Leith-based gamer-pop artist Ashely Valensteïn has released her debut EP Day Dreamer on Alt Milk Records on the 14th February 2026. This EP is packed full of nostalgia for early 2000s pixel games, teenage culture, spoken word, found sounds and compassion. This EP focuses on Valensteïn growing up in East Lothian, her teenage years and moving out, now having recorded the EP in her home studio in Leith. Following her first live performance in 2023, Valensteïn has been building her cult following and supporting musicians such as Lou McLean, Thundermoon, Penny Black, and Dragged Up.
The EP opens with ‘Nothing Ever Happens Here’, setting the scene of a young Valensteïn stuck in a place she didn’t want to be. Ashley uses a clicking noise to open the track, almost like rewinding time to 2000, with a spoken word version of the first verse following and setting the scene. Valensteïn then introduces us to a dystopian melody, feeling very reminiscent of bored teenagers plotting to escape their dying town, like something from a young adult novel or a good coming-of-age film.
The next track, ‘When I Grow Up’, is filled with longing, longing for the future and a longing for the past, like a conversation between two versions of Ashley. This song has a more typical 2000’s pop song feel to it and keeps the EP feeling light and bright. Valensteïn then hits us with a raw and emotional song filled with spoken word and found sounds, reminiscent of a soundtrack you could find in Stardew Valley. Telling the story of springtime and what that means to this artist, this song is powerful and feels almost like a confession. Moving along, we have the bright and bouncy ‘You’re Worth So Much More’, a song that pleads with the listener to love themselves. This song could be a conversation with a friend, a sister or herself, but through this track Valensteïn exposes the heart of this EP, self-acceptance and love. Ashley Valensteïn finishes this glittering EP off with the very cheeky ‘ASBO’ (live version). This song is full of cheek, rage and fun, with the opening explaining what the definition of an ASBO is and the lyrics talking about getting Devil Dugs and White Label Cider. The high-pitched descending melody after each verse is so cheeky and fun, giving some light to the dark synth of the song.
You can listen to the full ‘Daydreamer’ EP now and get your own home-burned CD from Ashley Valensteïn’s Bandcamp.
