27-year-old retro-soul songwriter and performer Valère Géron was born in the Netherlands and is now living in Sweden. His latest single “You Don’t Want My Heart” is an upbeat instant classic in the vein of someone like Raphael Saadiq—incorporating a lively bass line, layers of soaring vocal harmony, and a dry, slightly shuffled drum beat that speaks equally of Motown and the urge to dance your troubles away.
This fun song was recorded in Oost-Maarland, a small village at the southern Dutch border, where Valère finished writing the lyrics a few weeks after getting the initial idea for it. This vibrant combination of retro tones and lively pop energy takes notes from Amy Winehouse, The Gorillaz, and even The Police. With his debut, Valère Géron connects the dots from his musical past to deliver catchy, sing-along melodies while telling the story of a passionate but troubled relationship.