Having spent the last few months building up their reputation through a frenzy of bright and euphoric psych-pop offerings, Austin-based outfit Valice now return to deliver their highly-anticipated debut album 'Sugarjulie'.
Mixing a rich and diverse array of influences including Beck and The Flaming Lips, 'Sugarjulie' makes for a fun and kaleidoscopic introduction to the group. Filled with smooth and breezy hooks, sweeping rhythm, and some wonderfully captivating lyrics, their first LP is the place to go for a bold and laid-back good time throughout.
So with their new record out and about, we sat down with them to find out more about their background and what has inspired them most over the years.
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What were the first instruments you fell in love with?
The piano, though it was far from love at first sight. My musical journey actually began with an intense hatred of the piano. I started taking lessons when I was 3 years old, not long before my 4th birthday. I would always tell the teacher I needed to step out for a moment, and then try to physically flee the building. I still have nightmares that I am playing a recital and have forgotten how to play the song. Which actually happened once, in front of many PTA moms.
To me, the guitar was always the cool instrument—an instrument of all-powerful, rocking sex gods. Yet here I was, stuck with the dorky piano. Around, I want to say, 13 or 14, I started to hear more and more music where the piano was featured in a very inventive way, mainly some of the mid-60s Beatles songs, like “Tomorrow Never Knows”, “In My Life”, or “Lovely Rita”. Suddenly, the piano wasn’t so dorky anymore. So I did what any teenage lover of piano and six-string guitar would do, which was pick up the bass guitar and start playing in bands.
What has been the most prominent inspiration behind your music so far?
Ray Charles is the reason I got into music as a kid, and The Beatles are the reason I stayed there. I fell in love with Ray’s silky-smooth voice, especially on songs like “Night Time is the Right Time”. But the rapid evolution of The Beatles from songs like “Twist and Shout” to songs like “Happiness Is A Warm Gun” within a few years is to me the epitome of creativity, and a lasting example of how to push oneself. What I love about our band though is the different influences we all bring. George can show us My Bloody Valentine, David can show us Richard Wagner, James can show us Vulfpeck, Alex can show us Rush, I can show them Édith Piaf, and somehow it all works.
What kind of music did you love as a teenager?
Mostly anything classic rock. Went through some phases, as one does. There was a Black Sabbath phase, a John Williams phase, an EDM phase, a RATM phase. My favorite phase was probably the like-whatever-songs-the-girls-are-liking-to-impress-them phase. I think this mostly consisted of Katy Perry and Carly Rae Jepsen.
Can you remember the first song that made you want to pursue a life in music?
'A Day in the Life' off of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. I challenge anyone to listen to that and tell me they don’t feel inspired to live their life, be it as a musician, chef, accountant, skateboarder, or whatever. Truly the epitome of sound itself.
When you wake up in the morning, what kind of music do you like to listen to?
Anything George (our bassist) sends me.
How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?
I never plan to write about anybody. But as an artist, or any kind of creative, you have to draw on what you know. Everything you create is through the prism of your own experiences. As time passes, I realize that my songs are often about certain people, though at the time it felt unrelated. But with hindsight I go oh yeah, that’s where my head was when I wrote that, and it makes more sense to me now than it did then.
What have been the most memorable moments in your career so far?
Our very first show was a highlight just because of how scary it was. It was an evening show on Texas Radio Live, a weekly segment on Sun Radio. So not only was it live-in-person, with interview questions about our band’s history between songs, but it was also being broadcasted live for miles. We had had 2, maybe 3 practices beforehand, but we found our groove quickly and had a blast.
The most memorable though would be the release of our debut album Sugarjulie a few weeks back. It features songs we’ve been playing since that Texas Radio Live show, as well as some new ones I wrote and slapped in at the end.
Outside of music, what is your biggest passion?
Learning foreign languages. If anyone wants to be my linguistic pen pal let me know, but you’ll have to teach me how to mail a letter.
If you weren’t musicians, what other path do you think you might have taken?
None of us are actually full-time musicians, we all work jobs to pay for our musical hobbies. So we’d probably just be living our same lives, just with far less excitement. Also everything would be grey. In this scenario we see in black and white.
And what advice would you give to other musicians looking to start a career in music?
Well, to be honest I’m still figuring this out for myself as an aspiring musician. But one thing I’ve picked up is that it’s okay to have criticism. Some people will really vibe with your music, some people really won’t. You just have to trust your instincts and put out the best representation of yourself that you can.
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Valice's debut album 'Sugarjulie' is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in full via the player below.