Songs dealing with grief are often sombre affairs, but Western Australian singer-songwriter Paige Valentine has flipped the script with her latest single, “Cloud Dancing.” Written after the loss of a close friend, this song celebrates moving through grief and reconnecting with the experiences that give you joy.
“The power of her friendship will never leave me,” Paige confirmed. “She loved swimming so much, living across the road from one of the most beautiful beaches in Western Australia…When she found out she couldn’t swim anymore it absolutely crushed her. She asked me to swim every day for her. We knew she had a few months left. So, rain, hail and shine I drove to the nearest beach daily. Often it was beautiful, but some days I had to laugh as I was trotting down into the freezing cold Southern Ocean cursing her name that she wanted me to swim. It turned out to be the best therapy and it was a way I could connect with her from afar.
“When I returned home after her funeral, I didn’t want to go to the beach, I didn’t want it to be real…After some time, I felt I should return. I was ready. When I walked over the hill to get to the ocean, I saw something I’d never seen before. From the furthest corner of the sky to the other, one amazing, beautiful cloud, with all the lights running through it, it took up the entire sky like a blanket. When I went to the sea I looked up from the water and it was the most incredible sight. I felt so held by the water and the sky. I thought to myself, I bet she’s dancing up there. Cloud Dancing.”
This is such a fun, optimistic song with real heart. It marks a bit of a sonic shift for Paige, whose music doesn’t normally have such a pop vibe, but I appreciate her evolution. She’ll play a stack of shows in the coming months. Check her out at all these venues:
8 August 2023 – Sofar Sounds @ Escape Reality – Escape Rooms Newcastle, Mulubinba/Newcastle
10 August 2023 – Sofar Sounds, Gadigal/Sydney
11 August 2023 – Sofar Sounds @ humii, Woolyungah/Wollongong
13 August 2023 – Sofar Sounds @ Sounds of Melbourne, Naarm/Melbourne
2 September 2023 – Beats in the Bay, Gutharraguda/Shark Bay
11 September 2023 – Wildflower Festival, Wudjari/Ravensthorpe
8 October 2023 – Out of the Woods Festival, Walyalup/Fremantle
25 November 2023 – Balmy Nights Festival, Kepa Kurl/Esperance
Image used with permission from Nettwerk Music Group; credit: Cedric Tang