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Valerie June Biography

Owls, Omens, and Oracles

By Adrienne Maree Brown

“Can we move forward? Are we ready?”

Valerie June has opened her deepest channel yet to create her fourth studio album, Owls, Omens, and Oracles. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and three-time Americana Music Honors and Awards nominee weaves fresh medicinal downloads of love, sweetness, goodness, and joy together with songs that have flowed through her for years. Halfway through a decade of immense and rapid global change, she asserts a multidimensional Blackness steeped in laughter, truth, magic, delight, and interdependence. The opening track and first single, “Joy, Joy!”, gives us an irresistible, playful, and effervescent invitation to surrender to the light always available in our souls. This album is a radical statement to break with the skepticism, surveillance, and doom scrolling – let yourself celebrate your aliveness. Connect, weep, change, open.

Rooted in the belief that what we focus on is what we manifest, June dreams a songpath forward that leaves no one behind. She has been softening and clarifying her sound since the 2013 release of Pushin’ Against A Stone, through The Order of Time, The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers, and Under Cover. From the Kennedy Center and opening for The Rolling Stones at Hyde Park to supporting Tyler Childers, Trevor Hall, Brandi Carlile, Gary Clark Jr., and John Prine, June offers us a root system spanning Earth’s magma core to the cosmos. This newest work shows Valerie’s own spiritual growth, her deepening, the opening of ancestral channels into both her glorious voice and her tender lyrics.

“Valerie June has built a devoted following by ignoring expectations. She is simultaneously
rural and cosmopolitan, historically minded and contemporary, idiosyncratic and fashionable, mystical and down-to-earth.” — New York Times

June is not alone in crafting this sacred field for the contemplation of love and being human. Her dynamic and distinct voice centers an incredible circle of collaborators, including producer M. Ward and special guests Blind Boys of Alabama, Norah Jones, and DJ Cavem Moetavation.

In this vast realm, we can follow June’s singular sound, a north star as steady and undeniable as any true love story, telling us to “trust the path.” She is inviting us out of the small boxes that keep us apart from each other, her music creating a space where we are already together, already one. The horizon changes as we get closer to it, but our songstress is sure-footed in the face of uncertainty and change. She wants everyone who listens to this music to want to be alive, to love, co-creating a future together.

Mavis Staples, Newport Folk Festival, and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival were the auspicious forces that led June and Ward to record fourteen original songs at 64 Sound in Los Angeles. While producing Mavis’ 2016 album, Living on a High Note, Ward invited June to contribute a song that became the title track. “I had been a fan of both The Staple Singers and She and Him (Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward) for years, so joining Mavis and Ward in the studio was a dream come true. I loved his production style and the way he captured distinct female voices. I can remember the smell of the room and the feel of the air the first time I heard Mavis and Zooey sing. When you hear voices like that, you can’t confuse them with anyone else out there. It was also a surprise to be in the room with stellar musicians like Steven Hodges, who worked with artists I admire who have singularly unique sounds from Tom Waits to David Lynch.”

Backstage is where the magic happens. Musicians often find themselves traveling to similar festivals. With a spirit of togetherness circling her at every turn, in summer/fall 2023, June joined Ward for spontaneous guest appearances during his sets at Newport Folk Festival and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, setting the plan in motion to work together in the studio. “One of the things I enjoy about listening to M. Ward’s music is that he’s an incredibly amazing guitar player. While he can shred and rock, he also ‘gets’ the blues. After sitting in with him for those live sets, we vowed to work together one day on a record.”

Welcoming June to his stomping ground in California, Ward chose Pierre de Reeder (Rilo Kiley, Jenny Lewis) to engineer the album. Sonically taking on a signature analog production sound, the style intertwines the old and the new. “Bands and groups from The Strokes to The Ronettes have always stolen my heart. I wanted a low-fi, gritty sound with many of these songs. I wanted to get grungy, but I also wanted to keep the softness of a singer-songwriter with a guitar at an open mic night.”

An instant foot-stompin’ hip-shaker, “Joy, Joy!” opens the album with an exuberance we are all born longing to find in the souls that surround us. The adventure begins with Kaveh Rastegar on bass (John Legend, Beck) and Steven Hodges on drums (Tom Waits, David Lynch). Throwing it all back on the soulful “All I Really Wanna Do,” June sings and layers her voice reminiscent of an idiosyncratic version of the Supremes. She’s even started to expand her compositions to simplified chords and notes on the piano. “String instruments (guitar, banjo, banjolele) are the only instruments I play, but I suppose if there’s an instrument in the room that speaks to me, then I can write a song on anything. I adore Daniel Johnston’s songs. His songwriting is so simple, yet powerful.” As June’s voice growls, hisses, studders, moans, and chants its way through the anthemic rocker “Endless Tree,” it’s clear that every song on the album is composed with a medicine, message, and purpose of honoring our interconnectedness.

