We recently connected with Valichii and have shared our conversation below.

Valichii, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Three years ago, I made the decision to change the course of my life and my career by moving all the way to Los Angeles, California. Born and raised in Lima, Peru, the idea of moving away from home to pursue music felt like a distant, somewhat unattainable, dream; I always knew music and singing was going to end up being a part of my life, I just refused for so long to see how it was meant to be my path, out of fear of pursuing what seemed to be an impossible daydream.

Having worked in the Peruvian music industry since the age of 13, I assumed I would continue to be a wedding & pub singer for the rest of my life, and possibly write and release some music here and there to fuel that creative fire inside of me; But it wasn’t until I stared into “my future after high school” in the eye at the ripe age of 17, that I was able to let go of the bullsh*t I spent so long convincing myself of, and was finally able to see how a future in music was where I’d be the happiest version of myself.

After I started studying music at a university in 2021 I was faced with a tough decision to make; given the circumstances in my country surrounding the entertainment industry and how tough it can be to make it as an artist in Peru, especially during the pandemic, I decided to test my chances and apply abroad. Easily one of the hardest and scariest decisions I’ve ever made in my life.

Now years later, I’m about to graduate with a Bachelor in Music Composition and Songwriting, working as a creative in LA and pursuing my dream as an independent songwriter and artist. It still feels so crazy surreal to be here, yet I’m incredibly grateful to my family and friends here for supporting me and my art for the last few years. I strive to prove to myself for the rest of my life just how every moment leading up to now has been worth it by not taking anything for granted and being grateful for all of it above anything else.

Valichii, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a songwriter and artist from Lima, Peru, and my band is called Valichii & The Echo, residing in Los Angeles County. I like to think of my style as latin-Infused bilingual alternative folk; Growing up in Lima, I had the privilege of being raised in an incredibly rich culture, that prioritizes it’s history, traditions, art, painting, music, food, clothes, dance, and so many other forms of expression as pillars of our identity, and with these we tell the stories of the people that came before us.

The type of music meant to tell the tales of our past is referred to as folklore, or folk, in my culture. Throughout my life and experience as a musician, I’ve spent my time curating the music I’m inspired by through the storytelling and narrative of the lyrics, driven by the musicality and compositions of the songs. Inspired in this way, I aim to create music with meaning and depth that others can connect with, relate to and be inspired by.

Being a part of spreading my Peruvian identity through my music is a driving force in my artistry; whether it is by adding Peruvian instruments to my compositions. including traditional Peruvian sounds in my songs, or creating music in Spanish, it is all meant to reflect the power and resilience of my culture and people in everything I do.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Absolutely. My goal as a creative is to express the complexity of human emotion through as much art as I possibly can. The way I see it, a true artist (in any discipline) has to have the undeniable capacity to bring stories to life, should yearn to connect with something bigger than themselves as a driving force for creating, and should feel responsible of becoming a voice for those who don’t have one through their art.

The day I no longer have anything to say is the day I no longer feel able to make art.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding thing about being an artist for me is getting to connect with people through my art. Creating meaning through everything I do is what I consider to be my north as a creative; getting to see my music through the lense of someone else’s reaction to the stories I tell and the narratives I create has to be the most rewarding aspect of being an artist, or a creative in any discipline.

Getting to interpret other people’s work and make it my own is also something I find immensely rewarding as it allows you to take in the experience of other artists and make it your own through connecting with them. Art is meant to do just that; express and connect. And I think that’s the most beautiful aspect of it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/valichii
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valichiiii/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/val-nebel-bb4118267/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@valichii
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/valichii

Image Credits

Diego Nebel (@diego.nebel.photo)