Music spotlight: Maike Valentina - an emerging new artist

If you aren’t aware of Maike Valentina’s talents yet, then we are very chuffed to say we got there first to find out for ourselves. You’ll be as impressed as we were.

Maike Valentina is as diverse a musician as they come. Her eye-popping talents as a pianist, guitarist and violinist, coupled with her singing and songwriting only scrape the surface. She sings in four languages (English, Spanish, German and yes, to top it all Swahili). That may all seem a bit much to take on board but take heart, the aura of Maike Valentina is very humble and self-effacing despite her mix of cultures which span half the globe. It’s the rich blend of her German-Colombian heritage and upbringing in Tanzania that we encounter in her music. We defy you not to start swinging your hips when you take in the African vibes in her single ‘Amani’ (‘peace’ in Swahili). The uplift is palpable.

Check out what we managed to find out about Maike Valentina, and what makes her tick.

What first got you into music?

I started playing violin when I was 5 and around the same time my grandparents started taking me to classical concerts and operas when I visited them in Berlin in my summer holidays. On the other hand, one of my earliest memories of music is watching my mum's Shakira video cassettes. Apparently as a toddler, whenever Shakira came on, I would drop everything and immediately start to "mover la colita" (shake my baby booty). 

Who inspired you to make music?

I think it was less a person, and more the discovery I made with my little violin, that there were endless possibilities of putting together notes and creating melodies that didn't exist before. I wrote my first song when I was 5 or 6 by composing a melody on the violin and then simultaneously playing it and singing it. It probably sounded pretty odd, and the bits of lyrics that I remember made very little sense.

How would you describe the music that you typically create?

I don’t label it because I’m still exploring my sound, but it probably fits somewhere within indie pop.

What is your creative process like being a songwriter and composer?

The key is some form of inspiration, whether it’s a feeling, a moment or experience, a story, or a phrase I like. From there, lyrics and melodies come in different orders each time.

Who would you most like to collaborate with?

Tom Misch. I've been a huge fan for years, and am in awe of how his music really transports you to another planet and compels you to bounce some part of your body. It’s so full of positive energy. 

Which language do you prefer to sing in?

English is probably my most natural songwriting language because I first started writing songs in English, but I really love how in Spanish or German or Swahili the same meanings can sound so much more or less emotive and poetic. Singing in different languages is kind of like taking on different personalities.

How was your experience producing music around the world?

Last summer, I recorded "Amani" in my hometown in Tanzania. We went to a tiny studio in the middle of nowhere, with three amazingly talented local musicians. We improvised and laughed a lot! It was definitely my most down to earth recording experience. Recording in Colombia was a different, but equally amazing experience. There, I’ve started working with some very cool and experienced people.  I haven't released anything from this project yet because it's ongoing. It has been my first experience at co-writing music as opposed to stringing together words and notes in my own little world. Each person adds a bit of their soul and what comes out is pretty magical.

How do you process your different cultures through your music?

I guess they all subconsciously feed in and make me very receptive to different sounds. I remember during music class in school, I had to orchestrate one of my songs, and the first instruments I thought of adding were not a standard drum-kit or string section, but cowbells and conga drums. I love unexpected textures and sounds from around the world. Other than that, I am definitely a very emotional and romantic person. I think it shows in my music and it most likely comes from my Colombian side rather than the German side as you can imagine…  

What is your favourite song ever?

This is an impossible question - there are too many! Three songs I will never get sick of though, are "Chan Chan" (Buena Vista Social Club), "Si Pero No" (Alex Cuba) and "In The Midst of it All" (Tom Misch ft Sam Wills).

What is the best advice you’ve been given?

To believe in yourself and visualize the things you want to happen. 

What’s the best moment you’ve had so far ?

A few years ago, when I first started putting songs on Soundcloud, someone I didn't know well, but followed on social media, captioned a photo on Instagram with a lyric of mine. It’s incredibly heart-warming when your lyrics of music resonate with someone. 

What’s next for you?

I've just graduated from university, which means I can finally totally pour myself into music. I'm excited to get back to finishing off and eventually releasing stalled projects and really open to getting into collaborations with different people and experimenting.  

What’s your party trick ?

I can bring a killer hummus and carrot sticks. 

Do you perform differently in front of a live audience?

It feels very different to recording alone or in a studio. Singing in front of people gives me quite a naked feeling no matter how many times I do it, and this intimacy definitely makes things sound different - in a good way. 

Maike Valentina is 100% an artist we need to watch emerge. Keep ‘em peeled to our « consume » space for more before the year is out…

Her Soundcloud: https://www.soundcloud.com/maikevalentina