The Art of Authenticity: A Conversation with Emil Valenzuela

Cover Image and all featured Images from Emil Valenzuela

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Emil Valenzuela hadn’t planned on becoming a musician, and he certainly hadn’t planned on going viral.

A few months ago, Emil Valenzuela was focused primarily on pursuing professional golf. Then, he posted a TikTok featuring an unreleased song called "See You Dance." As the track gained traction online and introduced thousands of new listeners to his music, Valenzuela found himself navigating a career he never intended to build. Unlike many emerging artists chasing algorithms and viral moments, his songs were never written with an audience in mind. In fact, he never planned on releasing them at all. What began as a private outlet gradually evolved into a growing catalog of deeply personal music, defined by its honesty, vulnerability, and sense of calm.

Originally from Naples, Florida, Valenzuela's music draws from a wide range of influences, blending breezy melodies with introspective songwriting. Though he has only been making music for a few years, he has quickly developed a distinctive sound that feels both personal and effortlessly approachable.

With "See You Dance" and other new releases continuing to find an audience and new opportunities beginning to emerge, Valenzuela is embracing the unexpected momentum while remaining committed to the philosophy that started it all: making music for himself first. We talked to the rising artist about his unexpected journey into music, the vulnerability behind his songwriting, and where he hopes the road ahead will lead. Read the full interview below.

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How long have you been making music? What's your origin story?

Honestly, it's not a particularly dramatic story. I started making music about two years ago, and I've always kept things very simple. I do everything myself.

I'm originally from Naples, Florida, which is also where Dominic Fike is from. I've been listening to him for years, long before he became as well-known as he is now, back when he was still posting music on SoundCloud. He's been a huge influence on me, and that inspiration happened very organically.

A few years ago, I moved to San Diego and spent about a year there. The music culture really stood out to me. Everywhere you went—coffee shops, restaurants, random places—you'd hear a song and think, What is this? This is incredible. There was just great music everywhere. Being surrounded by that environment had a big impact on me. A lot of my music was inspired by that San Diego lifestyle: spending time at the beach, being outside, that kind of stuff. That's really what pushed me to start creating music of my own.

I also taught myself guitar. I'm not one of those players who can pick up an instrument and immediately start shredding solos. My approach is pretty basic, and I'm still learning as I go.

Who are some of your musical influences and inspirations? You mentioned Dominic Fike, but are there any others?

My influences span a few different genres. More than anything, I'm drawn to music that helps you relax and takes you out of your own head for a while. That's the feeling I try to create in my own music. Growing up, I listened to a lot of reggae. My dad also played a lot of The Beatles, so I developed an appreciation for strong melodies and harmonies early on. Being from Florida, I listened to plenty of country music as well.

What do you hope to evoke in your listeners? What is your ethos?

Interestingly, I don't usually think about the listener when I'm writing. For most of the time I've been making music, I never intended to release it at all. I wasn't sitting down and asking myself, How is someone going to feel when they hear this? It was more about capturing where I was emotionally at that moment.

I started making music after a breakup and used it as an outlet to process what I was feeling. I wrote a lot of songs just for myself, without any expectation that anyone else would ever hear them. Eventually, I played some of them for a friend, and she told me, "You need to release this." Up until that point, the idea had never even crossed my mind.

Because those songs were never meant for an audience, they ended up being some of the most vulnerable things I've ever created. That's something I still try to hold onto when I write today. I want the music to feel honest, as if it weren't written with the expectation that anyone would hear it.

I hope listeners can connect with where I was emotionally when I made a song. At the same time, I don't want to dictate how someone should interpret it. If you're happy, you can listen to it one way. If you're sad, you can listen to it another. Everyone brings their own experiences to music, and I like leaving space for that.

How would you describe your sound in three words?

I would say calming, colorful, and honest.

If you could give your younger self any advice when you were first starting to make music, what would it be?

I think the advice I'd give myself is simple: stay as vulnerable and authentic as possible. Don't lose sight of why you started making music in the first place.

It's funny because I only started making music about two years ago, so it doesn't feel like there's a huge gap between then and now. I've definitely grown as a musician, but I'm still very much learning and figuring things out as I go.

If I could give myself one piece of advice, it would be to never lose the mindset I had when I first started writing. Back then, I wasn't creating music for anyone else. I was in a weird place at the time, and writing songs was simply a way of processing what I was going through. There was no audience in mind and no expectation that the songs would ever be released. So for me, the most important thing is holding onto that original sense of honesty and vulnerability. That's where the best songs come from.

Do you have a favorite song that you've made? What is it about, and why does it stand out to you?

I do. It's called "bloozy." It's probably my favorite because it took the longest to finish and challenged me the most creatively.

I originally wrote about half of the song and then got completely stuck. Honestly, I reached a point where I hated it and wasn't sure what to do with it. I wanted to find a way to make it feel exciting again without scrapping the whole thing.

I started experimenting and decided to Goth Babe-ify it. I love the vibe of his music and how it’s upbeat but still chill. So, if you listen to the track, it's almost like two different songs. About halfway through, it shifts into a much more upbeat, dance-oriented track. It became something I wasn't expecting when I first started writing it. It feels like a creative risk that ended up working, and that's why it's remained my favorite.

Is there a show, movie, or book you're currently watching or reading that you'd recommend to our readers?

Like the rest of the world, I just watched “Obsession.” I really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend the watch.

What is next for you? What's your current plan?

Right now, the plan is pretty simple: keep making music and see where it takes me. Hopefully, there will be some opportunities to work with labels in the future, and I'd love to continue progressing as an artist. A lot of what comes next will be new territory for me.

Who are three artists you'd like to see next on Enharmonic?

Ethan Reagan, Hether, and West 22nd.

Is there anything else you want people to know about you?

No, I don’t think so. I don't know exactly what the future of my music will look like, but I'm excited to keep creating and see what happens next.

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