Valentine explores limerence vs. love, searching for something deeper in a shallow culture, and the pain of wanting something you can’t have. When we are younger we think love is something we simply give or receive, like a valentine, an object. We eventually learn it is so much more. These songs speak to that feeling when you are naive to this truth still. Courtney Marie Andrews wanted to make a lush, and dark sounding record to match these heavy themes. There are lots of acoustics, synths, and sonic exploration.

During this time her inspiration was Lee Hazelwood’s Love and Other Crimes, and Big Star’s Third. She loves the dark desperation on both of these records. Jazz singers Blossom Dearie, and Peggy Lee also aided me along in the way they sing about love. Tender, but intense.

Valentine is waiting for something to happen. Valentine is the taboo. Valentine is the love we all believe is possible.

Andrews recorded Valentine to sixteen track tape at a studio in Los Angeles actually called Valentine! Jerry Bernhardt and Andrews played all of the instruments on the album and produced it together. Chris Bear (Grizzly Bear) is the only other musician on the record. He played drums. Michael Harris (Angel Olsen, Lana Del Ray) engineered. The record was mixed up with Sam Evian at Flying Cloud Recordings. Valentine is available to preorder here on limited edition gold colored vinyl (available exclusively at indie record shops), black vinyl, and CD.

*Preorders for store pickup will be held for three months after release date. Please pick up your Valentine preorder no later than April 15th.