In the Water with VALÉ

In the Water with VALÉ

By Ivan Guzman
Aug 13, 2024

VALÉ has a thing for water. In her new music video for “coco water,” she lays poolside in a bikini and shades while various men fan her and pour coconut water into her mouth. “Hace calor, necesito coco water,” she sings over an infectious summery beat. The 21-year-old artist’s debut EP under the sun also pulls from this aquatic vibe, with VALÉ floating fully clothed in a swimming pool on the cover.

“This is a summer project through and through,” she tells PAPER. Since releasing a string of light and fun bops over the past few years, this debut EP represents a newfound freedom and levity for the Colombian singer – a sugary, sweet, and to-the-point project directly inspired by her Latin roots. “I’m a year and a half into living in LA from Barranquilla, Colombia. I’d say I can do pretty much anything right now.”

With tracks like “Malvado” and “Arrebatao” (Barranquillan slang for ‘being impulsive and crazy’) and having just come off a sold-out tour in support of Ross Lynch, it’s clear that VALÉ is slowly but surely making her Colombia-infused imprint on the world.

Below, we sit down with the artist to discuss her current obsessions and why she’s so obsessed with Vita Coco coconut water.

What spaces do you envision this EP blasting in? Can you paint a picture of this music?

I mostly see this EP being played outside! At the beach, pool, just sitting outside enjoying a drink. This is a summer project through and through! We need to finish summer with a bang while bumping under the sun!!

How does under the sun represent where you are as an artist right now?

under the sun represents that I am in a moment in my life in which I am open to creating freely, experimenting with not only my music but anything that life throws at me! I am freshly 21, I’m a year and a half into living in LA from Barranquilla, Colombia. I’d say I can do pretty much anything right now, and under the sun shows that!

Tell me about the video for “coco water.” What was the inspiration?

I always wanted to make a cute homemade music video for “Coco Water!” This song is so playful and eclectic that I thought a simpler video was the vibe for it! We shot the video in my home in Barranquilla, Colombia, with the producers of the track (and EP) and other friends and family in it! I love including people I love in my art, and the video turned out really funny and entertaining!

How does your Colombian background influence your creativity?

It influences my lyrics mostly! For this new project, I used a lot of Colombian, mostly Barranquilla slang, in my lyrics! “Arrebatao” is a word native to Barranquilla that means being impulsive and crazy, and it’s a whole song title!! It’s been fun using slang terms that are native to my hometown because these words haven’t been heard by…..probably anyone outside of Barranquilla! It’s a fun way to teach people new words, too.

What artists or pieces of media are you super into right now? Any current obsessions?

I am always obsessed with SZA and ROSALÍA!! I also have been loving Jake Shane - he is such a cute influencer and so funny!!!! Also obsessing over Vita Coco coconut water right now!

Photography: Ashley Osborn

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