Neon Noir

Neon Noir is the debut studio album by Finnish singer-songwriter Ville Valo, performing under the stage name VV and formerly the frontman of the rock band HIM. The album was released on 13 January 2023 through Heartagram Records, distributed by Spinefarm Records.^[1] It incorporates elements of gothic rock and alternative rock.^[2] Neon Noir debuted at number one on the Finnish Albums Chart and number four on the German Albums Chart.^[3]

Background and development

Post-HIM activities

Following the conclusion of HIM's farewell tour in late 2017, the band officially disbanded, with frontman Ville Valo citing collective burnout after 26 years of activity and a mutual desire to pursue fresh creative avenues rather than risk diminishing returns.^[4] Valo described the decision as a sense of relief, noting that the group had sustained longer than anticipated and chose to end on a high note to preserve their legacy.^[5] In 2019, Valo ventured into new territory with his collaboration alongside the Finnish ensemble Agents, releasing the self-titled album Ville Valo & Agents on February 15, which blended rock elements with Finnish schlager traditions and marked his inaugural post-HIM musical output.^[6] The project, featuring covers and originals in a retro rock & roll style, debuted at number one on the Finnish Albums Chart and achieved gold certification within a week, signaling Valo's adaptability beyond gothic rock.^[7] Transitioning to a solo endeavor, Valo launched the VV moniker in 2020, debuting with the EP Gothica Fennica, Vol. 1 on March 20, a three-track release comprising "Salute the Sanguine," "Run Away From the Sun," and "Saturnine Saturnalia," which echoed his HIM-era gothic influences while establishing his independent direction.^[8] The EP served as a tentative exploration of solo material, self-released to test audience reception amid evolving personal artistry.^[9] The COVID-19 pandemic enforced a brief hiatus in 2020, confining Valo to home-based production in his Helsinki studio, where he handled writing, recording, and engineering independently, fostering introspection that shaped his subsequent work.^[10] This isolation period, while challenging, allowed him to experiment freely and laid groundwork for his full-length solo debut.^[11]

Conception and writing

The conception of Neon Noir emerged in the years following the 2017 disbandment of HIM, with significant development occurring during the 2019–2020 period amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which Valo described as an emotionally challenging time that prompted deep introspection.^[12][13] Valo envisioned the album as a "sonic step-by-step guide on how to survive, and perhaps even enjoy, the realm of VV," blending personal reflections on loss and resilience with fictional narratives inspired by shadowy, atmospheric storytelling.^[14] This approach allowed him to process the end of his long-term band while crafting a narrative arc that evoked survival in a nocturnal, enigmatic world.^[13] The songwriting process spanned 2019 to 2022, during which Valo composed all 12 tracks entirely on his own in his home studio in Helsinki, Finland, emphasizing an instinctual, unfiltered method without external collaboration or pre-planned structures.^[15][16] He approached each song sequentially, starting from scratch and spending months refining one before moving to the next, resulting in a cohesive yet organic collection that he produced and engineered solo.^[17] This solitary workflow, which Valo likened to "losing my virginity" in solo artistry, marked a deliberate evolution from HIM's collaborative "love metal" sound toward a more personal and experimental gothic rock palette.^[15][12] Key inspirations drew from neo-noir cinema, particularly the moody, high-contrast aesthetics of films like Blade Runner, which updated the fatalistic tones of 1940s–1950s film noir with futuristic, neon-drenched visuals and modern synth elements.^[12] Valo sought to infuse these cinematic influences with ‘80s goth and rock motifs, creating a "gothic Phil Spector" wall of sound that balanced melancholy and romance while pushing beyond HIM's signature style.^[15][17] In September 2022, Valo announced the album under the VV moniker, chosen to symbolize a fresh, unburdened identity separate from his HIM legacy and to invite listeners into this new "realm."^[14] This decision underscored his intent for Neon Noir as a bridge to future work, following brief post-HIM explorations like his 2019 collaboration with The Agents.^[12]

