We recently had the chance to connect with VALERIE and have shared our conversation below.
Hi VALERIE, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
When you strip everything else away, integrity is one of the only things that is integral to the core of a person.
Intelligence and energy levels are influenced by your genetics and factors outside of your control. You don’t do anything to earn them, and there is no merit in boasting about them.
What’s more important is how you steward the gifts, talents, and resources you are given, and what you do with them when no one is watching. How would you conduct yourself if you didn’t have those things? That’s integrity.
It reminds me of Sara Crewe in A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Sara loses everything, but she still remains meek, kind, and honest despite the way others treat her.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a singer-songwriter and recording artist!
I make conceptual, fantastical pop music, and I actually released a visual album this year called Within the Confines of You: The Visual Odyssey. You can watch it at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i74TzbQgvAI
Outside of music, my other professional endeavors include event planning, project management, and business/creative writing.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful was when I sang at the school talent show in sixth grade.
I was painfully shy and a bit of a nerd when I was younger, so it was hard to express myself socially at times. But when I got on stage and used my powerful voice, people listened.
I realized that I was good at expressing myself through music, and so I used songwriting to put the pen in my hand and get my message across.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You are valuable because you are made in the imago Dei. You don’t have to be perfect or the best at something to be valuable. Perfection is an idol that you shouldn’t chase in an attempt to prove your worth – you have self-worth from the day you come into existence.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe in the existence of a loving, creator God who made Himself known to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I can’t “prove” that, because you cannot “prove” things in science the way you do in a field like mathematics. However, the overwhelming empirical evidence, like the intelligent design found in the natural world, internal and external validity of the text of the scriptures, archaeological discoveries that corroborate the biblical account, historical evidence for the existence of Jesus, and philosophical and cosmological arguments for the existence of a God makes me rationally infer the existence of the God found in the scriptures.
Beyond the rational, my personal encounter with Jesus Christ is unexplainable without looking to the divine. I know in my spirit that He is the Truth.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
In keeping with my answers to the previous questions, I think just my integrity would remain.
I was always pretty honest as a kid, but my integrity truthfully comes from Jesus, who is eternal. Walking with Him has changed me and made me a better person, and He has shown me what true integrity is.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://music.valerietm.com/music
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevaleriemusic/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-joy-toledo
- Twitter: https://x.com/thevaleriemusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theVALERIEmusic/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@itsvaleriemusic?si=aYm91rRXg2PXC3QW
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4b41STzgrELduDJYggSb5U?si=ejgUBBQ-SO6_sawcvpoD1w
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/valerie/1706220032
Image Credits
April Nicole
Nicolas Casanova
Zeyne Swanson
Yuni Santiesteban
Marcia Vergara
