More about: Valeras

The bold, high-contrast work of photographer and artist Andreia Lemos was the perfect choice for the cover art of VALERAS' brand new EP Tell Me Now. A blistering four-track blast of rock and pop-punk influences, the EP is a boldly-rendered trip.

We asked the duo to let us in on the inspirations behind the four songs on the new project. Read on to peer into the mind of VALERAS:

'Rita'

‘Rita’ is a reflection of an experience a lot of people including us have gone through. It is a story about a hard-working woman named Rita who defies the negative surroundings that try to stop her from doing what she is truly passionate about.

'The Other Side'

The Other Side was written last summer soon after our previous single ‘Rita’. The main idea came to the band in Rose’s garden whist writing during lockdown. It was one of those ideas that came out of nowhere so naturally & the first time VALERAS have written a song including main synth lines. Max was listening to a lot of MGMT at the time which inspired the synths on the tracks. The band, being fans of The Strokes, also wanted to include their influences on the upbeat drums and guitars. The band finished writing the song shortly after alongside Tarek Musa who also produced it.

'The Other Side' speaks about letting go of a relationship that does more bad than good & finding the strength to do so. It’s a story about coming to the realisation that the toxicity is stopping you from your full potential and from flourishing into something better.

'Let Me Go'

The song touches on a subject that we feel is relevant to a lot of people as we lived through these odd and isolating times. ‘Let Me Go’ speaks about the feeling of being stuck in a place that stands still and wanting more out of life. Although it can sometimes feel scary to leave things behind, there comes a moment when you realise you need to make the jump. We wanted people to feel reassured in the fact that there is power in letting go and not settling for something that no longer makes you happy.

'Change Your Mind'

‘Change Your Mind’ showcases the darker side of the VALERAS sound. After experimenting with synths the band came up with the main song idea. The band ended up mixing dark chords on synths and guitars along with a danceable drum beat giving the song a dark ‘80s pop’ feel. The lyrics tell the conflict about being in a situation where something is falling apart and having to make a decision between fight or flight.

More about: Valeras