Hot Picks: Val Fleury Shares The Tracks Behind Her Afrowarehouse Sound
- Undrtone Blog
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Val Fleury’s sound starts at home and travels far. Born in Liberia and raised on rhythm, her music carries West African roots into modern club culture with confidence and clarity. Her sets stretch from Coachella to Berlin, Miami to New York, all built on groove, emotion and soul. She calls it Afrowarehouse. Once you hear it, you understand why.
Her debut EP ‘Light’ lands on Mind Of A Genius as a personal milestone. Two tracks. Two statements. ‘Light’ with Luna Maye leans into tenderness, warmth and healing. ‘Body Move’ with Kayla Star switches the energy with acid heat, Afro swing and fearless attitude. Together, they show the full range of Val’s world. Intimate but powerful. Club-ready but spiritual. Buy/Stream it here: https://symphony.to/val-fleury/light-ep.
For this edition of Hot Picks, Val opens up about the music that raised her and still moves her now. From Michael Jackson and Celia Cruz to Green Velvet, Inner City and Robyn, her picks tell a story of culture, identity and freedom. These are not just records she plays. They are memories. They are lessons. They are the feeling behind the sound.
Michael Jackson - Liberian Girl (David May & B. Howard Remix)
There’s not a day in Liberia where “Liberian Girl” doesn’t play many times on the radio. It could likely be our national anthem at this point, haha. I love the MJ original and have several remixes that I always play in my sets. When I found this David May & B. Howard version, I had to add it to my roster. It’s been a fan favourite.
Celia Cruz - Herencia Africana (DJ Jose Marquez “Salsafrican” Mix)
I grew up on Celia Cruz — her voice, her joy, her pride in her Afro-Latino heritage always moved me. This Salsafrican mix by Jose Marquez feels like a celebration of global Black roots. I try to find a place for Celia gems in my sets!
al Fleury & Jon Alpine - Believe (Juliet Mendoza Remix)
Dropping this gem during my Coachella set was an ah-ha moment for me. It solidified that I need to pursue my music career full time. Working with Jon Alpine felt like magic, and when I reached out to Juliet Mendoza she immediately said yes and delivered this remix banger. She’s always been so supportive and a real one!
Skales - Shake Body
A true West African anthem. This track plays at every West African party, every celebration. The kind of song that lights up a room and lifts your spirits. I love that it also calls out gratitude for your blessings. It’s confident, full of gratitude, and built to make people shake their bodies. I’m working on a remix of this favourite—hold tight!
Green Velvet - Percolator (Bontan Remix)
Chicago is one of the electronic-music capitals, and Green Velvet —aka Cajmere—is part of its legacy. “Percolator” is cross-cultural, cross-generational, and this Bontan remix gives it an Afro pulse that makes my thighs burn even more when I dance.
Santigold - Big Mouth
Philly queen Santigold is one of the first Black female artists I saw who just made music unapologetically her way. From collabs with Amadou & Mariam to Diplo to Karen O and beyond. “Big Mouth” mixes African-influenced rhythms with electronic bravado. Her message about ignoring noise and staying true to yourself is something I carry with me always.
Salif Keita - Madan (Exotic Disco Mix)
You can’t play this track and not see people dancing with wide smiles on their faces every time! Thirty years later, this tune is still infectious. The power of African music to bring people together. This track feels like home, celebration, legacy.
Inner City - Big Fun
Detroit is also a sacred city for electronic music, and has brought us many legends like Kevin Saunderson —who teamed up with vocal powerhouse Paris Grey to form Inner City. This techno classic makes me move every time, and reminds me that joy doesn’t always need a crowd. Sometimes, you just need the beat and the feeling.
Robyn - Dancing On My Own
Robyn has always walked her own path, bridging pop and electronic in the most emotional way. Her discography is insane, and she’s had collabs with so many other artists I love from Röyksopp to Channel Tres. This song taught me to dance like no one’s watching, and to feel deeply even when I’m alone.
Val Fleury’s ‘Light’ EP is available now on Mind Of A Genius. This release is a statement of purpose as much as it is music. It connects heritage with future-forward sound. It celebrates rhythm as healing. It honours dance as community. These Hot Picks show exactly where that energy comes from.
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