by Ayana Hatanaka
Deadbeat Girl (Val Olson)’s latest song “Who Are You,” is a grunge-inspired sound, spreading the message to never try and change who you are to please other people. As a dark-wave pop, “Who Are You,” allows you to let go of all of your frustrations, making you want to scream all your anger and pain out. I did indeed put on my headphones and let all of my emotions fall out.
Val is a 20-year-old artist and producer, who started creating music when they were 17. You might know them from “Make Me Cry”, a collaboration with Ari Abdul, who they also went on tour with.
They grew up in South Florida but moved to New York to attend NYU, where they are currently studying. Their sound is inspired by the grunge movement in the 90s, alternative rock ballads of the early 2000s, but also modern artists like Girl In Red, Tyler the Creator, and Billie Eilish (their celebrity crush).
Growing up in a conservative town as a queer person, Val confides that there came many challenges, but they are unapologetically themself, being a representation the world needs. Their presence and their music provide a safe space to many queer people, including myself, which accounts for their growing fandom.
“I decided to write a song about what it feels like to be in a relationship where you feel like you need to change who you are for the person you’re with. It’s about watching your partner, as well as yourself, change into a different person.
Whether you’re in a relationship that’s not suiting you or dealing with your identity, the song “Who Are You” emphasizes the important message of always being your authentic self.
“Who Are You” is out on all platforms, if you haven’t listened to it yet, I urge you to listen to it and add it to your playlist!
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