RESPECT. Interview: Andrea Valle Talks Frida Kahlo and Influences

Philadelphia native. Frida Kahlo fan. R&B songstress. Renaissance woman.

Andrea Valle has all the flair and uniqueness that’s required to stand out in today’s musical climate. Upon first glance- before even engaging in her music- Valle has numerous tattoos, all of which have meaning, a plethora of different hairstyles (evident by her Instagram), and an endless wardrobe of streetwear. Her latest project, The Way It Goes, is riddled with sentimental tracks about love, lust, and sex, created in a way where Valle “puts all her emotions in a harmony” and “paints images with her lyrics.”

RESPECT.: What’s something you’re afraid of?

Andrea Valle: One thing that I’m most afraid of as an artist is to be restricted from creating the way that I want to create.

RESPECT.: Everyone draws influence from somebody else. Who, or what, is a non-music influence that you have?

Definitely nature. I love going for walks in the woods, and sitting on my back porch. My favorite place to go to get away from everything is a creek by my house.

RESPECT.: How do you think your take on Contemporary R&B stands out?

I put all my emotions into the harmonies that I’m singing and I find ways to add just enough layers to get across the story. I think I’m best at painting an image with my lyrics, which also stands with me being a renaissance woman.

RESPECT.: What you portray yourself as is key to how the public perceives you as an artist. That said, I see the Frida Kahlo tattoo on your arm and got real interested by it. Kahlo always challenged the norms (playing sports as a girl when she was younger, being a devoted communist, refusing to shave her unibrow) and I wanted to know how you, on your quest to be a musician and overall better person, challenge certain norms to go above and beyond expectation.

Frida Kahlo is one of my biggest inspirations as an artist, period. I just had to get a tattoo of her. I remember learning about her in school and as a woman and as an artist she exuded someone who is so strong minded and powerful and that’s something I hope to be. On my quest as a creative I just want to challenge norms to never let your insecurities or doubts cloud your mind. Growing up I was very insecure but creating was definitely something that helped me grow out of that.

RESPECT.: As far as your other tattoos go, what do all of them mean?

My rose is a symbol of love, something that I cherish most in life. My mandala flower represents wholeness and our relation to infinity, extending beyond and within our bodies and minds. My bunny represents me, of course because of my gap and I’m soft in a sense. And on my shoulder I have “trust your soul, live by fate”, that goes back to doubts clouding your mind. You just have to trust yourself to live free flowing.

RESPECT.: You’ve rocked different hairstyles over the past few years. What draws you to changing your hair? What makes you want to pick a certain hairstyle?

I love my versatility and I love playing around with looks. When I was younger I always had dolls and always had make up and that’s something that I took along with me as I got older. Picking hairstyles is never hard for me, I don’t ever have a particular reason as to why I chose it but it’s fun to just be able to switch it up and wear braids one week, chop it off, and a wig the next.

RESPECT.: An artist once said: “The goal isn’t to live forever, but to make something that never dies.” What do you want to make that won’t die?

Something I want to create that doesn’t die… I just want to create fearlessly and produce things that moves people. Whether it be music, art, poetry.. Anything that I put out I want to have some kind of impact and be able to move people.

You can stream Andrea Valle’s The Way It Goes here, on SoundCloud.