Production

Recording locations and process

The primary recording for Neon Noir took place at Ville Valo's home studio in Helsinki, Finland, spanning from 2020 to 2022, a period that coincided with global pandemic lockdowns allowing for flexible, unhurried sessions without external deadlines.^[15][18] This solitary environment enabled Valo to maintain complete creative control, as he wrote, engineered, and performed all instruments and vocals himself, embracing a DIY ethos that minimized outside involvement during the tracking phase.^[19][13] The recording process emphasized iterative layering to build atmospheric depth, starting with one track at a time—often beginning with drums, which required months of experimentation to achieve the desired sound—before adding guitars, analogue synths, and other elements to create a dense, "gothic Phil Spector"-inspired wall of sound.^[15] Valo utilized his studio's API 32-track console, vintage outboard gear from the 1970s and 1980s, and Genelec monitoring system to facilitate seamless re-tracking and adjustments in a circular setup.^[15][18] This hands-on method resulted in the album's 12 tracks, totaling 56 minutes and 33 seconds of runtime, with a focus on evolving each song's sonic texture organically.^[2] Pandemic-related travel restrictions posed significant challenges, enforcing total isolation that tested Valo's engineering limits and emotional resilience, though file-sharing tools ultimately supported limited remote input later in the project without disrupting the core tracking.^[15][13] The process, described by Valo as both liberating and mentally taxing, unfolded without a rigid clock, allowing ideas from earlier writing phases to integrate fluidly into the recordings.^[19]

Production and engineering

Ville Valo served as the primary producer, engineer, and performer on Neon Noir, handling all instruments including guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, and vocals, with no additional musicians credited on the recordings.^[20][21] Working from his home studio in Helsinki, Valo tracked the album solo before sending mixes for further refinement.^[22] The album was co-produced and mixed by Tim Palmer at his Studio 62 in Austin, Texas, where he applied his expertise from prior collaborations with Valo during the HIM era to polish the tracks.^[23][22] Palmer's involvement focused on enhancing the overall sonic cohesion, drawing on his experience with artists like David Bowie and U2 to balance the album's dense arrangements.^[15][12] Mastering was handled by Justin Shturtz at Sterling Sound in Nashville, ensuring tonal consistency and dynamic range suitable for various formats including CD, vinyl, and digital streaming.^[24][23] Shturtz's work maintained the album's gothic rock essence while optimizing loudness standards for modern playback.^[25] The production and engineering phase concluded in late 2022, aligning the final master with the release of pre-album singles like "Loveletting" and "The Foreverlost" to establish a unified sound ahead of the full album's January 2023 launch.^[21][26]

Composition

Musical style

Neon Noir exemplifies gothic rock as its foundational genre, blended with post-punk revival elements and 1980s synth-pop aesthetics, evoking the melodic introspection of HIM's later works like Screamworks: Love Is Purely Hateful while introducing a brighter, more luminous production sheen often described as "neon-infused."^[27][28][29] This fusion draws from influences such as The Cure's melancholic atmospheres and Depeche Mode's electronic textures, creating a sound that balances accessibility with emotional depth.^[28][27] The instrumentation centers on prominent electric guitars delivering soaring melodies and Sabbath-inspired riffs, complemented by atmospheric synths and keyboards that provide lush, layered backdrops, alongside driving basslines and a combination of live-feeling and programmed drums.^[28][27][29] Tempos range from mid-tempo ballads that emphasize somber pacing to upbeat rockers with infectious hooks, with Ville Valo's vocals rendered in a cleaner, more emotive style—showcasing seductive ranges and grainy fades—contrasting HIM's heavier "love metal" aggression.^[28][27] A notable shift lies in the heightened role of electronic and synth elements, which add glossy polish and orchestral swells, as heard in the title track "Neon Noir," enhancing the album's dramatic tension without overpowering its rock core.^[27][28][29] Structurally, Neon Noir arcs from an energetic opener in "Echolocate Your Love"—a snappy rocker bridging Valo's past with fresh directions—to an introspective mid-section featuring tender, synth-driven pieces like "In Trenodia" and "Heartful of Ghosts," before culminating triumphantly in "Saturnine Saturnalia" with its heavy riffs and uplifting resolve.^[28][27][29] This progression maintains a consistent flow, prioritizing melodic tenderness over bombast while evolving Valo's signature sound through refined production techniques like layered acoustics and unadulterated tones.^[28][29]

