Indie-pop outfit VALLEY have released their six-song EP sucks to see you doing better. The Toronto four-piece have also released a pair of accompanying visualizers for the EP’s title track, “sucks to see you doing better” and new track, “homebody“.
Driven by the complexities of finding stability in a somewhat unsteady world, VALLEY is the first to acknowledge that because life is complicated, so are they. Clearly, with a title like sucks to see you doing better – which features previously released singles “hiccup” (which gathered 200,000 streams in the first 48 hours) and “nevermind” – the next chapter of their catalog embraces how the chaos of existing is truly one of the most integral themes woven throughout their synth-drenched signature sound.
Rooted in a white-knuckle work ethic, VALLEY tirelessly strives to create juxtaposition. Comprised of four perfectionists going to painstaking efforts to ensure that every note they create can impact a listener and every word they can write can positively affect the world, their self-assigned obsessions often leave them feeling paralyzed by the weight of the expectations. Their upbeat and sparkling indie-pop hooks, which are built to vibrantly spiral around a listener’s headphones noticeably contrast the deeply-profound emotionally charged lyrical imagery they create. However, despite lingering in conversations about mental health trouble spots, like feelings of hopelessness, dusting off after heartbreak, and feeling insignificance in a digital world, VALLEY have rejected apathy, despair and lethargy, choosing instead to use their music to construct a platform of positivity to help transition through the complexities of young adulthood.
It is this vivid irony that actually leads to the beauty of VALLEY. Sure, they think it sucks to see you doing better, but they’re also doing everything in their power to make sure that you do.
Motivated by a desire to normalize conversations about raw emotions, the band admits that “sucks to see you doing better was born from our obsession of continuing to raise the bar with honesty and directness in our songs.” They explain, expanding on the direction of the new EP, “sucks to see you doing better really doesn’t have one identity. We wanted it to feel isolated and alone but also like a giant hug when you listen to it in headphones. sucks to see you doing better should remind everyone that we’re going through the same mundane shit and struggling to deal with our day to day emotions whether it’s with ourselves or with other people.”
VALLEY – comprised of Rob Atlas, Karah James, Mikey Brandolino, Alex DiMauro – have formed an organic buzz through a personal and intimate connection with their fans. That relationship has helped the band generate nearly 54 million streams on Spotify alone, fronted by their breakout single, “There’s Still A Light In The House,” which has gathered 16 million streams on its own.