After missing Arizona on their last tour, Canadian sweethearts, Valley, were quick to agree to play at M3F Festival in Phoenix, Arizona. With their sensational, vibrant indie-alternative sound, Valley was the perfect addition to this year’s lineup. As we chilled in the artist lounge, we got to discuss everything from their intriguing story on how they formed to the friends and family they call on their way home. 

Vanessa Chan with Valley at M3F Festival in Phoenix, Arizona on March 2, 2024

Alex: I have to ask, where did you get that Celsius, because I definitely need one right now. Our manager drinks a Celsius every morning as a substitute for coffee. 

If I’m being completely honest, I don’t know how I feel about that because I was skeptical about grabbing one myself after hearing about all of the heart issues people have been having due to drinking Celsius.

Karah: I was just about to say that, but I was like I don’t wanna be THAT guy. Like, I just saw a bad Tik-Tok about it.

Rob: It’s giving Panera’s charged lemonade. 

Yeah, let’s just all go to Panera and get ourselves a little charged lemonade while we’re at it. 

Alex: Oh my god.

Vanessa Chan with Valley in the artist lounge at M3F Festival in Phoenix, Arizona on March 2, 2024 

How are you guys feeling about being back in Arizona?

Alex: Oh, we’re feeling really good. The weather is always so nice here.

Karah: We love it here. 

Rob: On our last tour, we didn’t play Phoenix – or even play a show in Arizona. We did have a day off here, and got to adventure around and stuff, but we felt really bad. So, we’re really happy to be back. It will be two years to the day since we played here. We played a headline show – I forgot where. Wait, wasn’t it called Valley Bar?

Alex: I think you’re right – it was like a super intimate show with a 400 capacity. 

How funny and full-circle is that – Valley headlining at Valley Bar.

Karah: I know right, so funny. We plan on coming back soon though.

Rob: I think we are playing San Diego again too actually. 

Oh, I will definitely be there this time. I was so sad I missed you guys when you were there opening for Coin.  

Rob: Oh yeah, San Diego is the best. We played at the Observatory for that show and I remember it being a really fun one.

Valley playing M3F Festival in Phoenix, Arizona on March 2, 2024

Are there any artists on this festival lineup you guys were able to catch or hoping to catch during the packed weekend? I saw you guys were at Dayglow yesterday!

Karah: Last night, we tried catching a lot of sets.

Rob: Sloan is so cool, we had to go see him. We saw Hippo Campus, who we love as well. 

Karah: They had a great set last night.

Rob: They really did. We also saw SG Lewis, and I saw a little bit of Arlo Parks. My friend is actually Arlo’s photographer, and she’s sick. She had a phenomenal set. Her walk off was so sick?? All that guitar distortion going off, man it was so cool. 

It’s honestly such a stacked lineup this year. Have you guys played M3F Fest before?

Alex: No, we haven’t – but we’re stoked to be here. 

It’s my first M3F Fest too! This is actually my first time in Arizona too.

Rob: No way! Are you liking it here?

It’s super nice here! The weather right now is honestly so similar to San Diego where it’s just so beautiful and sunny. 

Alex: This is definitely the perfect time throughout the year to be here.  

Valley rocking out the Cosmic Stage at M3F Festival in Phoenix, Arizona on March 2, 2024

The first song I heard from you guys is “There’s Still A Light in the House” and there’s a lyric that really sticks out to me everytime I listen to it – “I’d like to call you on the way home.” Who do you guys call on your way home?

Karah: Aww oh my gosh – what a cute question. 

Rob: I love that so much. Realistically, my girlfriend. 

Alex: Realistically, our manager. Rob and I will be together and we’ll be like – “Hey, let’s call him.” 

Rob: You know what? My nephew, Wesley, too. He’s an absolute G-unit, and I love him. 

Karah: What do those calls even consist of ? “Goo-goo, ga-ga?”

Rob: I really try to understand his toddler talk. 

Karah: “Baba-Booey” 

Karah and Alex: “Ro-Ro!!!”

Alex: Yeah, I’ll either call my partner or our manager. Now that I think of it, I call Rob’s girlfriend a lot too. It’s nothing weird though, I promise. We’re all best friends.

Rob: It’s straight up sitcom vibes. 

To end off, since you guys formed your band by accident due to being double-booked in a studio, would you guys say you’re firm believers of the fact that was meant to happen – as if fate?

Rob, Karah, & Alex: Oh 100%.

Rob: I think as we get older, we start to accept more that everything happens for a reason. 

Karah: The way I view it, is that it’s about finding something within it. You can’t expect something good to come immediately from it and for it to just fall out of the sky. If you’re able to see the bigger picture and see the opportunity in it, that’s really the key point. 

Rob: If you position yourself properly, it will come to you – and you’ll know it. 

Alex: But…is everything in life premeditated? Do we even have free will? We have free will…

Rob: Is the sky even real?

I’m honestly so curious – did you guys ever struggle when it came to having a distinct sound for Valley since you guys came from two different music groups?

Karah: Honestly, it made the creative process more, if anything. I think the background behind our different music made Valley. 

Rob: I’m also all for trying new things. I feel like we all also had the exact same music taste and also were making music that complimented each other’s. We also had the same interests. With that in mind, I was certain everything would kind of just fall into place – and it did. I think that’s what’s part of the charm for every artist, or band dynamic. It’s what makes every band special. It couldn’t exist on its own, it’s about collaboration. We’re fueling the sound of us. 

Alex: We have overlaps, which I’m certain every artist goes through. But at its core, the different sounds are what made Valley, Valley.

It’s like layering everything, in a sense, to elevate one another’s artistic view. It’s not about who has the “better idea”, but what works best for Valley as a whole. 

Karah: That’s exactly it.