Around the end of last year In 2025, Thairath Plus spoke with Valentina Ploy, or Ploy–Valentina Giardullo, about Warm (Part I), her first EP that conveyed warmth through six acoustic tracks. This time, she returned to discuss two exciting developments: first, the release of Warm Part II EP last December, which continues to unfold another half of Valentina’s story; and second, her concert on the Chao Phraya River that perfectly embodies the concept of both EPs.
By now, many are at least somewhat familiar with Valentina Ploy. She is a shy young woman who overcame her shyness through competing on The Voice Thailand Season 6 and other music stages, including the prestigious Miss Universe Thailand in 2018. From then until now, she admits, "I still get a bit shy," which reflects her Thai nature that became a source of warmth expressed in her first EP. She explained that Warm Part II reveals another side of her, more Italian in character, with songs full of fun and diverse sound designs blended with the melancholic lyrics.
"At first, I had this phrase: ‘Sometimes I wish I was cooler, but maybe I was born to stay warm.’ Sometimes we want to be cool like others, but maybe we were born warm. In English, it’s a play on words—cool means stylish, warm means affectionate."
"So I wanted to present it in two parts to highlight their differences, from hair color to mood and sound design. Being biracial, I divided it into two halves: the Thai side, chill and shy, warm; and the other side, full of high energy."
She collaborated with Richard Craker, a skilled producer who has worked with multiple Grammy-winning songwriters, on Part I. Ploy shared that he gave her considerable creative freedom, and his guitar playing helped create the comfortable, warm mood she wanted. For Part II, she worked with a new producer, Jackson Dimiglio Wood, whose distinct style helped her discover fresh, fun musical directions.
The opening track, titled Rebecca, immediately sounds quite different from Warm Part I. On the surface, it might seem to be about a woman named Rebecca, but Ploy intended it to address 'Rebecca Syndrome'—the jealousy stemming from monitoring an ex-partner’s past relationships.
"I’ve had this since I was a kid—feeling insecure, wondering if my ex is better than me. There’s even a book and a Netflix show about it. It’s fascinating why humans think like this. Jackson and I turned it into a fun, somewhat humorous song: Why do I think this way? Oh Rebecca baby, you b*tch. We didn’t want to feel this way, so we put it into very pop music to help heal emotionally. I hope girls who feel the same will feel better after hearing it."
The second track is impossible to ignore—it became catchy, viral on TikTok, and was frequently googled as the ‘hello sawasdee ka song.’ Its real title is 'So Valentina.' Ploy said this song is deeply personal, reflecting her identity through ethnicity, language, and personality.
"Actually, the lyrics are sad. It talks about being an emotional weight lifter—carrying others’ feelings more than your own. It’s sad, right? We stay here to help everyone, bearing their emotions, but when we can’t anymore, it gets tough. Just because I seem positive all the time doesn’t mean I’m not struggling. I’m human too."
"I wanted this song to be very Valentina—in words and language. The music blends sound design with acoustic elements and includes Thai, Italian, and Spanish because I speak five languages. ‘Hello sawasdee ka’ is me in every way."
SNAP is the third track, evoking the sound of something breaking or snapping a photo. Ploy explained that SNAP refers to snapping fingers (demonstrating by raising both arms and snapping). The song doesn't have a deep backstory; it’s a fun self-encouragement anthem in typical Valentina Ploy style.
"When I used to feel sad or want something but never got it, I’d pretend snapping my fingers would make it happen (laughs). It became a funny thing among my friends and family. I believe that if we intend and pray, it attracts what we want."
Finally, the song Xx, or kiss kiss, features sad lyrics paired with an upbeat rhythm. Ploy emphasized it’s about a relationship that doesn’t feel like love but is pretended to be love, humorously comparing it to work. Xx stands for 'kiss kiss,' a sign-off lovers often use. In the song’s context, it’s like sending the message 'I miss you xx' but not pressing send. "We tried everything to forget you, started a new life, changed hair color to move on. Everything that happened inspired the song," Ploy explained, running her fingers through recently dyed hair.
On Sunday, 1 February, Ploy will hold her concert 'Warm on the Waves' aboard The River Club boat on the Chao Phraya River. She will perform songs from both EPs in a warm sunset atmosphere. Fans who have followed Valentina Ploy closely know this is her first serious concert as a lead artist, excluding live house shows or opening for others. Initially worried about ticket sales, she is now ecstatic after selling out.
"It started with the song Porsche (from Part I). I was on a family trip in Italy, spending a happy day on a boat. At that moment, I didn’t care about my life; I was just joyful with my family on the boat. The song mirrors life—it’s like waves, with people coming and going. Everything is like being on a boat on a journey through ups and downs, like life. I thought it would be great to make the song a real-life experience—letting people feel what I did: being with the music, in this world, warmth, and the sunset."
Though Ploy spent part of her life in Italy, she travels to Bangkok annually, often cruising the Chao Phraya River because she loves the sparkling reflections and the cityscape dotted with temples. Holding a concert on the Chao Phraya thus expresses a distinctly Thai essence. However, she shared the challenges behind organizing this concert, especially as an independent artist. Originally, the vision was a concert on a boat cruising the river, but due to various issues, it was scaled back to a stationary boat docked at the pier.
"I believe everything happens for a reason. Whatever is meant to happen will. When I saw the venue, it was beautiful—I immediately understood why it had to be there. The boat is stunning, the view is amazing, and behind us is Luang Pu Thuat. Hugh, Luang Pu Thuat (laughs). It’s incredibly lucky."