Conversations with Valari

Today we’d like to introduce you to Valari.

Hi Valari, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Valari, and my journey as a music artist truly began when I moved to New York about a decade ago. The city was a playground of creativity, every theater show , every concert, every hidden underground club exposed me to diverse sounds, from jazz in Harlem to avant-garde performances in Brooklyn. Alongside that, I was working countless jobs from being a waiter to capturing the glamour as a red carpet photographer, immersing myself in life’s everyday grit. But it was New York’s energy that lit a spark in me. I never actually studied music formally in college. All that I know, I taught myself through countless self-taught courses, asking questions of music professionals, and just putting myself in every room I could to absorb as much as possible.

I remember that day when I went to audition for two colleges back in Kyiv, Ukraine, where I’m originally from. One was for directing and cinematography, and the other was for music and singing. Somehow, I got into the cinematography program and looking back, I think part of me didn’t have enough confidence at 17 to fully admit to myself that I could have a future as a pop star. But there’s always a right time for everything. Once I started directing, I realized that this foundation in cinematography gave me a huge advantage. I was able to put together my own creative teams, lead the vision, and direct all of my music videos, as well as my photo shoots and live shows. And that same visual storytelling is now at the core of my music.

I feel like music is the only art form that can capture a feeling at its purest on a molecular level. When I write a song and then listen back years later, I can still feel that exact emotion in the same place in my chest where I felt it the moment I wrote it. That’s what inspired me to become a recording artist. I’ve tried myself in different careers. I was up before dawn, walking to every modeling agency in New York City, portfolio in hand, waiting in long lines at 7 a.m. I auditioned for countless film and TV roles, hoping to break through. But over time, I realized something crucial: I didn’t aspire to be someone else’s character. I needed a space where I could be fully myself. And that’s where music came in, it gave me a way to create and explore my own identity, something deeper, something real.

Once upon a time, I was sitting in a dimly lit basement restaurant on the Lower East Side, sipping a whiskey sour. The atmosphere was cozy, thanks to a Groupon deal I found, four drinks and snacks for $50. As I sat there on what felt like a spontaneous date, my ex asked me, “You say you’re a musician—why don’t you make music and perform live?” That question shook me to the core. I realized, like so many artists, I had been holding back, afraid of stepping into my full potential. So, in that moment, something clicked inside me. I realized I had been scribbling lyrics in notebooks and jotting down melodies for years, but I never took the leap onto a stage. I spent nights writing songs alone, taking countless songwriting lessons, but still hesitated. That question gave me the courage to share my music. So, I pulled everything together and booked my first show at the Bitter End bar on Bleecker Street where Lady Gaga had once performed when she was just 15. Standing on that stage, surrounded by that energy of greatness, I knew I was beginning my path as a music artist.

I performed a few original songs, but mostly covers. I realized I needed to create more of my own music. So, I built a homemade studio just from materials I ordered online. I put up soundproofing foam on the walls, got the first affordable microphone I could find, and started collaborating with countless producers all from the heart of my small Manhattan apartment . That’s where I started capturing the emotions and feelings I was living at the time. And that’s how song ‘Hunter’ came to be. The demo I made back in 2018 came full circle in 2026, when I recorded it in Los Angeles with one of the top producers in the industry, Benny Steele, and had it mastered by the true artist Matt Colton in London.

Hunter’ is about that constant search for something more, especially as a Gemini, always chasing the next thrill. It’s about a guy who roams after dark, in New York City, moving from one adventure to the next no rules, just games. Searching for the next pray but beneath that excitement, there’s a deeper loneliness, a longing for connection, for family, and for a place to belong. That’s what ‘Hunter’ is, it’s both escape and a search for home.

I write all my own lyrics, it’s something I can’t imagine doing any other way so the song feels like it’s truly a part of me. Sometimes melodies arrive out of nowhere, and I’ll record them right away in my voice notes; other times, they come alive as I jam with producers in the studio.

