life is too short to listen to old music
VALA
VALA
country: UK
genre: Indie
styles: Indie Pop, Bedroom Pop, Lofi, Pop Rock
Swimming
Single
Reviews and Comments
Manchester lo-fi indie band Vala have truly made the first half of 2022 their own. With sell out
shows in both their native Manchester and in the capital, as well as supporting their friend and
BBC ‘one to watch’ Sfven they’ve had an amazing run of shows this year already. The band’s pre-
vious two singles ‘This Town’ and ‘You Don’t Want My Love’ have gained massive radio play on
Radio X, BBC, XS Manchester and Amazing radio UK/US.
Stepping slightly away from the band’s more upbeat, lo-fi indie pop style that earned them a fan
and production mentor in The Strokes/Libertines producer Gordon Raphael, the band revelled in
changing the pace as front man Joe Knowles explains, “We’ve enjoyed slowing down for this track,
with it feeling like a continuation of the production and style of our 2021 single ‘It’s Alright When
You’re Falling’. The samples of poolside noises are from the film ‘Eighth Grade’, lifted from a scene
that was both funny and harrowing and stuck with me so much I had to add the sounds to a song
called Swimming. I love the fat drums and bass when they enter around the halfway mark, and is
worth the wait to hear one of Vala’s signature moves.”
Influenced by the likes of The Strokes, Alvvays and Porches, Vala have a sound that is irresistible
to any fan of rustic, lo-fi indie tunes. The band are already flying in 2022 with a sold out headline
show at Manchester’s YES Basement and support slots for the likes of Sfven and Pynch alongside
radio support from the likes of John Kennedy (Radio X), Shell Zenner, Frankie Francis, Jim Gellatly
(Amazing Radio) and a whole host more of national radio and podcasts.
‘Swimming’ is released via Shoplifters Union Records and distributed via AWAL on 10th June 2022,
the third of four tracks assisted by legendary The Strokes producer, Gordon Raphael.
VALA are:
Joe Knowles – Vocals & guitar
Matt Hill – Drums
George Hill – Guitar
Tom Wynne – Bass
latest releases
EP
Fishing God
out on April 10, 2024
Single
On The Getaway
out on January 17, 2024
via VALA
Single
Fishes
out on November 15, 2023
via VALA
Single
Bleed Together
out on September 27, 2023
EP
I Love The Sound
out on June 09, 2023
via VALA
Single
Don't Think Twice (It's Not Alright)
out on December 02, 2022
via VALA