Themes and influences

Neon Noir embodies a central theme of "neon noir," fusing the vibrant, futuristic optimism evoked by neon lights with the dark, melancholic introspection of noir aesthetics, to explore motifs of love, loss, isolation, and resilience.^[30] Ville Valo has described the album as a "step-by-step guide on how to stay alive," written amid the emotional challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting periods of solitude in his Finnish studio where he felt like "a human among the lizard people."^[13][31] This conceptual blend draws from neo-noir cinema, such as the shadowy urban tales in Blade Runner, evoking a "radiant darkness" that combines romance, drama, and a "Philip Marlowe type of film noir detective story" vibe with Scandi noir elements.^[30] The lyrical style features melodramatic storytelling rich in poetic imagery, shifting from the more cryptic narratives of Valo's HIM era to direct, evocative expressions that "go straight for the jugular."^[13] For instance, "Loveletting" portrays heartbreak as an "ode to the setting sun and a tale of dancing on the razor’s edge between holding on and letting go," capturing the tension of emotional release amid love's dissolution.^[31] Similarly, "Run Away From the Sun" conveys existential wanderlust through themes of avoidance and isolation, with Valo noting it addresses how "the light at the end of the tunnel can sometimes shine so bright it’s scary," informed by his habit of "sweeping most of [his] issues under the carpet."^[31] Influences extend to personal experiences post-HIM, including pandemic-induced seclusion and the support of his partner, to whom the album is dedicated, drawing on Valo's longstanding literary influences in gothic romance such as authors like Charles Bukowski, Charles Baudelaire, and Edgar Allan Poe.^[13] The tracks form a loose narrative of emotional survival, progressing through gothic introspection without a rigid storyline, emphasizing resilience in the face of melancholy as a source of cathartic joy.^[13]

Release

Singles

The singles from Neon Noir were released progressively from 2020 to 2023 under Ville Valo's VV moniker, serving as the initial output from his post-HIM solo endeavors and gradually unveiling the album's sound. All tracks were co-written and produced by Valo, who handled the majority of instrumentation and engineering, with co-production and mixing by Tim Palmer. These releases built anticipation through a mix of gothic rock, synth-driven elements, and romantic themes, culminating in the full album launch. "Run Away from the Sun" marked Valo's debut single as VV, released on March 19, 2020, as part of the EP Gothica Fennica Vol. 1. The track features soaring melodies and introspective lyrics about escaping to a shared world, establishing Valo's solo direction with a blend of love metal influences. An official music video accompanied the release, showcasing atmospheric visuals. "Loveletting," the second single, arrived on April 8, 2022, signaling the start of the Neon Noir era with its emotive vocals and driving rhythm. The song explores themes of release and connection, paired with a music video directed by Kim Koponen that employs shadowy, intimate cinematography evoking noir aesthetics, including symbolic imagery like a black sheep to represent isolation. On September 2, 2022, "Echolocate Your Love" was issued as the third single, simultaneously announcing the album title and release date while offering a gothic-optimistic tone with echoing production. It received its live debut during Valo's inaugural VV performance on January 13, 2023, at Tavastia Club in Helsinki, opening the set and setting the stage for the Neon Noir Tour. The fourth single, "The Foreverlost," followed on November 4, 2022, highlighting prominent synth layers and an '80s-inspired cyber-noir vibe reminiscent of Depeche Mode, with pulsating rhythms underscoring themes of eternal searching. The track's electronic elements distinguished it within the album's gothic framework, emphasizing Valo's expanded sonic palette. "Salute the Sanguine," originally from the 2020 EP, was positioned as a promotional single leading into the album, spotlighted in early 2023 previews for its gothic ballad structure with heavier intros and orchestral swells. The song's dramatic build and themes of reverence and darkness aligned with the record's moody essence. The title track "Neon Noir" served as the fifth single, released concurrently with the album on January 13, 2023, via Heartagram Records. Featuring a hypnotic groove and neon-lit imagery in its official video, it encapsulated the project's synth-pop gothic core, with Valo performing all vocals and primary instrumentation.

