Ven'nus: Getting to know Barcelona filmmaker turned electronic pop artist

Valèria N. Saurí, better known by her stage name Ven’nus, took to the stage at Primavera Pro's artist showcase on Wednesday. Originally from Sabadell, north of Barcelona, but now living in the Catalan capital, the 23-year-old is relatively new to the music scene after just releasing her first full album 'Bocaterrosa' in 2023.

The energetic 40 minute set allowed her to share a variety of new songs with the audience at Pati de les Dones in the CCCB (Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona), whose enthusiasm for her work was evidenced by their smiles, voices, and non-stop movement. 

A decision made during lockdown

Although she played the drums and piano as a child, before COVID “music was always something I had been doing as a hobby,” she recently told Catalan News. Her career interests lay in the film industry, and after graduating from the film school ESCAC she began working as a director.

During lockdown, Ven’nus found herself at a crossroad; which one of her passions, filmmaking or music, would she keep as a hobby and which would she pursue as a career. The choice was made clear when her music began to gain traction, "with my music projects taking off during lockdown I decided that, at least for a while, I would spend more time on music than cinema." 

A variety of influences which culminate in a jam-packed listening experience 

Ven’nus describes her music as a “softer, more introspective and atmospheric electronic pop”. She leans heavily on her mastery of synths but is a fan of including the bass and distorted pianos in her compositions. Influenced by pop, folk, dance and electronic music, she is inspired by both international names such as Fred Again.., Frank Ocean, and Catalonia’s own Rosalía, as well as other Catalan artists like Ferran Palau, Clara Peya, Anna Andreu and Meritxell Nedderman.

All of her songs start with her lyrics. “I do the lyrics first. I have a huge list of lyrics, lyrics, lyrics, because I love poetry and prose” she said to Catalan News. In songs like 'Guerra', she makes clever use of local writer Maria Mercè Marçal’s eulogy for the murdered left-wing politician Francesc Layret to draw attention to past and present problems. Thoughtful symbolism and allegory are prevalent not just in Ven’nus’ lyrics but also her album titles. Her EP 'El Naixement' (2021) is named in reference to Botticelli's “Birth of Venus”, a fitting comparison for her first release. “'Bocaterrosa' explains a very visually graphic image of someone lying face down on the floor,” she said. “It speaks of the moment where you are at your lowest point but you decide that from there everything must go up.”

After the lyrics are found, production starts and “the soundtrack for the moments and memories that I have created” is made. “The first thing I do is compose from home. I do the demos and then we take those to the studio” she said. In order to maintain her trademark sound, she tries to keep something from the house demo in each track in order to make it sound "more homemade, so it does not lose its identity."

A great reception all around 

The thoughtfulness with which Ven’nus has approached her craft is appreciated by fans. “People are quite affected by my music. They comment on how different it is from what is currently being done, and how beautiful it is because it forces you to take time away from the frantic nature of our day to day lives”. While 'Bocaterrosa' has songs that encourage listeners to get up and dance, “most of the album's atmosphere is very introspective which I think is very necessary in our lives,” she said. “Many people tell me that it has touched them at a very profound level, and I think that is very cool.”

Ven’nus is next set to play at Palau Robert in Barcelona on June 17, 2023.