Today we’d like to introduce you to Lady Valore.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was a theatre Shakespeare nerd who morphed into a world-touring spoken word DIY rapper. I grew up in Kennesaw which steadily transformed into suburban wastelands where all my friends turned into junkies. Young and restless, I was sneaking out to go to raves in Atlanta always trying to escape and always getting into trouble. On a whim I moved to Savannah where my life slowed down and I was able to interpret everything I experienced growing up outside of Atlanta. Putting my demons to rest via rhymes and moving on to more positive, uplifting, and universal messages was one of the most crucial times in my life.
I quit drinking and smoking. My head became so much clearer and I could think and create much more easily. I put my poetry to beats and eventually started touring. Now I have been on ten tours (8 of them I have booked on my own) with rappers, punks, and psychedelic rockers on the road with me. I toured Europe for two months on my own. My last tour was up to Canada. I have a radio show playing all underground artists from everywhere and have a house venue where I host touring acts. I just became addicted to live music and never looked back. I want to empower and love people, all while traveling and experiencing new sounds. Music is my vessel to do all those things.
Please tell us about your art.
My art is anarchy as I try to deconstruct and unveil our system of oppression via words that pour out of my soul. Most importantly my words are about how we can come together to uplift and rise above. I definitely believe there is always hope, no matter how dark it seems. My last tour was called the anarchy tour and after each set, I would talk about proactive and simple ways we can have anarchy. Asking people how they are doing, asking their needs, listening intently, creating less waste, sharing resources, and not giving money to evil corrupt corporations are all effective ways to help one another. Right before I went on that tour, I protested the ICE Lumpkin detention center where about 1,700 are detained based on their citizenship status. People who have families and lives are being unjustly detained in terrible conditions.
The detention center is in the middle of nowhere Lumpkin, GA where there are not many lawyers around to fight for these people. So many are silenced. I choose to use my visibility as a white citizen of Amerikkka to stand up for people who don’t have the privilege I was born with. I have just started the process of setting up a writing workshop at a youth detention center in Savannah and hope to do spread out to Atlanta and beyond. I want to empower and inspire people to write out their demons and speak out against unjust things that have happened to them. Help people rise above this system of oppression and pave a new way; to demand reparations, feed, and house one another.
We often hear from artists that being an artist can be lonely. Any advice for those looking to connect with other artists?
Support one another!!! Listen to another people’s music and reach out to them! Go to shows other than your own and talk to touring acts. Collaborate with artists outside of your genre or medium. I started hosting mental health/write/sketch nights at my house where people can come together and create and express themselves in an intimate group setting. Community is so important. Share your art with everyone, not just people with money.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
You can find my music on Bandcamp, Spotify, SoundCloud, iTunes, and YouTube all under Lady Valore or Elaina Valore. I honestly prefer Bandcamp because people can support me more directly. All of my music is free or pay what you can!! You can follow me on Instagram or Facebook @ladyvalore. I host a radio show called “The Abyss” in Savannah every Friday 5-6pm on 107.5FM/wruu.org. I buy and play all underground musicians, so hit me up if you have music you want to share with me elainavalore@gmail.com. My next album “Rainbow Raps” is to be released soon with many producers from Savannah and Atlanta. I host shows at my house in Savannah where I have vegan food, art, and touring acts from all over. Stop by anytime. I am always down to do out of town shows and play in Atl and Athens often.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://elainavalore.wixsite.com/ladyvalore
- Email: elainavalore@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladyvalore/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ladyvalore
- Other: https://linktr.ee/ladyvalore?fbclid=IwAR30TVb6oey9lzvAFmnvG4wx8ta0BBcgRWQ2Q2JVUeGQpsSGUuv8KAQEsQ0
Image Credit:
Photo in my rainbow cave by Tia Williams @strongpointephotography. Photo performing by Brittant Reidy @brotnee_design.
Shaye Garrigan @shayebaby for rainbow photo and photo of me performing by Danielle Leonard @daniellemleanard
Photo by Rusty Holcomb @emailrusty of @volumeshiphop
Photo of me at the radio station by Valerie McNabb @valgaltrav
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
