A multi-instrumentalist who began his musical journey in the Milwaukee DIY scene, Aidan Valentine has spent the last few years honing his craft. After making his mark with the band Superglue, he's now making waves on his own, carving out his own path as a solo artist. His debut album, ‘Violence and Valentines’, released recently on August 8th, is a passion project and a love letter to the nostalgic punk rock scene.
The album is a refreshing dose of indie and alternative sounds, delivering a fierce collection of well-produced tracks that are sure to impress. Hot on the heels of his new record, we sat down with Aidan to chat about his musical beginnings, the inspiration behind the album, and his collaborative approach to songwriting.
It’s great to meet you, Aidan, thanks so much for stopping by. When did you first start making music? Where did it all begin, and what inspired you?
“When I was 13 years old, I started to take drum lessons. I picked drumming because it was the instrument I believe required the most physicality. Being a kid who couldn’t sit still I found this to be a natural fit. I was heavily inspired by Dave Grohl and his drum parts in Nirvana tunes - but heavily latched on to Josh Dunn’s drumming from Twenty One Pilots. Once I entered high school, I joined a couple of bands with friends and really started to lock in my craft. I started to branch out to vocals and guitar around this point too!”
The new record was released yesterday. Can you tell us a bit about it and what the album means to you?
“My debut release, ‘Violence and Valentines’, is a short love story. The album follows the stages of falling in love, falling apart and eventually breaking up. Truthfully, every song represents the emotions and confusion around all aspects of these stages. The album was written for someone incredibly important to me. It’s completely and entirely dedicated to her. She knows who she is.”
You spoke about that special someone, but were there any artists or experiences that influenced you when writing the album?
“Absolutely! Of course, the lyrical content is based on life experience! Sonically though, the instrumentals are inspired by what I’ve been listening to for the past year or two. Four Year Strong, Blink-182, Joyce Manor, Jeff Rosenstock, All Time Low and Green Day all played a huge role in how this album sounds.”
What was your songwriting process for the release? How did the tracks come together, and how did you make that into a completed record?
“Rayven Burdette and I sat down in my apartment and reworked old ideas / created new songs entirely on this project. Snow Ellet produced the tracks and brought our vision to life! Aidan Valentine has always been, and always will be, a collaborative project! I love working on music with my friends.”
How would you describe the sound on the record? Has there been a change or evolution in style since you first began?
“My debut release is broadly a pop-punk and pop album overall I’d say. It might be easier to say it’s just simply alternative rock otherwise. It’s really a variety of sounds packaged into one album! When I initially started writing music for my solo project I had more of a heavier sound. My unreleased demo tape ‘Phoenix’ was more adjacent to bands like Queens of the Stone Age whereas my current sound is 100% more pop rock.”
You spoke about the album being a short love story, was that the main theme you were trying to convey in the album? Is there a moment in the release that really captures that idea?
“If you love someone, keep loving them. And nobody is perfect, and life is about growing and learning. The whole album reflects on my shortcomings and struggles in relationships - you’ll see these messages across the entire project.”
What sort of reception have you had to your latest release? Are there any memorable moments that stand out?
“The singles have been doing pretty well! ‘Only Dreaming’ is by far my favourite one! It’s gotten some attention on Spotify which is always great feeling. There’s no specific moment that stands out to me, but the abundance of love and support means the world to me!”
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations as an artist? Where do you see yourself in the next few years, both musically and personally?
“Currently, I am drumming for haydentheposer. We’re working on new tracks and playing a bunch of shows! I’m hoping to continue with that project as well as my solo project! It’s been a lot of fun to work on music as often as I have been - I am incredibly grateful!”
What's next after this release? Are there any new releases or shows on the horizon?
“Not yet! I plan to promote this project quite a bit - but I might just have more stuff in the works…”
Is there anything you would like to say to our audience? How can they connect with you and help support you?
“Thank you for checking my stuff out and sticking around! You can find me on Instagram @aidanjvalentine!”
Aidan Valentine's debut is an honest, personal, and well-crafted musical journey. As he navigates the next chapter of his career, it's clear he's driven by passion and a collaborative spirit. His dedication to his craft and his commitment to creating authentic, heartfelt music are sure to resonate with a wide audience.
With an eye on the future, he's eager to continue making music and playing shows, both with his solo project and with haydentheposer. It's an exciting time to be an Aidan Valentine fan, and it's clear his unique sound is just getting started.
For more from Aidan, be sure to join him on Instagram and TikTok today.
