"I Waited for You" was produced by Grammy-nominated Johnny K (Disturbed, Finger 11) and mixed by Neil Avron (Fallout Boy, Linkin Park.) It’s simple and raw – no horns, no synths, no auto-tuned perfection. "The main thing Johnny had to understand about Valora was the feeling I want people to get when they hear my voice," Syd says. "I needed to find a producer that valued vocals as much as I do."
The album opens with the savagely indignant "I Waited For You," a song Syd co-wrote a few years ago, and which drew early attention to the band. "I’m really proud of it," she says. "I wrote it right out of high school." Other songs, like "Extreme" ("All the girls think I’m a bit psycho/ Maybe I am but that’s the way I roll"), "Live" and "Forgotten," sustain the disequilibrium. The latter track, about a nasty break-up, was co-written with Kara DioGuardi, who applied some artistic tough love on Syd to get the best out of her during the writing process.
"I’m a very introverted person," Syd says, "but Kara demanded I tell her about everything that was hurting me. "She said, ‘I can tell you’re kind of a bitch.’ She got a lot more out of me than I was prepared to share. The end result was ‘Forgotten.’"
Upbeat tracks like "You Make It Ok," "No Matter What" and the DioGuardi-co-penned "I Like What You’re Doing" flirt with sense of respite, but Valora keeps the mood edgy, off balance and always rocking. "Life Hungover" (co-written with the powerhouse team of Antonina Armato and Tim James) delves into the impact of a sober life (think double-entendre), while "Irreversible" is a devastating memorial to a friend who took her own life. Notes Syd of the song, "You never get to say what you wanted, how much they meant to you, until it’s too late." The album closes with "Summer Stay," one of Syd’s favorites, in part due to its lush Queen-like chord progression.
Musically, Valora could be considered fans of hard rock bands such as Muse and Foo Fighters, but within the band’s style flows an expanse of rock influences. "My favorite bands center around a great vocalist," Syd says. "Any band that has a killer front person, I’m gonna be interested."
A California native, Syd grew up in Uptown Whittier. Though she started taking voice and guitar lessons around age 11, it was much earlier when she first knew music was her destiny. At age 5, she heard the National Anthem sung at a Dodger game, and that was it. But having a direction didn’t mean she had an easy time of it.
"I was different," she says. "Being an outsider made me a little lonely, but that’s what made me what I am now." She wasn’t one of the cool kids, but she began writing and playing some cool rock ‘n’ roll with a chosen few who understood her. Musically, Syd’s influences spanned genres and generations, including gospel singer Yolanda Adams, Jack White, Janis Joplin, Chrissie Hynde, Jeff Buckley and Muse. On stage, Syd notes, "I liked to channel flamboyant male artists. I like Iggy Pop and Chris Robinson. Both have that seductive, intriguing side of a woman coupled with the strength and power that’s traditionally thought of as male."
She and her band began knocking on music industry doors, and eventually some of them opened. For a paltry $500, an early incarnation of Valora snuck into Whittier High after hours and shot their own DIY video for "I Waited For You," which intrigued Hollywood Records execs. Cut to Syd paying a visit to the label. "I was asked to play one of my songs for them right then and there," she recalls. "All I had was this out-of-tune guitar, but it was one of those ‘no turning back’ moments. I walked out with a record deal."
Around the time Syd launched into recording the album, Ahmet Zappa and his Monsterfoot Productions created a graphic novel based on the heroic female character "Valora," as envisioned by Syd. The first three chapters have been made into videos, telling the story against a soundtrack of Valora’s music. "Ahmet liked the record and was inspired to do the novel," Syd recalls. "What intrigued him is that Valora wasn’t just a name of a band, it was this character, a kick-ass girl who saves people. Having these great visuals like the graphic novel and motion capture videos is another cool way for people to discover who Valora is."
With the album completed, Valora is ready to hit the road. The band has been playing shows across Southern California, making friends and prepping for big things to come. But nothing bigger than anything Syd envisioned for herself a long time ago. "I have never been afraid to be on a stage in front of people," says Syd. "It goes back to being the outcast. I’m saying ‘If you come to one of my shows, I’m the entertainment.’ I don’t ever hold back."
No Matter What
Valora Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
try your hand, I will find you
have not letton go of mine
Spinning over me, your affection
you'rein for the lesson
you have failed to recieve
God knows you don't have to stick around
You take it on
You are my love no matter what
You're made of bone
You pick me up no matter what I do
You'll lose yourself
I'll give you the words to breathe
my pain, in hell
you are the one for me
Your coming eyes repair all the damage
restored from my old habits
don't talk in your sky
You're God like
I don't want to feel better
I've been this way forever
Don't give up on me now
You take it on
You are my love no matter what
You're made of bone
You pick me up no matter what I do
You'll lose yourself
I'll give you the words to breathe
my pain, in hell
you are the one for me
I'm living on and on
and so you give into me
I want to crawl
I'll stay away so I can be
I'm so corrupt
take me, take me home
I'm living on and on
and so you give into me
I want to crawl
I'll stay away so I can be
I'm so corrupt
take me, take me home
You take it on
You are my love no matter what
You're made of bone
You pick me up no matter what I do
You'll lose yourself
I'll give you the words to breathe
my pain, in hell
you are the one for me
The lyrics of Valora's song No Matter What seem to be a declaration of love and gratitude towards someone who has always been there for the singer, no matter what. The first stanza suggests that even though the singer might be going through some difficulties, the person in question is still by her side and holding her hand, metaphorically speaking.
The chorus repeats the idea that this person is the singer's love no matter what she does or what happens, and that they are made of bone - implying that they are strong and reliable. The singer goes on to say that this person takes on her pain and that they have the words to help her breathe. She seems to recognize that she is not easy to deal with, as she describes herself as "corrupt," but despite this, the person is still there for her.
The last stanza suggests that the singer wants to parts ways for a while in order to work on herself and become better, but she still needs the person in her life and hopes they will take her home. Overall, the lyrics are a testament to the power of unwavering love and support, even during the toughest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
If I tell you I am still so high to try your hand, I will find you have not letton go of mine
If I express that I'm not ready to take a risk, you'll still be there holding my hand.
Spinning over me, your affection you'rein for the lesson you have failed to recieve
Your love overwhelms me, but you're willing to learn how to love me better.
God knows you don't have to stick around
You don't have to stay with me if it's too difficult.
You take it on
You're willing to take on the challenge of loving me no matter what.
You are my love no matter what
Your love for me is unconditional.
You're made of bone
You're strong and dependable.
You pick me up no matter what I do
You lift me up and support me even when I'm at my worst.
You'll lose yourself
You're willing to sacrifice for my sake.
I'll give you the words to breathe my pain, in hell you are the one for me
I trust you with my pain and know that I can count on you to be there for me.
Your coming eyes repair all the damage restored from my old habits don't talk in your sky
Just being with you helps me let go of my old destructive habits without judgement.
You're God like
You're divine to me, always giving, nurturing and supportive.
I don't want to feel better I've been this way forever Don't give up on me now
I don't want to be anyone else or feel any differently, please don't abandon me now.
I'm living on and on and so you give into me I want to crawl I'll stay away so I can be I'm so corrupt take me, take me home
Despite being a burden, you accept me as I am and I want to retreat and hide but I know I can always turn to you for help.
Contributed by Jason A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.