Following your Wiz Khalifa-assisted “Dimes,” why did you decide to drop “Dimes (Acoustic)”?

Vali: It’s one of my favorite songs I’ve ever done. “Dimes” is so much deeper than it appears on the surface, so when I got to do “Dimes (Acoustic)” it just felt so good. 

How did you develop your urban pop sound? 

Vali: The beats that I tend to go to usually have big kicks, heavy 808’s, drum patterns but my vocals are usually more on the pop side. Although I can sing R&B my voice tends to sound more pop, so no matter what beat I’m on, it just has that pop edge.

We premiered your cover video for Katy Perry’s “Unconditionally.” What do you enjoy most about covering songs?

Vali: I’m always thinking of new songs to cover. That’s one of my favorite things to do. I love mashing up, combining two songs into one song and figuring out how to make it work without sounding crazy so I’m actually thinking right now what my next cover should be. My next cover, I kind’ve want to do something like “Oops Oh My” or something that just hasn’t been done in a really long time.

What is the story behind the visuals for Paper Charade’s intro video? 

Vali: I wanted something that kind’ve told the story of what my EP means. The visuals of a ballet dancer represent my feminine side but then I show the money and the hustling on the street corner and gambling because all my songs have to deal with love, money and heartbreak and hustling. So every visual in there has to do with something that I felt at that moment. Paper Charades is based off a movie that Audrey Hepburn was in the 60’s. that’s why in the end I used clips from that film of Audrey Hepburn.

What’s up with your obsession with Audrey Hepburn?

Vali: I’m really fascinated by her. I know a lot of people are fascinated by Marilyn [Monroe] but I feel like Audrey is just epic. Something about her story; I relate more to her. I think she was even homeless and I was never homeless but her story to me is really fascinating. She grew up with nothing [and] she worked really hard for everything that she had.

What is next for you musically now that Paper Charade is out. Do you plan on dropping a full project, touring?

Vali: Well, I’m still shooting stuff off Paper Charade. I’m also working on a visual for “Lotto” and I’m honestly in the studio non-stop and focusing on getting an album done. I want to focus on creating music at the end of the day that’s the most important thing and then I’m going to come back and tour. I just want to make sure the music is really, really right.