The Valiants aren’t just a band. They’re a soundtrack to life’s moments – the good, the bad, & the messy in between.
Hailing from the Eastern Hills of Victoria, The Valiants are a five-piece indie rock powerhouse that burst onto the scene in 2021 with their debut single, ‘Fallout’.
Since then, they’ve been turning heads in Melbourne’s underground music scene, showcasing a blend of robust guitar riffs and thunderous rhythms.
Their second single, ‘Your Retribution’, unveiled a versatile range, effortlessly transitioning from punchy rock to more nuanced melodies infused with synth elements.
2023 marks the release of their debut EP, ‘Nothing Without Balance’, a five-track production that weaves a compelling musical and lyrical narrative. From the orchestral ballads of ‘Compromise of Heart’ to the intense grunge onslaught of ‘Indifference’ and ‘Red Mist’, the EP covers a wide spectrum of emotions and experiences.
Their lead single from the EP, ‘You Have Always Known’, showcases a universal theme of unexpected change and the emotions that accompany it. The track’s lyrics resonate with a sense of sudden revelation, underscored by powerful guitar and drum arrangements that amplify its emotional weight.
Their songwriting is impeccable, its like a journey through life’s ups and downs. They’ve got a way with words that makes you feel like they’ve been reading your diary. From the wild energy of youth to the quiet reflection of growing up, their songs cover it all. You can’t help but nod along, thinking, “Yeah, I’ve been there.”
These guys aren’t just a band. They’re a soundtrack to life’s moments – the good, the bad, and the messy in between.
In conversation with The Valiants, we delved into the creative process behind ‘Nothing Without Balance’. Lead vocalist Jake shared insights into the EP’s overarching message of acceptance, self-forgiveness, and finding a balance between personal desires and external expectations.
Each track, from ‘Red Mist’ to ‘I Never Know What To Say Till It’s Too Late’, offers a unique perspective on life’s trials and lessons.
‘Compromise of Heart’, an orchestral ballad on the EP, stands out for its powerful message. Jake explained how the song emphasizes the importance of finding middle ground in a world filled with diverse opinions. The addition of violins, suggested by keyboardist Magnus, adds a regal touch, creating a track that commands attention.
The recording process for ‘Nothing Without Balance’ marked a significant shift for the band. Instead of a rushed studio session, they dedicated two weeks to fine-tuning their sound, resulting in a more cohesive and polished collection of songs. This meticulous approach allowed them to craft a sonic palette that complements the EP’s dark undertones.
As they gear up for the release of ‘Nothing Without Balance’, The Valiants remain a testament to the vibrant music scene in Melbourne. Their music is a reflection of the city’s diversity and passion for live performances, a driving force that fuels their creativity.
For The Valiants, music isn’t just a passion; it’s a way of life. Their dedication to sharing their love for music, whether on stage or through their recordings, is what brings them true fulfillment. With each note they play, they contribute to a culture that celebrates the beauty and diversity of sound.
Wrap your ears around ‘You Have Always Known’ above, and delve into our interview with the Valiants below.
Happy: What are you up to today?
Antonio: Having some noodles on campus while cramming an assignment.
Magnus: Thursdays are for rotting, but since today’s my birthday, I’ve agreed to leave my den.
Billy: At uni while having a lot going on in my head while listening to a lecture at double speed. All while thinking about procrastinating 4 of my assignments while actually losing in a game of chess.
Happy: Tell us about where you are from? What’s the scene like in your neck of the woods?
Antonio: We’re from the South-East sector of Melbourne, lots of different bands in our neck of the woods! We get some of the surfy-rock fellas from the Peninsula, some of the country bands from further East, as well as the thriving alt-rock underground of Melbourne’s inner suburbs.
Magnus: We’re from the east and south east suburbs. I feel like Melbourne has a really strong music community with diverse genres, and honestly we’re lucky to have met so many amazing people from different bands.
Happy: Describe an average day?
Antonio: Bitta gym, bitta looking at new music, bitta uni, bitta work, bitta this, bitta that.
Magnus: Uni and work during the week (supposedly), rewatching the Sopranos for the third time, then gigs and seshes on the weekends. Also there’s no way Antonio can claim gym that is absurd, my brother has been like three times in 12 months.
Happy: What did you listen to growing up that fuelled your passion for music?
Antonio: My passion for music stemmed from Green Day, Foo Fighters, Audioslave, Queens of the Stone Age, mostly hard rock. Later in my teens my passion was reinvigorated when listening to more jazz and funk influences like Vulfpeck, Snarky Puppy, Tower of Power, and Earth, Wind,& Fire.
Magnus: My mum used to sing me ethnic German folk songs when I was a kid, and honestly, they kinda went hard. Ever since I’ve explored as many genres as i can from rock, pop, jazz, rap and anything else I can get my grubby hands on.
View this post on Instagram
Happy: Your latest EP, ‘Nothing Without Balance,’ is set to release in 2023. Can you provide some insights into the overall concept and themes that tie the EP together?
