Podcast Summary: Valerie June Performs 'Owls, Omens and Oracles' Live from CR5

Podcast: All Of It (WNYC)
Host: Alison Stewart
Guest: Valerie June
Date: August 24, 2025

Overview

This episode of All Of It centers on acclaimed singer-songwriter Valerie June and her latest album, Owls, Omens and Oracles. Produced by M. Ward, the album is a vibrant tapestry fusing folk, blues, gospel, and soul. Valerie joins Alison Stewart for a conversation on the inspirations behind her music, the spiritual and mystical themes running through the new record, the importance of joy, and the wisdom taken from nature—enhanced by poignant, live performances of her new songs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Ethereal Personality of Valerie June

• Producer Elle Malik Anderson (00:48): Shares a personal anecdote about missing Valerie’s live performance but notes the lasting impression Valerie’s cosmic, kind presence made on her.
  • "She's kind and sort of has this ethereal presence. It's almost cosmic. And when you listen to her sing, you hope a little bit of that attitude and positivity just rubs off on you.” (00:59)

2. Song Performance: “Endless Tree”

• Valerie introduces the song (01:51):

  • The song is about togetherness, inspired by the “hidden language” of trees and the lessons nature can teach about community and peace.
  • "Trees have a hidden language that connects them...And I think that we can learn a lot from nature. We can learn a lot from plants. They're old, they're wise..." (01:51)

• Live performance (02:18–06:09):

  • Lyrics emphasize unity, empathy, and hope—relating branches of a tree to members of a community.
  • Notable lyric: "Are you ready to see a world where we could all be free as branches of an endless tree?" (05:57)

Notable Moment

• Alison Stewart (06:27): Praises the performance, calls it beautiful.

3. Nature as Inspiration & Beauty as Politics

• Valerie on inspiration from nature (06:48):
  • Describes beauty as a political act, inspired by a conversation with her aunt who ran for Congress.
  • "My number one way of being political is singing about beautiful things...beauty is political, especially in this time where we face so much with the environment and the climate." (06:53)

4. The Significance of Owls, Omens, and Oracles

• Valerie explains the album title (08:23):
  • Shares a personal story about seeing owls on her family land after 30 years, interpreting the encounters as symbolic—wisdom, seeing in the dark, and receiving messages.
  • "I have to figure out what is this owl messenger trying to tell me?...they represent wisdom...being able to see in the darkness...they have excellent vision..." (08:23)
  • Adds whimsical detail about learning that a group of owls is called a “wisdom” (09:43).

5. Creative Challenges & Collaboration

• Valerie on pushing herself (10:50):
  • Her personal challenge was to “be brave enough” to reach out to M. Ward for production and to Nora Jones for a feature.
  • "Don't be afraid to ask. Even if the person says no, just go for it. Because it doesn't end a friendship or anything. People are busy..." (11:46)
  • This leap led to meaningful collaboration and growth as an artist.

6. Finding Her Voice & Sincerity in Song

• On voice and confidence (12:17):
  • Valerie learned to embrace her distinct vocal style instead of conforming to mainstream expectations, drawing inspiration from iconic, emotionally raw voices (Tom Waits, Karen Dalton, etc.).
  • "We need beautiful, polished, gorgeous voices...but we (also need) voices that reflect the imperfections and emotion..." (13:04)
  • Celebrates authenticity and “moments that break the heart open.”

7. On Being Yourself

• Valerie and Alison discuss authenticity (14:14):
  • Conversation about growing comfortable with authenticity and not trying to fit in.
  • "I'm gonna be me. And I just fully walked into it with this record." (13:48)
  • "If you like it, great. If you don't, there's other stuff." (14:27)

8. Song Performance: “Joy”

• Valerie introduces “Joy” (15:15):
  • Describes it as a personal mantra—waking “mean” most mornings but practicing joy.
  • "Joy is a practice and we have to have joy in our day. It doesn't necessarily mean you're happy, but it means you got joy in your heart." (15:51)
• Performance (15:54–17:23):
  • Lyrics encourage finding light and positivity even through adversity.

9. Home, Nature, and City Life

• Valerie on living between Brooklyn and Tennessee (18:38):
  • Describes the balance between her "shack by the pond" and city life, enjoying fashion, urban inspiration, and grounding moments in nature.
  • "I go back and forth and I have for the last decade between Bed Stuy and Humboldt, Tennessee, my little shack by the pond." (18:38)
  • Discusses her love for plants as a substitute for pets due to her touring lifestyle (19:22).

10. Touring and Connecting with Nature

• Upcoming tour (20:45):
  • Excitement about playing Town Hall and the joy of touring, which enables her to “watch the plants change as I move across the country and the world.”
  • "That, to me, is my nature connection. I go to Muir woods when I'm out there. I go visit all of the redwood trees..." (21:25)

11. Song Performance: “Love Me Any Old Way”

• Performance (22:52–25:56):
  • The song is a plea for unconditional love—embracing imperfections and the messiness of life.
  • Notable lyric: "Love me when I am broke, when I’m lost and seeking out in the darkness, hold my hand…"
  • Valerie promises a lively horn section for live shows: "We're gonna have the horn showing out on this one. We got the best horn players in the world." (22:36)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Valerie June on beauty as political:
  "Beauty is political, especially in this time where we face so much with the environment and the climate...Just simply being a gorgeous daffodil or a tulip on the street is an act of beauty, but also a political force." (06:53)

• On facing creative fears:
  "Don't be afraid to ask. Even if the person says no, just go for it." (11:46)

• On authenticity in music:
  "We need beautiful, polished, gorgeous voices...but we [also] need voices that, like, reflect the imperfections and emotion and just make us feel some rawness.” (13:04)

• On practicing joy:
  "Joy is a practice and we have to have joy in our day. It doesn't necessarily mean you're happy, but it means you got joy in your heart." (15:51)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:09–01:48 – Introduction; Valerie June and her new album
• 01:51–06:09 – “Endless Tree” intro and performance
• 06:48–08:01 – Nature as inspiration and beauty as politics
• 08:23–10:34 – The meaning and symbolism behind Owls, Omens, and Oracles
• 10:49–11:46 – Creative challenges; Working with M. Ward and Nora Jones
• 12:00–14:35 – Finding her voice and authenticity
• 15:15–17:23 – “Joy” intro and performance
• 18:38–20:39 – Home, nature, and urban/rural balance
• 20:45–22:13 – The tour and connecting with nature on the road
• 22:22–25:56 – “Love Me Any Old Way” introduction and performance

Episode Tone

Warm, reflective, and uplifting, the episode overflows with Valerie June’s soulful positivity, authenticity, and deep reverence for nature. Both interviews and performances encourage the audience to embrace community, beauty, joy, and their true selves—mirroring the heart of both the artist and her new album.