Here you can find my published work so far — from news to features. Click the drop-down menu on the top bar to find a breakdown of the different publications I have written for.
Music and Tattoo Culture
By Sara Valle I bet if you close your eyes and picture a rock star, some of the first things that come to mind are tussled hair, drugs, booze, fags, and worn-out jeans or leather trousers. You probably also visualised a bunch of tattoos — maybe a skull, roses, or some kind of female looking…
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The Ever-Evolving Music Festival Scene
By Sara Valle It’s a strangely sunny day in the UK and you’re queueing up under the blazing sun; ticket available with a couple thumbs on your phone. There’s litter on the floor – from colourful and silver wrappers, to cans of cheap beer, and mini glass bottles of all sorts of spirits. When you’re finally…
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Maya Hawke at Lafayette in London with opener Manu Grace
Written and captured by Sara Valle People gathered on a Monday night in indie venue Lafayette in London to see what the actor-turned-singer Maya Hawke had to offer. South African singer Manu Grace opened for a crowd of expectant fans with a set of groovy beats and unguarded lyrics. Standing on stage in her green velvet dress with her guitar and…
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Bridging the Grey Digital Divide: Inside the Heart of Five Bells Computer Club
By Sara Valle Tuesdays are for silver surfers at Five Bells pub in North London. Today, a white-haired lady walks with her cane, carrying a laptop on a black suitcase; an elderly man with dreads plays music sat at a table; and a blonde woman writes names on sticky tags. Free cups of steaming tea and coffee…
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Retired Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet’s Petal Ashmole: Dancing Through Joy and Pain
By Sara Valle Petal Ashmole arrived in London during the Swinging Sixties. The Beatles were playing on the radio, women wore flowers in their hair, Carnaby Street boutiques were it, and women’s rights featured in everybody’s table talk. Ashmole came to the British capital having never travelled before, with a strong Australian accent that over the years has mellowed…
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Can Music Therapy Heal You?
By Sara Valle Mary was confident enough to sit at the piano and bash up some chords. The words tumbled out of her – how scared she was and how she felt completely on her own. It was the first time she was able to articulate how she felt about being abused as a child.…
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Paolo Nutini: Nothing bittersweet about the singer-songwriter’s return
By Sara Valle The Scottish boy with an Italian name is back! After eight years of radio silence, Paolo Nutini announced he would be part of the line-up for different UK festivals like TRSNMT in Scotland and the legendary Knebworth, then he announced extra dates in Spain, Italy, France… And just a few days after a series of intimate shows was booked,…
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An Ode to Fangirls
By Sara Valle-Martínez Being a fan is hard. As Caitlin Moran puts it in her book, How To Be Famous, there’s something incredibly intimate about consuming someone else’s art. And the connection is even stronger when you’re a teenager exposed to any kind of stimuli. It’s especially hard if you’re a girl. Inevitably, being a teenager means feeling…
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Taylor Swift: Devil Incarnate or Scapegoat Extraordinaire?
By Sara Valle Taylor Swift is the devil. At least, tabloids seem to think she is. It doesn’t matter how and what she does, there’s always something to pinpoint for the clicks and the likes. She broke Ticketmaster, she’s caused seismic activity, and she pulled Lana del Rey to collect an award with her on…
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From Fans to Friends: I’m Just an Adult and Life Is NOT a Nightmare (Simple Plan live in London)
By Sara Valle At some point, almost all people have blasted Welcome to My Life in their room. Canadian band Simple Plan were arguably the kings of pop-punk in the noughties – and they haven’t retired. They jump on stage in their Chucks and Vans, tattooed head-to-toe, singing about being an outcast who’s not willing to…
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Laura Silverstone’s new album, “Heartwood”: Harmony and Ambition
By Sara Valle Laura Silverstone had a dream that one day she would become a musician. Way before Simple Plan and Green Day posed on the posters plastered on her bedroom walls, she’d already learn to play the accordion. “Music in my day-to-day life is like drinking water, like eating. It’s the most essential part,” she…
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Art by Algorithm: Is AI the death of tattoo design?
By Sara Valle AI is revolutionising the world – and whoever says otherwise is lying. It feels real – ChatGPT talks like a person. “I’m here to provide information, answer questions, and engage in natural language conversations on a wide range of topics.” It always knows what to say and it can also breathe life…
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Sara Valle 