The beginning of an artistic career is a strange and exciting place to be. Those first releases can end up defining where you go next, but they also help you understand who you want to become, what feels like yours and, perhaps most importantly, who is listening on the other side. Valerie Chanelle is right in the middle of that process, and with Forever and Tomorrow, the Swedish-born, Los Angeles-based artist takes another step towards defining her own sound.
Only a few months ago, Chanelle was celebrating something she had wanted to do since she was young: releasing her debut single, Memory. Now, that first release is already becoming part of a bigger picture. Forever and Tomorrow brings together soulful R&B, contemporary funk and nostalgic pop, with her vocals firmly at the centre and a groove that makes the track feel immediately accessible.
Originally from Stockholm, Chanelle moved to Los Angeles to pursue music full-time, building experience through songwriting, session work and live performance. She has since played venues including the Whisky a Go Go and The Viper Room, recorded at EastWest Studios and Paramount Studios, and collaborated with a growing network of musicians and producers across the city.
At this point, however, the most interesting thing is not how long that list can become, but watching Chanelle figure things out release by release. Forever and Tomorrow feels like another piece of that puzzle, keeping the warmth and nostalgia at the heart of her music while pushing her songwriting forward. It is still early, and that is precisely what makes following these first steps so interesting.