Where I am today is a world away from where I started. I’m now living in Los Angeles, and after a decade of making music, I’ve learned that the most important thing is staying a student, always learning, trusting the advice of people who truly have my best interests at heart. The power of a team is something I couldn’t have imagined because no matter how far you go, you can’t do it all alone. For example, with my latest project, ‘Hunter,’ the music video came to life in Vienna. The idea sparked out of nowhere, just as the song neared its final stages. I reached out to my friend from college, Daria Driuchenko, now a top producer in Austria, I told her I’d be traveling across Europe and if she’d open to put together a music video for me. Her response was, ‘Easy!,’ and just like that, I booked a ticket to Vienna. Week later, I found myself in the middle of the biggest project I’ve ever taken on. Or someone like incredibly talented Yevgeniy Timokhin, whom I was fortunate enough to be coached by and proud to call a friend. Everyone should see his work! He made me fall in love with music videos as an art form, and he’s always there to offer thoughtful, valuable advice on my creative projects. The truth is, none of this would have been possible neither the song nor the video without my friends and my team, and never forgetting that I’m still a student.
The truth is, none of this would have been possible neither the song nor the video without my team, and never forgetting that I’m still a student.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My first struggle was leaving my family behind when I moved to New York City. It was a heavier burden on my heart than I ever expected. Surrounded by so many people, I still felt profoundly lonely, and those years of isolation shaped me in ways I couldn’t have foreseen. Then, in 2020, my mom passed away from cancer, and that was a seismic shift. It took me nearly five years to catch my breath, to rebuild, to see my life without her presence. I was so far away, only able to visit a handful of times, and that distance made it even harder. Then, as if that grief wasn’t enough, the war began in Ukraine. In those moments, I felt helpless, so I poured every ounce of focus into supporting my family however I could. These personal challenges, as devastating as they were, taught me something fundamental: no matter what life throws at you, it is your responsibility to keep shining your light, to keep walking the path you were meant for. For me, that’s been music. But whatever your calling is, we all have to keep going. I’m reminded, like in that Kelly Clarkson song, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” I’ve been through so much, but I’m still here and now, I feel stronger than ever, ready for whatever ls next.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I see myself as both a recording artist and a creative director because, in today’s world, I believe it’s crucial to be the one at the helm, guiding every visual, every sound, every detail. I shape the entire world my music lives in. I’m proud of all the work I’ve put out, because I made sure to pour my heart into each piece. I believe it’s crucial to stand behind your art, even years later, so that when I revisit tracks like ‘Inner Diva’ or ‘Honey,’ on Spotify or watch my videos, I still feel that spark. Every song, every visual, it’s a snapshot of who I was, raw and vulnerable in that moment and that’s what I want people to feel when they listen or watch.

Many people sing, write, dance, and produce, and I have so much respect for all those who do. What I try to stay true to, though, is an absolute honesty in my art. I don’t just create on the surface, I make sure that every song, every video, every concept comes from a deeply personal place. I chose this path because it’s a way for me to stay accountable to my truth, even when it’s very difficult. I think what sets me apart is that I never lose that connection to vulnerability. I pour the rawness of the moment into every detail. That commitment to truth, I believe, is what makes my work stand out over time.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
When I was a little boy, I dreamed of the fame of a Michael Jackson, of everyone knowing my name, with paparazzi chasing me down the streets. But as I’ve lived, as I’ve faced losses and found purpose, my idea of success has shifted. Now, for me, success is about connection. If I can touch one person’s life, if I can fill a small venue with a few hundred fans who truly feel my music, then that is success. That’s where I stand today, rooted in each honest connection, no matter how big or small.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.valarimusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valaridavinski
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valarimusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@valarimusic
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/track/32J5r1mRDmmw2BPBSP1T2A?si=b3ec2e6ad97e48ae

Image Credits
Photos by Lucia Bellapianta @visuals.bylu
Photos by Natalia Moskalova @moskalova_photo
Style by Olena Gilka @gilochka
Style by Natalie Forelle @natalie.forelle