INTERVIEW WITH VALIENT HIMSELF FOR THE EIY HANDBOOK

VALIENT HIMSELF, 31, Earth years
 (Burlatia [inside the planet Venus] /
 Chapel Hill, NC / Homeless)

MUSICIAN (Valient Thorr)

YEARS IN MUSIC: 13

ON THE WEB: valientthorr.com // 
 valientsvloggg.blogspot.com //
 twitter.com/valientthorr

WHO FIRST GOT YOU INTERESTED IN MUSIC AS MORE THAN JUST SOMETHING ON THE RADIO? My Earth father. We used to listen to records and make mix tapes. 



DO YOU REMEMBER THE MOMENT YOU FIGURED OUT WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO? 
Scientist (at age 4, Earth years); Comedian (at age 6, Earth years); Artist (at age 8, Earth years); Poet (at age 16, Earth years); Musician (at age 18, Earth years). Happy to say that I currently hold all those positions. 



WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS NOW? HOW HAVE THEY CHANGED? Set goals, achieve them, and then set more goals. You are never finished. Even the teacher can learn from the student. 



WERE YOU ALWAYS ON THE PATH THAT YOU’RE ON NOW? Yes, but I prefer not to think of the industry. I prefer to think that I am creating things, and the industry is the machine I stick my stuff into, and somehow it comes out on the other side. I have some control over how it comes out on the other side, but mostly if I don’t manipulate the machine just right, who knows what’ll happen. I just have to keep creating. Push buttons. 



WHAT HAVE YOU HAD TO SACRIFICE? To do what you love, sometimes you step on who you love. Nuff said. *tears* 



WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Bad movies, good books, and positive vibes from people. 



HOW MUCH OF YOUR SUCCESS HAS COME FROM LUCK? TALENT? HARD WORK? Well, I’ll say I’m very lucky, other people say I’m talented, but I don’t rely on any of that shit. I work my ass off just in case the other stuff isn’t up to snuff. Nahm sahn? 



HOW HAVE YOU MEASURED YOUR SUCCESS THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER? Acheiving my own goals is the best. Coming up with a plan, and working to make that come to life is the best feeling in the world. That is success to me. I don’t need money, I don’t need fame — I just want to help people out. When someone tells me that a lyric inspired them, or something I did to help someone inspired them to help someone, well then that is good enough for me. No shit. 



DO YOU HAVE ANY REGRETS SO FAR? Nope, I don’t think I’d have it any other way. 



DO YOU THINK THE BEST BANDS GET FAMOUS, OR STAY UNDISCOVERED? I’d say it’s about even. There are so many greats that never get out. It’s unfortunate, considering the amount of pure shit that does make it. 



DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVORITE UNDISCOVERED BANDS? Yes, I’d like to promote Caltrop from Chapel Hill, NC. They are unbelievable. Look ‘em up. You know how.

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Read Valient Himself’s answers to 50 questions about music and the music business in the EIY HANDBOOK, available in print or eBook version at www.earnityourself.com

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