Single/Video Review: Stuck In My Head

Otautahi bedroom pop artist Valere released her latest single Stuck in My Head on the 16th of March.

An International Songwriting Competition semi-finalist and APRA Songhubs Sphere alum, Valere’s debut album Colours, released in 2020, gained her air play on ZM, Base FM and Spotify playlists such as The Local List NZ.

The second single from her upcoming EP, Stuck In My Head is “an ode to long distance AND going the distance,” Valere says. The nostalgic track is reminiscent of the music you’d hear in an early 2000’s rom-com and, as the title suggests, it certainly did get stuck in my head.

Coming in at just under three minutes, Stuck In My Head is by no means too short. A tiny package of pop goodness, the track is simple yet addictive, with catchy melodies and an infectious chorus. The simple verse chorus structure leaves plenty of room for Valere to show off her vocal range, with verses sung in her lower register and a chorus in her falsetto, accompanied by lush harmonies. Quite often with pop songs, the verses can be far less memorable than a chorus, but this is not the case at all with this track, as I found myself humming along long after I had finished listening.

The track is accompanied by a retro-feel video filmed by her husband at her auntie’s home in Cebu, Philippines, showcasing her vibrant heritage. Valere sings into an old telephone, in various states of yearning. The video is sweet and cute, the perfect accompaniment to the song.

Valere is gearing up to release her next body of work later this year. If the remaining tracks are as strong as Stuck In My Head, we are in for a treat.