VALLEY elaborates on the painful reality of life in new single “nevermind”
By Amy Tang
Nearly a year has gone by since VALLEY had released their debut album, MAYBE, and since then the four-piece Canadian group has been busy touring North America as supporting acts for artists Lennon Stella and The Band Camino, as well as earning a 2020 JUNO Award nomination for Breakthrough Group of the Year. From popular favorites like “There’s Still A Light In The House,” and “Park Bench,” to “A Phone Call In Amsterdam,” the indie band continues to build upon their connection with listeners through synth-heavy sounds and soul-filling verses. Now, at last, after weeks of anticipation VALLEY is back with another bangin’ track, released on July 8th, that is bound to get stuck in your head.
“[It’s] a song about the cyclical feelings of self-pity, apathy, and being an introvert,” Karah James, vocalist and drummer, explains, “[‘nevermind’] describes wavering between a romanticized version of your life and the ‘sad’ reality of it.” The songs’ daunting lyrics and pessimistic tone are masked by the infectious melody and upbeat chorus, leaving listeners wanting to dance while also questioning their current state of mind.
“nevermind,” captures the off-putting feelings of expecting more from life, but waking up to the same old mundane routine. This is where lyrics like “I wish that I could be solo / But God, I hate feeling so alone,” and “I wanna live in a 90s movie / Where things just happen so easy,” encompass the track as a whole. Not only is the track incredibly catchy, it’s also painfully relatable for those of us who dream of experiencing the glamorized versions of ourselves seen on screens (indie coming-of-age films I’m looking at you).
The song closes out with the same verse from the chorus, repeating the lines, “I want something that I’ll never find / But I just keep on saying “nevermind,”” before coming to an abrupt stop, effectively wrapping up the overall bittersweet message of the single. “I feel like with VALLEY we’ve always strived for the perfect happy and sad song,” lead singer, Rob Laska, reveals, “‘nevermind’ is a direct representation of playing with that idea.”
While not straying too far from their usual sound, “nevermind,” makes for a refreshing comeback for the band. From the stunning production, to the synthetic-pop hooks, this single has definitely become a new personal favorite. Be sure to stay on the lookout for more new music from VALLEY this year! “nevermind” is now available to stream across all platforms.