Interview 1993, " I Also Could Have Been Named Gorinche

deie_gaia · Mod Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 125

Valensia is probably the most modest guy to walk this world. Scores a huge hit with 'Gaia' and then takes a deep
relieved breath after the interview has finished. Then says it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be.

"This was my best interview. You didn't even compare me with Robby Valentine. Had you forgotten?"

It is of course very easy to compare Valensia (22 years old) with Robby Valentine. Both have obviously been
influenced by Queen and clothing and hair show a certain resemblance too. But well, Valensia is Valensia
and so no Robby Valentine The Second. Right? It's time to make a closer encounter with the One And Only Real Valensia!
Valensia comes walking in like as if it's at least 20 degrees below zero outside. While it's really not even that cold.
Soon it becomes clear that he has something against the cold.

I have relatives in Spain. As a child - and still actually- I always suffered when it became winter. I instantly would
get a cold then and get depressed. That's why I was always kicked into the plane. Every holiday and sometimes
even in the weekend. Then I'd go to my grandparents in Spain. I was there very often.

- In Spain too is where you started with music? -
I really can't remember how it started. Music simply has always been there. It was in Spain though where I taught
myself how to play the guitar. I used to go to the beach with my guitar then. I was only 5 years old then
and couldn't even hold it properly. I played songs of well-known bands. More and more people came to watch,
they thought it was rather cute such a small boy with a gigantic guitar.

(Well, we can imagine that..)
- Did you already have the idea back then that you wanted to become a singer later on? -
Yes, when I was about five years old I did. But when I was nine, all my hope was gone. I was approached then
by people who wanted to make a record with me. They said: we're gonna make you famous. That was my biggest wish
of course, but my parents stopped that. They thought I was far too young. I was so bittered then, after that I wasn't into
music anymore for a while. I was certain a career as singer for me wasn't meant to be anymore.

- And then? -
I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to become. I couldn't do anything else than making music. My school period
was no success for me either. If somebody would act difficult with me, I would get cross with them. You should
probably best just keep your mouth shut and go with the flow. I almost had everybody against me.
Yes I just couldn't care. What do I care that certain worms are amphibious?

(Sorry?? If only we should have paid more attention with Biology!)
- Do you still live with your parents? -
Yes, I use 24 hours a day to compose. I could hardly take care of myself. But I can already see how that would be.
I would drop the vacuum-cleaner each time I'd have a new idea for a song. I don't think I would get to doing
the house-work.

- Do you ever do anything that hasn't got something to do with music? -
Hobbies you mean? Well there are many things that appeal to me, but it never happens, it's true. I do like
to look up danger. Jumping parachute seems nice to me. Flying by myself, reaching the highest tops of the mountains.
As a child I used to go to caves a lot or I'd be hanging above an abyss.

- Valensia probably is your artist-name, isn't it? -
No, it's one of my names. Everybody thinks I named myself Valensia because I played guitar in
the Spanish town Valencia. No, the idea wouldn't even occur to me. Imagine I would have lived in Gorinchem,
should I have named myself Gorinchem then? My parents named me this way by birth. I only changed the 'c' into an 's'.
So it's my real name. I would think it to be ridiculous to name myself otherwise.

- What do you think about doing interviews all of a sudden and to get that much attention? -
I do think it's kinda scary. Sometimes girls approach me. And then I haven't got the slidest clue what they expect
of me, I have the idea I should make a joke then or say something nice. Otherwise it's such a disappointment
and that does scare me. I don't want to disappoint people. But I'm hardly being recognized still.
(Wanna bet that's gonna change now?!) And there still aren't any girls lying in front of my door... if only that was true!

- You sound like you don't have a girlfriend? -
Correct.

- Many songs are about love though, what's the story with you then? -
Well I started writing when I was about seven years old or so. Then it was mainly a bunch of interesting words,
because what have you been through when you're seven years old? Only later you write about your experiences,
about holiday-loves and things like that. Situations that everybody recognizes, I can write the most fairy-tale like songs
about that.

- What is your biggest wish by the way? -
I always thought only some music was really beautiful. It became my wish to some day write a song that other people
would like. But I kept thinking: that's something for real stars, and therefore not for me. Only when people like me,
then I want to keep making music. I hope I can accomplish that.

Eh, Valensia, maybe you haven't realized it yet, but in that you have succeeded already!