Upon returning to Auckland from his home country of Papua New Guinea, hip-hop and R&B artist Vallé reflected on a mixed bag of fan encounters. The result is his excellent new single, “Not 4 Sale”, and the title couldn’t be more pointed.
“The song reflects my unexpected interactions with fans; I realised I’m more recognised in Papua New Guinea than in New Zealand,” Vallé shares.
Interactions with fans overseas and in New Zealand were, at times, polarising, with “some pure and some with hidden agendas”. For Vallé, these interactions “shaped the song and my understanding of connectivity.”
When he touched back down to Auckland from Papua New Guinea, he was eventually able to “embrace [all those interactions] as part of the journey.”
“She’s coming for my mind,” Vallé sings in the chorus. “I won’t give her that,” he then quips.
“Not 4 Sale” was recorded at Roundhead Studios during the Pasifika-focused songwriting retreat Moana Songhubs in Auckland, curated by acclaimed musician Ladi6.
Vallé collaborated with choreographer and pop artist Riiki Reid, Wellington artist Noé, Brandon Haru, and Struan Finlay on the track. “Immediately I felt we would create something special together,” he notes.
“Not 4 Sale” is a welcome return from Vallé, who has been on an extended sabbatical since September 2022. That year saw him release his debut EP, Caged Birds, a stunning ode to his homeland.
Caged Birds quickly garnered hundreds of thousands of streams online, and Vallé completed his first national tour in support of the EP following its release.
Credit: Supplied
For his work on “Trouble Finds a Girl”, co-written with Tami Neilson, Jenny Mitchell, and Chris Wethey, Vallé won the APRA Award for Best Country Music Song in 2022. He’s also been nominated twice for Best Pacific Music Video (“Swing Low” and “Trip Advisor”).
In 2023, Vallé featured in NZ On Air’s ‘Get to Know’ series, talking about his life and music. “I’m just trying to tell the story that belongs to the music… life’s just this big memory bank, I can draw upon all these experiences. Because I’ve been fortunate enough to have a lot of interesting ones!” he said.
Vallé’s “Not 4 Sale” is out now.