Jake: I think overall lyrically each song has an acceptance of a lack of control as human beings to be able to forgive ourselves in a forgiving nature and accept others for what they are while also providing the internal battle of finding the right path.
Happy: EPs often allow for a more focused exploration of themes and emotions. What specific stories or messages do you aim to convey through the five tracks on this release?
Jake: The EP has similar messages throughout each of the songs yet still all very different in their own unique way. With ‘Red Mist for example, red misting is the idea of losing control in a burst of anger.
The song is imagining what could happen if I didn’t have control. As in I don’t have control over what someone says but I have to ask how I can control it.
A lot of songs are written because of tiny events that happen and that was the exact case for ‘I Never Know What To Say Till It’s Too Late.’ For this song it was about rejection.
The idea of this song branches out from insecurity and not having a backbone all while not a right way to assert your voice. It started out as a simplistic idea but the lyrics went a lot deeper than originally anticipated.
Found more about self awareness while my conscious was trying to tell me something. Whereas with ‘Compromise of heart,’ it’s about finding the balance between what you want and what others want.
It’s about finding the compromise within the situation. There’s so many different opinions in the world and we can’t make people think the same way so it’s about finding the middle ground within it all.
The EP overall tells the stories of lessons I’ve learnt in many different scenarios and each song reflects that.
Happy: “Compromise of Heart” is described as an orchestral ballad on the EP. What inspired the creation of this track, and how does it fit into the larger narrative of the EP?
Jake: It has the strongest message of all the songs, lyrically I mean. It feels like it should be backed by something while propelling it forward. It’s not to change people’s minds but to keep it in the back of their minds.
I used to play chords on that song and it didn’t have much authority behind it. After some discussion, Magnus found violins on his keys which fit in better and separated it from the other songs.
It all of a sudden had the high society feeling of walking down the stairs and having all eyes on you.
Happy: How did the recording and production process for ‘Nothing Without Balance’ differ from your previous singles, and what did you learn from this experience?
Jake: Our first few singles that we released were based around how the keys would fit in with the music. It lacked a lot of feel to the songs.
When we were at our rehearsal studio, our producer at the time, Paul, gave us all suggestions all together. This time around with the EP, it was more about collaborating with one another when it came to the music.
It was based more on vocal placement, highlighting the drums and how to make them powerful through the music which Ash & Evan from the LNE helped bring to life in these songs.
It wasn’t forceful but rather gave us a clear image and about how we could fit it in. This was the time our music finally became ‘The Valiants.’
View this post on Instagram
Magnus: This EP was a massive step up in terms of how we approached this process. Our previous singles were just recorded with a day of pre-production and then a day or two in the studio to lay everything down.
The EP was done over a two week block where we actually lived together at a dodgy hotel and worked on it pretty much every day for that period. It honestly felt like a working holiday, where we would spend our free time having bevs at the beach, or watching trashy indie horror films.
The music feels way more cohesive than our other singles, and we spent a lot of time perfecting the tones and general sound of the tracks, something we never had the opportunity to properly do previously.
Happy: As a band, how do you balance the various musical influences and ideas when creating a cohesive body of work like an EP?
Magnus: The songs on this EP were all written at different points and have taken a while to come together. Making them feel cohesive from a musical point of view came from finding similarities between the tracks and working with our producers Ash and Evan to discover a sonic palette that complimented those similarities.
The songs on the EP are all pretty dark (every single one of them is in a minor key), so for the keys at least we went with a gothic kinda sound, using organs, strings and more lugubrious synth/piano tones, rather than the brighter sounds some of the songs originally had.
Happy: The EP includes a range of musical styles, from orchestral ballads to fast and frantic grunge. How do you approach songwriting and composition to create such diverse tracks?
Jake: It starts with the lyrics and is based around just the lyrics. If it felt like it needed it, the music became faster because the lyrics deemed it so. Whereas if it was more important to get the point across, the slower the music was.
Happy: Can you tell us about any memorable moments or stories from your journey as a band so far, whether it’s during recording, performing, or connecting with fans?
Antonio: One time after a show we stayed in a little bungalow next to Magnus’s house and a possum attacked the three of us in the dead of night. That’s easily the best part of being in a band.
Happy: Melbourne has a thriving music scene. How has the city’s culture and environment influenced your music and creativity?
Antonio: Melbourne’s diversity is quite an inspiration to our music. You can have a funk quartet playing upstairs at a venue the same time a doom metal band is starting a mosh downstairs, and the fans rarely overlap.
The people of Melbourne have such a passion for live music and the atmosphere it creates. It brings a bit of peace knowing that we can get creative with our music and do weird things and have fun with it live
Happy: What makes you happy?
Harrison: I’m sure that I, as well as the others, can all collectively agree that music is what makes us happy and is what fuels our ambitions.
It’s always been a part of our lives and it makes me even more thrilled that I’ve met a group of individuals that are as passionate about giving it to others and contributing to a culture that’s so diverse and beautiful.
Music has always been and always will be the driving force of my life and my passions.
Billy: What gives me fulfilment is by sharing what I love most with others which is music. Playing in front of crowds, whether big or small, makes me the happiest.
