New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Earlier this week, CMT debuted
Valerie June's new video "
Smile" on their Times
Square billboard in New York City. "
Smile" encapsulates the infectious joy and dreamer's philosophy that drives her singular brand of cosmic roots music. In the new clip, directed by
Laura Matula, June rallies an entire diner into a celebratory 80s inspired dance-off, complete with outfits and hairstyles inspired by Whitney
Houston and
Janet Jackson.
According to June, "
Smile" comes with a lesson: "It's ok to remember that sometimes all we can do is smile, knowing that our smile is lifting others up and transforming the hearts of those we've never even spoken one word to."
Valerie June has lots to be joyful about. Her new album, The Moon & Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers, has not only received widespread praise but was recently nominated for two 2021 Americana
Music Awards. June is nominated for Album Of The Year for The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamersand Song Of The Year for "Call Me A Fool." Rolling Stone and SPIN both named the album one of their Best Albums Of 2021 So Far, with Rolling Stone saying that June's "voice has never sounded more nimble" and that the songs "evoke the expanded mind of Revolver-era Beatles."
Last week,
Valerie June guested on Jimmy Kimmel Live, performing "
Smile" with her band from NYC's Power Station studio.
Praise For
Valerie June and The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers
"This stunning song cycle of redemption and reclamation adds an orchestral-pop sheen to June's gorgeous blend of astral folk and meditative R&B."- Rolling Stone
"The Moon & Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers, the introspective, quietly hopeful album she made more than a year ago, sounds just right in 2021." - The New York Times
"A psychedelic tour de force." - Uncut
"To hear
Valerie June's voice is to remember
Valerie June's voice...her every quiver bespeaks emotional honesty." - New Yorker
"One of Americana music's most gifted and eclectic performers...her inimitable style, captivating voice, and emotive writing make for an enticing blend." - New York Magazine
"At once grounded and cosmic, earthy yet divine...June's voice is now ever more present, more insistent, more mesmerizing. - NPR All Things Considered
"Beautifully enchanting...Valerie June weaves together folk, soul and cosmic psychedelia on this spiritual and sonic journey." - NPR Music
"Well worth the wait - a magical, country-soul offering." - Essence
"Dylan touted Tennessean conjures up a country-soul fantasia." - MOJO
"An immersive listening experience that, through complex arrangements and poetic contemplation, offers space for profound healing and reflection." - Nashville Scene
"Utterly beguiling with a luster that only deepens with repeated spins." - AllMusic
"June is a supersonic powerhouse, her sound comprised of shimmering bluegrass, soul, and stardust." - Garden & Gun
"Just the sound of June's voice is enough to defrost any lingering icy memories of a cruel winter. She uses the album as a chance to wield hope and joy as tools in the battle of persistence." - Paste
"Offers a bold imperative to believe in the power of hope, imagination, and yearning." - Bandcamp Daily
"Call it what you want, but after a year of upheaval in a global pandemic, the arrival of her third album feels like a stroke of divine intervention. There couldn't be better timing." - The Line Of Best Fit
"As June continues to shape her style, it's clear she's zeroing in on her muse. She transports the listener through lush soundscapes that not only leave echoes; they leave a lasting halo-like glow." - Glide Magazine
"Though it is still the first quarter of 2021, there is little doubt that The Moon and Stars will remain one of the year's best." -
Black Grooves.
