Meet Rikki Valentina | Singer & Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rikki Valentina and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rikki, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Growing up, I was surrounded by talented people. My mother moved to Los Angeles to be an actor which resulted in me being thrown into the world of show business. I loved the idea of being able to entertain others as a career. My dad was a drummer in various bands so I was raised around mostly musicians. Music feels like family and I just want to encapsulate that familiar feeling from my childhood.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I dedicate my music to real life events we all experience that are uncomfortable to talk about. My music is driven by the visuals I daydream about on a daily basis with each song being unique. I like to think of each project as a film.

I’m always creating whatever comes to my mind and putting in the work no matter the circumstance. It was never easy and It still isn’t. I lost my dad 2 weeks before the release of my song “April Fool”. I remember not wanting to do anything but lay in my bed but I pushed myself through. I continued reaching out to playlists and doing my own press and marketing. Now I’m most proud of that song. It was the beginning of me taking the initiative to start making the music that I wanted to create, without relying on other people. It was the first project I wrote, composed, produced, and was the director of. I’m telling my story

Now with my new single “What Happens When You Die?” is a song that I created while coping with grief. The death that hit me the hardest was losing my dad in 2019 from a motorcycle accident. Weeks after my dad had passed away I didn’t believe he was gone. I thought I was having a terrible nightmare that I’d wake up from eventually. I even started to question if maybe I was dead because of how surreal this all was. I grew up in a Catholic household and was raised on believing in the afterlife but as I went through the motions I started having doubts.

I was told that my dad was always with me protecting me but I felt more alone than ever. I felt like there was something wrong with me since I wasn’t having this experience everyone was trying to comfort me with. Not only is this a song reaching out to the ones I’ve lost but it’s also creating the topic that it’s ok to ask questions.

Since all this I’ve learned to trust myself and the choices I make. If there’s one thing I want people to know about me is that I care about what I’m putting out there and I hope others can relate.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I have a major obsession with Tea Parties. I adore dressing up and feeling sophisticated while eating desserts. I have taken most of my friends to “Tea Rose Garden” in Pasadena and truly enjoy spending quality time with them in a charming atmosphere. Another location I like to bring my friends to is 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. It’s great for laid back nightlife and shopping. I think it’s an excellent spot for friends who live out of state.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shout out to Charlie Waywire for teaching me the basics on Logic so I could record and produce, Shout out to my amazing PR team at Christina Relations for helping me be heard, and shout out to my friends who have helped me with all my projects.

Website: https://www.rikkivalentina.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rikkivalentina/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rikkivalentina

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RikkiValentina/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPez39aOr4K2WhT7_Ry6Qww

Other: https://open.spotify.com/track/1JMCQAnBnK7RdckxaxP0TW?si=614710952f0c4f34