Val de Val is:
TJ - vocals
Jamie - guitar
Adam - guitar
Matt - bass & vocals
Dan - drums
The story of Val de Val is one of synchronicity, aspiration (bordering on obsession) and unfinished business. Each of its members were involved in projects that, by the middle of 2008, were either slowly falling apart or had all but disintegrated. But old habits die hard and soon guitarist Jamie Pinto (formerly of Brass/Northstar Infinite) was in a basement with bassist Matthew Beaver and guitarist Adam Benites (both formerly of Engine, We’re a Forest) writing new material. With a long list of musician friends, it was inevitable that Pinto would soon find the missing pieces they needed, even if just to help finish some new songs. After a few emails back and forth they had a drummer (Dan McFarland of Sinch) and lead vocalist (TJ Smith, formerly of Synapse/Moth Meets Machine) on board. From there, ideas and melodies flowed in late night, wine-fueled writing sessions. New friendships formed alongside new material and before long it was obvious that this was a real band.

By the end of 2010, after countless late nights in basements, rented rehearsal rooms and finally The Studio (formerly the Roots’ studio), the band had its first 6 songs recorded and ready for release. Their debut EP, Subtle Bodies, was released to a packed house at Johnny Brenda’s in January 2011. The title is a reference to the multiple planes of existence of all living things (according to various esoteric, occult, and mystical teachings) and reflects both the songs’ multi-layered arrangements and otherworldly sound.

To put it simply, Val de Val makes rock music: two guitars, bass, drums and voices. But the whole is most definitely more than the sum of its parts. Guitar lines bounce off each other like self-transforming machine elves trapped in a hall of mirrors. The vocals twist and turn, folding in on themselves, becoming something new. All of this unfolds above an unyielding rhythm section, in one moment a fit of impassioned frenzy and the next thundering ahead with machine precision. It shouldn’t make sense. But it does.

Val de Val will be returning to the studio in late 2011 to record a new album, tentatively set to be released in the first half of 2012. They are currently headlining shows in Philadelphia and the surrounding area while also branching out to other cities in the Northeastern US.

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