“Getting the courage to do something small
Lifting the spirits of all that you saw
Feeling the tiniest spark in your heart
Only an ember can light up the dark
Are you ready to see
A world where we could all be free
As branches of an endless tree?”

While June plays many instruments, she clarifies that the voice is an instrument and will have its own way of serving the song. Her voice grips us with visceral twists and a fierceness of raw emotion that threads textures and tones through the needle of a multi-genre American quilt, striking against notions that voices should always sound polished and pretty. Gracefulness and gentleness harmonize with dissonance, edginess, and precarity in the sharpest parts of her voice, evoking a tenderness within even the hardest heart on “Trust the Path.” A hand-clappin’, toe-tapper, “Love Me Any Ole Way,” leads us from Memphis to New Orleans with the horn arrangements by Nate Walcott (Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst, and the Mystic Valley Band). A published author, June, performs spoken word with her sultry southern accent, reading a poem from her book Maps for the Modern World (Andrews McMeel, Simon and Schuster). Earning the admiration of Bob Dylan, June walks in his footsteps from American rock music to folky songs like “Sweet Things Just for You” featuring backing vocals from Norah Jones to “Missin’ You,” which includes Ward’s silky Mississippi John Hurt and John Fahey style fingerpicking guitar.

Every single note June sings is dusted with her distinctive Tennessee twang, but that doesn’t mean she should ever be limited by genre. June holds the complexity of “My life is a country song,” and “I am multidimensional, beyond category.” This album is expansive, growing from her psychedelic folk, indie rock, Appalachian, bluegrass, country soul, orchestral pop, and blues root system into an intergalactic web of wisdom.

Listening to her work, we are reminded that whoever created this Earth didn’t stick to one genre, so why should we?

Lyrics

Joy, Joy! (3:02)

There is a light

You can see

That is wanting to be free

A hidden light deep inside

Learn to trust your spirit guide

There is a light you can find

If you stop to take the time

Know when it’s right

Rise and shine

The seas will part

The stars align

You’ll find dat joy joy in your soul

You’ll find dat joy joy that joy that joy that joy

And when you feel you’re not enough

Has this old world been hard and rough

A golden seed beneath dark soil

To seek the sun is often rough

And when you’ll flower

Know not the hour

An ever-present superpower

An effervescence from below

No one can tell

Just trust and grow

You’ll find dat joy joy in your soul

You’ll find dat joy joy that joy that joy that joy

There was a day not long ago

When I thought I’d lost my glow

‘Twas looking out at everything

‘Twas on a tightrope balancing

The wind and knocked me off

Then I fell into a stream

The waves reflect my inner glow

I found that

I found dat joy joy in my soul

You’ll find dat joy joy in your soul

You’ll find dat joy joy that joy that joy that joy

All I Really Wanna Do (2:44)

All I really wanna do is love you

Got me lookin’ from afar

Know I need you near my heart

All I really wanna do is love you

We could spend all day inside

Close the curtains and just hide

Oh, folks will try to tell us that our time ain’t right

But our souls will guide us when we fuss and fight

There’ll be days of distance

There’ll be nights of pain

But we’ll keep on dancing through the hardest rain

Cause all I really wanna do is love you

Darlin’ touch me if you can

I’ve been searching for a friend

All I really wanna do is love you

Darlin’ can’t you understand

Won’t you please just hold my hand

Darlin’, darlin’, darlin’ darlin’ please

Please—can’t you understand?

Darlin’, darlin’, darlin’ darlin’ please

Please—can’t you understand?

Understand?

All I really wanna do is love you

Got me lookin’ from afar

Know I need you near my heart

Darlin’, darlin’, darlin’ darlin’ please

Endless Tree (3:54)

Are you ready to see?

A world where we could all be free

As branches of an endless tree

May we seek and find it

Although we might not all agree

Still live together peacefully

Watching the news almost every night

Telling the stories of all that ain’t right

But what could be done from a house and a home

Sink in the sofa and feel so alone

Getting the courage to do something small

Lifting the spirits of all that you saw

Feeling the tiniest spark in your heart

‘Cause only an ember can light up the dark

Are you ready to see?

A world where we could all be free

As branches of an endless tree

May we seek and find it

Although we might not all agree

Still live together peacefully

Are you ready

People get

People get ready

Tell me my brother how love goes around

Neighbor to neighbor–we create a town

City to country a nation is formed

Person to person–kindness is born

There is a beauty in the number one

Just like the moon and just like the sun

So if you’re on the couch and you’re feeling alone

May you feel moved after hearing this song.

