American indie folk singer songwriter Kristian Philip Valentino has appeared on this blog a few times before. He first came to my attention in the summer of 2021 and since then we’ve shared a couple more of his tracks. His latest EP is our first chance to run the rule over one of his collections. It’s called Happily Ever After.

By Graeme Smith

With so much heartbreak and anti-love songs out there right now it’s refreshing to listen to a record that is all about being authentically in love. Happily Ever After was written by Kristian for his wife, Hollie. It marks a high point in his life for an artist who started writing songs in 2010 after losing his father and ending up homeless.

The EP opens with the gently acoustic Out of My Head. Plucked guitar is paired with soaring strings before Kristian’s gruff and characterful vocals come in. As ever with his music, the focus is on lyrics and he expertly brings his story to life through descriptive detail. Its sense of romance is finely balanced staying relatable without tipping over into alienating. It’s a great start.

Stick Around shows a darker side of love, acknowledging that true love is not always equated with constant happiness. A moody and atmospheric folk rock arrangement underpins this sense of emotion, while its lyrics capture the introspection that can happen in a relationship. It’s a highlight.

Taking My Time softens things with an intimate and acoustic arrangement. Kristian’s vocals are at their most delicate. Forever, I Do continues in the same vein and includes romantic strings before Find You Sooner closes the EP in passionate style. There’s a wistfulness to it that feels wonderfully compelling. It’s another highlight.

Happily Ever After was recorded at Citizen Vinyl Studios in Asheville, North Carolina. It was produced, mixed and engineered by Gar Ragland. Philip Shaw Bova did the mastering. It’s out now via local Asheville music label Newsong recordings and you can give it a listen below.