Valace

Valace is the solo project of Amsterdam-born singer-songwriter Billy Hempen. He wrote 'On My Shoulders' as a modern take on the classic pop song, in today’s musical environment dominated by rap and hip-hop: ‘I’m an omnivore when it comes to pop music. I enjoy artists like Travis Scott and Anderson .Paak just as much as The Japanese House and James Blake. For me, writing a song is like going on an expedition through my own musical history. I still get inspired by songs I heard on the radio when I was a boy. My ambition is to make classic pop music that’s relevant today, with a sound that reflects our contemporary society. What’s interesting to me right now is big city life, and the sense of alienation that has taken hold of my generation. We have the world at our feet, yet our future seems overwhelmingly uncertain.’
After completing school in Amsterdam, Billy set off for England, the country of his musical heroes, such as The Japanese House, Keane, and Tears For Fears. He ended up in Brighton, a city bursting with aspiring talent and young bands. After playing the local venues, the 23-year old multi-instrumentalist ended up as a core performing member in synth pop act la lune, now Lunar June. He now occupies a studio at the creative hub Treehouse NDSM in his hometown, where he works with artists as a songwriter and producer.