A few weeks ago I saw an ad on Facebook featuring Val Florian. I kept seeing this ad, so I decided to watch the video. It was a young up and comer and I was eager to learn more. I read a few comments… People are mean! I did some digging, listened to a few songs, and liked what I heard. I reached out and we connected immediately. It was fun researching him and spending time with him on this. Below you will learn more about his name, his music and his songwriting process. Val, thank you for doing this and I am excited to share your story. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Val Florian.
Start by giving me an overview… Where are you based and what sort of music do you play?
I am based out of Woodsboro, Texas, a small town outside of Corpus Christi. I play alternative, rock and deathcore.
I see you play the guitar. Do you know any other instruments?
Yes, I played alto saxophone in high school. I took a little piano in college, but learned mostly on my own 6 years later. Literally out of nowhere. I can also play bass and am learning drums at the moment.
Is Val Florian your real name? If so, that’s awesome!
It’s actually Valentin Ortega III. My grandfather was born on Valentine’s Day, so my family kept the name going. My father had wanted to name me Joshua but after he passed they wanted to keep the name. Florian came from a figurine of St. Florian in a Christian gift shop at a hospital. I was looking for a stage name that was from a gospel background, once I saw the figurine, I knew that was the one.
As a singer/songwriter, what is your songwriting process like? Do you sit down and just write lyrics or do they come to you over time?
I’ve always naturally written the music first, but it can be both. Sometimes I’ve had the lyrics come first.
Who has inspired you over the years?
I was first inspired by Angus Young at the age of eleven but didn’t really start playing until I was thirteen. He inspired me to pick up a guitar. But over the years I’ve been inspired by James Blunt with the acoustic guitar, The Script and Shawn Milke from Alesana with their vocals.
You recorded a sweet video for your Poison cover. How do you pick what songs to cover? There are so many great songs out there to pick from!
I cover any song that touches me in some way. For Poison in particular, it was a song from my childhood. I also cover songs that people request.
I see some photos of you in the studio. What studio are you using?
I work with Tonal Studios, and I actually use two locations.
Speaking of covers, when you do that, do you need permission from the original artist?
No, my music distributor handles all legal actions.
Nothing beats a live performance… What can fans expect from seeing you live?
The breakdowns and the bass drops are always better in person! Also, during live performances I’m able to connect with my fans which is awesome.
What’s the best concert you’ve ever seen?
The Devil Wears Prada, Corpus Christi, TX at the Concrete Street Amphitheater.
Did I hear you on a podcast recently discussing UFC? Tell me more about that!
Yes, I have a passion for UFC. I am a die hard fan. I started getting into it in 2017 when Hurricane Harvey hit the coastal bend. On the GT Sports Unlimited podcast we discuss analytical pre/post breakdowns, predictions and general MMA news. Sometimes we’ll even talk about boxing.
When you aren’t performing, or working on a new song, what do you like to listen to?
I honestly haven’t listened to much music other than my own lately, I’ve been working on video game guides if I’m not working on music or podcasting. When I wind down sometimes I like to watch a movie, so whatever music I do listen to is playing on the movie. (Laughs.)
You believe God comes first. Tell me more about that and how He helps inspire you when producing music.
There is a feeling I get when I’m writing a song that’s hard to describe. It’s almost as if I’m not the one writing it. I mean, when I learned the piano it came out of nowhere. I believe in a higher source, and throughout my life I have realized that God has carried me through my hardships. I am forever grateful for his love that I make it a point to glorify him and spread the good news through my music.
Your music is on iTunes and Spotify. Where else can people listen to your work? I LOVE Spotify, by the way!
You can also find me on Amazon Music, Deezer, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Pandora.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get started? Should they start taking lessons, learn online… Where is the best place to get started?
Definitely start taking lessons whether you’re learning on your own, or through YouTube or even find an instructor. For me, my grandfather actually taught me my first three chords and from there I taught myself with an Ernie Ball acoustic book. I also, watched the occasional Justin Sandercoe YouTube video.
Where can folks at home learn more about Val Florian?
For anyone wanting to follow my Instagram I’ll be posting and sharing stories of what’s currently going on with me.
What’s next for Val Florian?
Working on releasing music videos.
In all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.
Do what you love and what makes you happy. Aim high towards your goals, and read the Bible every day for guidance.
With social media nowadays, it’s easier to get caught up in someone else’s life, but my advice is to stay on your own path. There might be some potholes and the occasional deer in the way, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Connect with Val Florian:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_valflorian
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-112921683-240382783
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valflorian88
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/UC0VMMI89qwGZjHGc7yCKr-Q
This is a really cool interview! I listened to some songs and the quality alone is amazing. I love finding new artists.