Are you ready to see?

A world where we could all be free

As branches of an endless tree

May we seek and find it

Although we might not all agree

Still live together peacefully

Are you ready

People get

People get ready

Wanna be ready

Ready to see

A world where we could all be free

As branches of an endless tree

May we seek and find it

Although we might not all agree

Still live together peacefully

Inside Me (2:23)

There was a time

When I wanted so much more

Now I realize

Everything I longed for

Has always been—Inside me

I’ve spent my life

(Playing the game

Ever being played)

Chasing a dream

Find my way

Upstream

(A rectangular, triangular, round puzzle piece)

(Trusting the guides)

Changing the tides

Of a world-pool

(When to stay when to leave

Try to win, but learn to lose gracefully)

No mistakes

Cause this earth is a school

I can’t hide

Now I see

(It’s always been

Always been

Inside me)

Stumbling on

Fallin finding home

(Always been)

The Unknown

Trust The Path (4:34)

Entering the science of my mind

Never wavering—awake and shine

Sitting with the deepest hue of blue

Let the waves of silence pull me through

Staring through the windows of all souls

Going places only I can go

Meet you there, but where I cannot say

Path to take—can only point the way

Gotta trust the path

I’ll only point the way

Trust the path

I’ll only point the way

Trust the path

I’ll only point the way

Promise me you’ll venture towards unknown

Every step a new discovery shown

What can be sees all that’s always been

I can only point the way for you my friend.

You gotta trust the path

I’ll only point the way

You gotta trust the path

I’ll only point the way

Oh, trust the path

I’ll only point the way

When you’re down, down, down, down, down, down, down

Oh, you gotta trust the path

I’ll only point, I’ll only point the way

Trust the path

I’ll only point the way

Trust the path

I’ll only point the way

All in all

(I know you’ll find, I know you’ll find the way)

Entering the science of my mind

Never wavering—awake and shine

Sitting with the deepest hue of blue

Let the waves of silence pull me through

Love Me Any Ole Way (3:15)

Love me any ole way

Mornin’, noon, night or day

No matter what folk may say

Love me any ole way

Love me when I am down

Love me when I am weak

Especially when I’m in need

Don’t pack your bags or try to leave

Love me any ole way

Any way that you feel

Love me any ole way

Just as long as it’s real

Don’t try to make it all just right

Don’t shine the rust or hide the light

Just be true and keep it real

A heart that aches is a heart that feels

Love me when I am broke

When I’m lost and seeking hope

In the darkness, hold my hand

Tell me you understand

Just love me any ole way

Any way that you feel

Love me any ole way

Just as long as it’s real

Love me any ole way

Any way that you feel

Love me any ole way

Just as long as it’s real

Changed feat. The Blind Boys of Alabama (2:06)

Got ya lookin’ at me sideways

Got ya longin’ for them good ole days

Got ya spinning and a winding

Hoping, searching, finding

A brighter place

See you grooving and a shakin’

I see all them moves your makin’

See ya’ backwards and a forwards

Tossed and twisted onwards

That dirty face

I know I’ve been changed—um, I’ve been changed

I know I’ve been changed—I know I’ve been changed

I know I’ve been changed

I’ve been changed

I know I’ve been changed

Got that grit, that grind, that hustle

Got that claw, that crawl, that ruffle

On that fake it ‘til you make it

You know they cannot break it

Everyday

Superpower (2:21)

I hear voices singing

Residing in my power

Daffodils,

Lilac fields,

Ancient trees,

Gentlest breeze

Watch me as I flower

Dandelion, I unwind

Now’s the time

Rise and shine

Every soul is listening

Hearing spirits whispering

Calling out my name

Can you hear your name

“Blank Page” a spoken word poem read by Valerie June from her book Maps for the Modern World

You only have one day

‘Til the moon rise sun set down

Only one day

Before the sun rise moon set round

What will you do

And where will you be found

Who will you be

Leave the earth wrapped, love, spellbound

You only have one hour

Before the star shine midnight blue

Just a single hour

‘Til the clear sky morning dew

How will you face

This bright day path way new

What words to write

On this blank page lying beneath you

What will be said

Of your stargaze light ship eyes

What could be heard

Of your bird flight ’cross blue skies

Who could have seen

Your moon glow night dance twirls

Who would have guessed

You’d sketch a rainbow-painted world

Sweet Things Just for You (2:38)

