful melodic details sit over an atmospheric trap backdrop, with the percussion kept deliberately restrained. There are no overpowering club-ready 808s competing for attention. The slower pace gives the instrumental melody space to settle and leaves the emotion of the song in the foreground.

SHANI G works comfortably within that space. Rather than pushing toward dense, rapid-fire verses, she follows a smooth, melodic cadence. Her voice carries the story in an almost conversational way, as though she is putting difficult thoughts into words while they are still fresh. The openness of the performance makes the song feel intimate, with little distance between the person telling the story and the listener hearing it.

At its heart, “Crossroads” is about a relationship reaching a point where two people can no longer continue in the same direction. Love and loss sit alongside the difficult choices that follow a separation. There is sadness in accepting that a shared chapter has ended, but also a tentative willingness to face whatever comes next. That mixture of melancholy and acceptance gives the song its emotional character, making it well suited to quiet, reflective listening.

SHANI G has never seemed particularly interested in staying within one fixed musical persona. Her confidence and sensitivity can coexist, and “Crossroads” finds her giving the latter more room without abandoning the edge in her sound. A relaxed, story-driven music video accompanies the single, with visuals that follow its mood and narrative.

Stream “Crossroads” here.

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