30 September 2022 - 0 Comments

It's been a long time coming, but today finally sees the release of Christchurch based rapper Vallé’s debut EP Caged Birds. Featuring seven tracks including previous singles Trip Advisor, Prodigy, Swing Low and Guap, Caged Birds is a melting pot of hip hop, funk, and RnB with Vallé’s signature bars the standout. The EP is dedicated to his homeland of Papua New Guinea.

“This EP is a response to a period in my life after going back home to Papua New Guinea in 2019 where hope filled dreams for future relationships with my family there were thwarted by the devastating socioeconomic and political condition of my homeland and the numerous conditions that trapped and immobilised me” – Vallé

Written and recorded over the past three years, Vallé confesses he didn’t have to whittle hundreds of songs down to the final seven. He is very clear and concise in the messaging throughout this EP. And while he feels he is just scratching the surface of what he has to say, it is a collection of songs in which no rhyme is wasted. Even the cover art is poignant. Featuring Vallé standing in a field holding an open birdcage, with a Bird Of Paradise – the national bird of PNG flying free from the cage. Vallé says this is representative of the fact that birds are not meant to be kept in cages and neither are we. We should all be given the opportunity to break free from our metaphorical cages. For some these cages represent generational cycles, negative thoughts, systemic barriers, for others, these cages are self-inflicted. He explains “Sometimes the cages we find ourselves in is through our own actions, and it’s on us to realise that and make a change”.

With some of Aotearoa’s hottest hip hop and RnB talent lending their gifts to Caged Birds, including Tāmaki Makaurau based up and comer Aidan Fine, silky smooth RnB vocalist Sam V, Otara based collective STNDRD and American RnB artist John Givez. It’s a stacked line-up and each artist brings their own individual flavour to the melting pot that is Caged Birds.

To coincide with the release, Vallé will be playing a very special hometown show at Christchurch’s Space Academy two weeks after release on Friday 14 October. An all Ōtautahi super-session featuring pop sensation ASHY, rapper Ivan Dr8ko, and Nigerian trap rapper King Tuck all backed by the extraordinary Harmony & Rhythm Brass Band, this show will be fans first chance to hear new music live. No stone will be left unturned either with a show that promises to take fans on a journey, uniting and inspiring along the way. Fans are encouraged to get in quick, tickets are on sale now from undertheradar.co.nz.

CAGED BIRDS IS OUT NOW
AVAILABLE HERE

Vallé– Caged Birds EP Release Show
Space Academy, Christchurch
Fri 14 Oct
undertheradar.co.nz

Comments

Return to News Archive