Artwork and formats

The cover art for Neon Noir features a black-and-white photograph of Ville Valo captured by Finnish photographer Joonas Brandt, depicting the artist in a shadowy, introspective pose amid urban neon glows that evoke the album's neo-noir aesthetic.^[32] This imagery aligns thematically with the record's exploration of melancholic, film-noir-inspired motifs, as discussed in its broader influences.^[31] The artwork design was handled by Valo in collaboration with graphic designer Rami Mursula, blending the signature heartagram symbol—HIM's longstanding emblem—with stark black-and-white contrasts and subtle red accents to reinforce the noir visual style.^[32] These elements create a moody, cinematic presentation that encapsulates the album's atmospheric essence without relying on color saturation. Neon Noir was released in multiple physical and digital formats on January 13, 2023, via Heartagram Records, distributed by Spinefarm Records. Standard editions include digital download and streaming availability across major platforms, a jewel case CD, and a double black 180-gram vinyl LP housed in a gatefold sleeve with printed inner sleeves containing full lyrics.^[33] Limited-edition variants comprise a white double vinyl LP, a clear double vinyl LP, and a scarce cassette tape that sold out rapidly during pre-orders.^[33] A deluxe hardbook CD edition offers enhanced packaging but includes no additional tracks or content beyond the standard 12-song lineup. Digital versions support high-resolution audio playback on services like Tidal and Qobuz.^[34]

Promotion

Marketing

The album Neon Noir by Ville Valo, under his solo moniker VV, was announced on September 14, 2022, through social media posts and a cover feature in Kerrang! magazine, generating significant pre-release buzz among fans of his former band HIM. Pre-orders for the album opened immediately following the announcement, allowing supporters to access various formats including vinyl, CD, and digital editions ahead of the January 13, 2023, release date.^[35][36] Released via Heartagram Records—Valo's own imprint—it was distributed globally by Universal Music Group through its Spinefarm Records label, ensuring wide availability across physical and digital platforms. This partnership facilitated international reach, with the label handling promotion in key markets like Europe and North America.^[37][35] Promotional efforts included teaser content shared on social media, featuring snippets of tracks overlaid with atmospheric visuals inspired by noir aesthetics, building anticipation for the album's thematic style. Valo participated in several interviews, such as a January 2023 feature with NME, where he discussed the personal evolution of his solo work post-HIM, highlighting themes of heartbreak and reinvention to connect with audiences.^[13][38] Commercial tie-ins encompassed limited-edition merchandise bundles, including colored vinyl variants paired with Heartagram-branded apparel and posters, available exclusively through the official VV store. Additionally, Valo curated thematic streaming playlists on Spotify, incorporating Neon Noir tracks alongside influences from gothic and alternative rock to engage listeners digitally.^[34][39]

Neon Noir Tour

The Neon Noir Tour was the primary concert tour by Finnish musician Ville Valo, under his VV moniker, in support of his debut solo album Neon Noir. Launched on March 31, 2023, at the Theatre of Living Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the spring 2023 North American leg featured dates across the United States, including stops in Boston and New York City, concluding on May 8, 2023, at Irving Plaza in New York City. A co-headlining fall tour with Black Veil Brides followed in September-October 2023 across North America.^[40][41][42] The tour subsequently expanded to Europe and the United Kingdom, with performances in Helsinki, London, and other cities through late 2023, before a final worldwide leg from April to May 2024 that included shows in New Zealand, Australia, and Europe, starting at Fuzz Club in Athens, Greece, on April 4, 2024, and ending in London.^[43][44] Key performances highlighted the tour's scope and appeal. In the United States, a notable date occurred on May 4, 2023, at Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee, where Valo delivered a high-energy set blending new material with fan favorites. The tour's finale took place on May 10, 2024, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, a sold-out show featuring special guests Eivør and Zetra, marking a triumphant close to the international run.^[45][46][47] Setlists for the Neon Noir Tour typically emphasized tracks from the album, such as "Echolocate Your Love" and the title song "Neon Noir," interspersed with HIM classics like "Right Here in My Arms" and "Join Me in Death." Performances typically featured 18-22 songs over approximately 100-120 minutes, creating a balanced retrospective of Valo's career while prioritizing the gothic romance and nocturnal themes of Neon Noir, reflected in stage designs evoking shadowy, neon-lit urban landscapes.^[48][49][50] The tour held significant cultural and personal importance, serving as the culmination and closure of Valo's VV project, which he described as a temporary solo endeavor rather than an ongoing band identity. The tour encompassed over 150 shows across four continents, marking the conclusion of the Neon Noir era, with no additional VV tours announced as of 2025. Many dates, including the Philadelphia opener and the Royal Albert Hall finale, sold out rapidly, drawing acclaim from fans and critics for the intimate yet atmospheric gothic presentation that fostered a sense of communal nostalgia.^{[43][12][41][51][52]}

