Ep.34: There’s something magnetic about artists who refuse to be boxed in. The ones who follow their instincts even when the music industry begs for simplicity. Valentina Sounds is one of those artists, and the result is a catalog that swings from playful sarcasm to soul-heavy honesty without ever losing its identity. In this episode, I sit down with Italian-born, Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter Valentina Sounds to talk about the winding path behind her genre-blurring sound. We dig into her classical training, her theater background, the stories behind her standout tracks, and the personal resilience baked into her latest work. Valentina opens up about navigating harsh early criticism, why she’s leaning into a more cohesive rock-soul direction, the challenge of re-inhabiting old emotions in the studio, and what she hopes listeners feel when they press play. If you’ve ever struggled to define your artistic identity, or questioned whether your work matters, this conversation is a reminder that sincerity, quirkiness, and craft can all coexist beautifully.

We Chat About:

• How Black Sonic Revolver built a decade of underground momentum
• The unexpected origins of the band name
• Why comparisons to other artists make Leon shy
• The balance between embracing inspiration and refusing to be pigeonholed
• The therapeutic side of songwriting and why inspiration can’t be forced
• The chaos of early shows, including being thrown into a drum kit mid-set
• What it means to build community, not just an audience
• The tension between being an artist and being a content creator in 2025
• How the band captures their live sound on record
• What “success” looks like in the short term and the long term
• The legacy Leon hopes the band leaves behind

About Valentina Sounds:

Award winning Valentina Sounds (Valentina Raffaelli) is an Italian born/Philadelphia based singer-songwriter, performer, voice coach, and music director. Valentina’s music is catchy and creative, blending pop melodies with her background in jazz and composition.

Connect with Valentina:

Visit her website: valentinasounds.com

Listen on Spotify: Valentina Sounds on Spotify

Buy her music on Bandcamp: Valentina Sounds on Bandcamp

Find her on Apple Music: Valentina Sounds on Apple Music

Follow her on Instagram: @valentinasounds

Join her on Facebook: Valentina Sounds on Facebook

Watch her videos on YouTube: Valentina Sounds on YouTube

Follow on TikTok: @valentinasoundsmusic

Track her live shows: Valentina Sounds on Bandsintown

Other Resources:

Follow the OFFICIAL “loves music” playlist on Apple Music: ​​https://music.apple.com/library/playlist/p.4Y0J406i03DQrX

“loves music” playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0qE3kq89oyg3tFNbmRfHEO?si=vopaKQnNS8OHn0r2fFTVBg

Check out the “loves music” podcast website: https://www.podpage.com/loves-music/

Julian on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julian.jones.9484

Julian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianjones417/

Julian on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@julianjones417

Check out Julian’s book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6QYX6RL

Music Mentioned in this Episode:

Songs:

• “Eat the Chocolate” — Valentina Sounds
• “I Don’t Feel Like Doing Anything” — Valentina Sounds
• “Wake Me Up” — Valentina Sounds
• “Monsters” — Valentina Sounds
• “10 Years a Piano” — Valentina Sounds
• “FUN” — Valentina Sounds
• “Deep Red Bells” — Neko Case
• “Lover Girl” — Laufey

Albums & Projects:

• Bring On the Fire — Valentina Sounds
• 10 Years a Piano – Valentina Sounds
• Deep Red Bells appears on Blacklisted — Neko Case

Artists & Bands:

• Billie Eilish
• Adele
• Radiohead
• Early Coldplay
• The National
• Offspring
• Green Day
• Aretha Franklin
• Stevie Wonder
• Laufey
• Ray
• Cecilia Ferronborg
• Nico Case