Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Valencia Rush. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Valencia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Growing up singing in church, I’ve always enjoyed and utilized my gift. In my teens I formed my first band “Trademark”, after realizing I also had a talent for writing. However, despite exploring my creativeness, I still wouldn’t say I understood that this was the path I needed to go in. Shortly after my band, I began singing background for various artists, where I believed was where I was supposed to be. As playing the background and helping others was nothing out of the ordinary for me because growing up a pastors kid, it came naturally and I loved to see others blossom. It wasn’t until I began taking lessons from my vocal coach in 2014, that I realized I was muting my own creativity by not allowing myself to express my ideas fully. That’s when I knew being my own creative/artist was for me. As my confidence grew, since then I’ve seen no other professional outlet or path that would make sense for me. It’s what was intended for me and I feel as though it’s only my natural responsibility to cater to it.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

My name is Valencia Renee Rush, I’m known professionally as Valencia Rush (pronounced “Valencia Rush”). I’m an American Singer-Songwriter, Documentary, and Film Maker. Originally from Kansas City, Kansas, I first began my journey into writing and creating original content at 15.

I began my journey by singing background for local St. Louis acts such as Cheneta Jones, This’l, Json, and Forever, formerly, known as Da Banggaz, and more.

I first garnered attention when I shared the stage with Flo Rida and AJR in St. Louis, Missouri (2017). I then officially introduced myself as an original artist with the release of my first independent single, Seasons (2018). As I continued to release music, I began growing my fanbase (my Damnation) and getting recognition from other respected artists in industry. My song “Vibe” reached the ears of Eric Bellinger, who praised it for its originality and marked it as top 5 pick out of thousands of entries in a contest he hosted.

As I continued to work on my craft, I understood early on that this will only work if I’m consistent and diligent. With the time and hard work put in, my team began to grow and to help set myself apart and to continue making a buzz, I turned a lot of focus on my brand (The Damn Brand); which I believe is what helps set myself apart from others.

Throughout my journey, I would say I am most proud of my resilience. It’s tough being in the industry, and it’s honestly up to you to take the negative and turn it into a growth opportunity.

Awards: Greatest Year Ever Award presented by Koran Bolden (2018), nominated for SlumFest award (2019).

Outside of music: I’ve gone on to build audiences in the US and UK, as well as build my digital brand and introduced my band, The Damn Band, in 2021.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One of the biggest tests I’ve faced in my journey starting out, was when I sang background years ago. I was called to do a show with an artist I previously worked with along respected musicians. During this time I was in school and it was midterms as well. The show wasn’t far away and I remember the only rehearsal we had, the artist didn’t attend. I knew at that moment we would be winging a lot of the show and playing it by ear. You could probably guess that I did not perform my best that night. This wasn’t the test of my tough skin or resilience though. Later on, I found out that one of the musicians played my performance from that night to a house full of other musicians (as well as the artist), and talked very negatively about me while making fun. Hearing this almost broke my spirit. I never spoke about it publicly and I never addressed them as I initially intended to. Instead, I decided to work on my craft and learn from that experience. I took full responsibility for taking on the show and not being prepared, instead of making excuses. This was the moment I knew I was meant to be in this space.

What do you find most rewarding about being creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is being able to be yourself or even different versions of yourself, freely. It’s my way to cope, it’s my escape, and my passion.

Contact Info:

• Website: damnvalencia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damnvalencia/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/damnvalencia
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/damnvalencia
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjiv2Hdkg6bXnU9TabWQqCA

Image Credits
Studio Photos: Rob Cannon (@robshotme) Concert Photos: Malachi Boyd @malachiboyd_