Reception

Critical reviews

Critics generally praised Neon Noir for showcasing Ville Valo's vocal maturity and subtle evolution within his established gothic rock style, marking a confident solo debut that builds on his HIM legacy without fully replicating it.^[20][53] Reviewers highlighted how Valo's voice delivers emotive depth and falsetto flourishes, as in the title track, infusing tracks with a more reflective, personal intensity compared to his band-era work.^[53][20] Metal Injection awarded it 7/10, commending the album as a "gothic revival" that resonates with nostalgia for millennial-era dark romance while proving Valo's viability post-HIM.^[54] Similarly, Wall of Sound gave 9/10, lauding its emotional resonance and Valo's growth into a more introspective songwriter.^[53] Key strengths noted across reviews include the atmospheric production and poetic lyrics, which create an immersive, dreamy soundscape blending synth pulses, layered guitars, and dynamic rhythms. MetalSucks described the home-studio recording—mixed by Tim Palmer—as polished yet raw, evoking a "relaxing gloom" that mixes Black Sabbath riffs with post-punk and '80s influences for timeless appeal.^[20] Lyrically, the album's explorations of love, loss, and melancholy were celebrated for their heartfelt ambiguity and maturity, with Wall of Sound comparing the evocative storytelling in tracks like "Baby Lacrimarium" to Taylor Swift's narrative depth.^[53] Kerrang! (4/5) praised the widescreen production on songs like "Run Away From the Sun" for its epic beauty and HIM-like heartagram glow, positioning Neon Noir as a worthy continuation of Valo's dark, sexy aesthetic.^[55] Classic Rock (7/10) called it a "brazenly glam collection" that illuminates the path forward for gothic rock.^[56] Some critics pointed to weaknesses, particularly an over-reliance on familiar HIM elements, such as synth-driven melodies and romantic-gothic tropes, which occasionally limit innovation. Kerrang! noted that only a "sheen of electronics" distinguishes it from a potential HIM release, suggesting the evolution feels incremental rather than transformative.^[55] Metal Injection echoed this, critiquing the programmed drums and solo production constraints as factors that prevent a fuller renaissance, potentially alienating fans seeking heavier dynamics.^[54] Wall of Sound acknowledged echoes in tracks like "Salute the Sanguine," which could pass for unreleased HIM material, though it viewed this familiarity as a strength for longtime listeners.^[53] Aggregate critic scores reflect a solid, positive reception, with Album of the Year compiling 75/100 based on 10 professional reviews.^[56] Fan response has been strong, evidenced by a 3.1/5 average on Rate Your Music from 444 ratings, indicating enduring appeal among Valo's core audience despite mixed professional nuance on originality.^[57]

Commercial performance

Neon Noir debuted at number one on the Finnish Albums Chart in January 2023, holding the position for one week.^[58] The album performed strongly across several European markets, peaking at number four on the German Albums Chart, number thirteen in Austria, number nineteen in Switzerland, number thirty-four in Spain, and number one hundred eighty-seven in Belgium.^[59][60][3] The album has garnered significant streams on Spotify, propelled by singles such as "Run Away from the Sun".^[61] Neon Noir charted in various European top 100 charts following its release. The Neon Noir Tour has contributed to ongoing interest in the album.

Credits

Track listing

The standard edition of Neon Noir consists of 12 tracks with a total duration of 56:33. All tracks were written by Ville Valo.^[62][26] No deluxe or regional variants include additional tracks; available formats such as CD, vinyl, and digital all feature the same track listing.^{[33] [2]}

Personnel

The album Neon Noir was primarily a solo effort by Ville Valo, who performed all instrumentation—including vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, and programming—as well as handling production and engineering duties.^[62][26] No guest musicians or additional vocalists contributed to the recordings.^[33] Tim Palmer served as co-producer and mixed all tracks at his Studio 62 in Austin, Texas.^[63] Justin Shturtz mastered the album at Sterling Sound in Nashville, Tennessee.^[23][63] The recording process took place mainly in Valo's home studio in Helsinki, Finland, emphasizing his multi-instrumental and self-sufficient approach to the project.^[63] For the visual elements, Joonas Brandt provided photography, while Rami Mursula designed the artwork alongside contributions from Valo himself for the cover art.^[64][32]