Christchurch-based musician Vallé is inviting the public to pause, reflect, and reconnect with music through his latest exhibition HOLD ME, opening this Friday at Fibre Gallery in central Christchurch.
Originally from Papua New Guinea, Vallé grew up in Wellington but now calls Christchurch home. The exhibition, created in collaboration with director of photography John Ross, explores how the digital age has transformed the way music is consumed—shifting from a tangible, immersive experience to a fast-paced, disposable one dominated by streaming algorithms.
Speaking ahead of the opening, Vallé said the project aims to challenge the current listener experience and reflect on what has been lost in the transition from physical to digital music.
Valle Photo: Fire Fire / The Outliers
“I’m not trying to sound like one of those people stuck in the past, but I do think we’ve lost some of the deeper connections we once had with music,” he said. “Streaming has made everything so fast-paced, and people seldom slow down to really connect with what a song is saying.”
Vallé, who grew up visiting CD stores, described the sensory memories of buying his first album—an Eminem CD.
“I still remember the smell of the CD store, the lighting, and the guy questioning my dad about the explicit content. That whole experience stuck with me. It wasn’t just about the music—it was the process, the anticipation, and the connection,” he said.
He compared it to receiving a handwritten letter versus a text message—arguing that physical interaction with music once made it feel more meaningful.
“Today, music is so easily accessible that it can start to feel like it doesn’t mean as much. Kids stream songs they didn’t choose or pay for. There’s no investment, no sacrifice, no sense of ownership—and that changes how we value it,” Vallé said.
The HOLD ME exhibition will also introduce a new song Vallé plans to release in April—a track he describes as deeply personal and important.
The exhibition is designed to create a space where people can truly engage with the music and its message, free from the distractions of modern digital life.
“This project gives people the time and space to actually slow down and connect with a song—something streaming doesn’t always allow for. Everyone will take away something different, and that’s the beauty of it,” he said.
Vallé admitted the concept was born out of his own struggle with how music is consumed today.
“As a musician and a fan, I found myself becoming numb. There’s just so much out there, it’s impossible to keep up. And when I asked myself when I last sat down and listened to an album properly, I couldn’t answer. That’s when I knew something had to change.”
The exhibition opens on Friday 28 March at 6PM at Fibre Gallery, Level 1, 285 Cashel Street. Entry is free.
“There’ll be food and drinks on the night, and all it requires is your time and attention,” Vallé said. “I’d love to see people there, slow down, and experience music the way it’s meant to be felt.”