I happen to think I’m the place

To do some sweet things just for you

It’s in the sweet things that you say

It’s in the sweet things that you do

And I happen to think I’m in the place

To do some sweet things just for you

So, first, I’ll write you this love song

I’ll sing it in the softest tone

If these words don’t measure how I feel

Then hopefully the music will

Just for you, I would swim more than a 1,000 seas

Just to spend day or night in your good company

Just for you, I would learn to paint the sun’s bright beams

Just for you, I’d even paint the midnight moonbeams too

Just for you

Although we’re miles and seas apart

I’m keeping you close to my heart

I close my eyes and see your face

Blue light and love and a warm embrace

Just for you, I would swim across a 1,000 seas

Just to spend a day or night in your good company

Just for you, I would learn to sing life’s evening song

Just for you, I’d dance my rain dance all night long

Just for you

It’s in the sweet things that you say

It’s in the sweet things that you do

I happen to know I’m the place

To do some sweet things just for you

I Am In Love (3:37)

I am in love

I love, I love, I love I love I love you

What does it mean?

Is it just words or something I do?

You can take everything I have—I’ve worked for

I have, I have, I have, but be sure

Triple check everything in double time

Do not leave a memory, scent, or sign behind

I am in love

I love, I love, I love I love I love you

What does it mean?

Is it just words or something I do?

What does it mean?

Is it just words or something I do?

What does it mean?

Mean when it hurts to love you

This world stopped turning

And we were frozen in time

Spring flowers in full bloom

Black moon’s regret met sunrise

Soon fast asleep

A light to open blinded eyes

I am in love

I love, I love, I love I love I love you

What does it mean?

Is it just words or something I do?

What does it mean?

Is it just words or something I do?

What does it mean?

Mean when it hurts to love you

Calling My Spirit (2:03)

Calling my spirit back to me

Trusting the path I do not see

Wandering I drift toward unknown

A guiding light will keep me strong

Stumbling I feel my towards home

Find it inside though far I roam

Take the long road

Move forward—blind

Life’s only purpose is to shine

Wandering I stumble back towards home

As I move forth it drifts towards me

Calling my spirit back to me

Trusting the path I do not see

(I’ll take the long road)

My Life Is A Country Song (2:40)

We both know how it goes

Or so the story’s told

I run away with you

We both find out it’s hard

Move to the trailer park

Try to make a new start

Married at 19

Divorce at 24

Three jobs and still poor

Have to trade a life of dreams

For the simple little things

Give me the right to sing

‘Bout the:

Countless loves, endless hearts gone wrong

My life is a country song

Who is he?

But somebody with nobody’s name.

Who am I?

But nobody—playing somebody’s game.

Just a countless love, with a heart gone wrong.

My life is a country song.

Country music

Don’t need to be saved

Just to remember

All those who gave

Countless lives

In a lonesome grave

My life is a country song

We both know how it goes

Or so the story’s told

I run away with you

Missin’ You (Yeah, Yeah) (3:26)

You got me missin’ you baby

You got me missin’ you darlin

You got me missin’ your sweet thang

You got me missin’ your honey yeah, yeah

With your wicked ways baby

You and your wicked ways darlin’

You got me feeling mighty lonely

You got me taking to the highway

I couldn’t sleep at night baby

I couldn’t sleep at night honey

I laid awake and thinking only

I lie awake and thinking only of you

So tell me—oh tell me now

It’s alright—it’s alright

Do it

It’s okay-that thang you do

To me

Do that sweet thang

You do to me

Take me—take me now

By the hand—by the hand

Do it—do it now

Thang you do

Do it

Got that feeling

Got that feeling- yeah, yeah

I’ve got that a slow and easy feelin’

Got that slow and easy feelin’

That I’ve been needing your healin’

That I’ve been needing your honey

You got me missin’ you baby

You got me missin’ you darlin’

You got me missin’ your sweet thang

You got me missin’ your honey yeah, yeah

Love And Let Go (4:25)

From what I can tell

I’m still under your spell

There’s a dream in my eyes

But I’m trying to be wise

I’ve made mistakes before

Used my love as a door

Almost broke me in two

I can’t bare to lose you

Almost broke me in two

I can’t bare to lose you

almost broke me in two

I can’t bare to lose you

Wonder where you are now

Wishing that I knew how

To bottle our love in time

Instead of leave it behind

But if I should return

Cause my soul longs and yearns

To be beside you again

Will you be there my friend

To have and hold you again

Will you be there my friend

To have and hold you again

Will you be there my friend

This is not a goodbye

This is not a hello

This is my way of saying

I know when to let go

They say love and love hard

If you love and love true

If you love and let go

It will come back to you

If you love and let go

It will come back to you