As they celebrate a decade of music-making, Toronto’s alt-pop band Valley has unveiled their highly anticipated third studio album, Water The Flowers, Pray For A Garden, released today via Capitol Records/Universal Music Canada. The album signifies a transformative chapter for the JUNO Award-nominated trio, highlighting their adaptability and artistic evolution.
The journey to this album began during a pivotal moment last fall. On tour with Dermot Kennedy, members Rob Laska (lead vocals), Alex Dimauro (bass), and Karah James (drums) rediscovered a long-forgotten demo, the title track of the album. This track, penned alongside their viral hit “Like 1999,” reflects a deeper, introspective side of the band, bridging their past with their present.
Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden embodies themes of love, loss, and renewal, resonating with the band’s journey through both personal and professional changes. The band’s creative process involved secluding themselves in a cabin in the Smoky Mountains, where they collaborated with COIN’s Chase Lawrence. This period of isolation allowed them to channel their experiences and emotions into their music, leading to what Laska describes as “most intimate and personal and special record.”
One of the standout tracks from the album, “Bop Ba,” explores personal themes with poignant lyrics that resonate differently for each member. For Laska, it connects to his mother’s struggle with bipolar disorder, while for James, it reflects on unhealthy dependencies in relationships.
The album’s release coincides with the kickoff of Valley’s North American headlining tour, starting in September. The tour will see the band performing at major venues across the U.S. and Canada, including Brooklyn Steel in New York and The Wiltern in Los Angeles. They will be joined by support acts Mickey Darling and Charli Adams.
Water The Flowers, Pray For A Garden Tour Dates:
- September 28 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer*
- September 29 – Boston, MA – House of Blues*
- October 1 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club*
- October 2 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel*
- October 4 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel*
- October 5 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre*
- October 6 – Nashville, TN – Cannery Hall*
- October 8 – Chicago, IL – The Vic Theatre*
- October 9 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue*
- October 11 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theatre*
- October 12 – Denver, CO – Gothic Theatre*
- October 13 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Centre*
- October 15 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren*
- October 16 – San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park*
- October 18 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern*
- October 19 – Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre*
- October 21 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall*
- October 22 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox*
*Support from Mickey Darling and Charli Adams
Since their formation in 2016, Valley has achieved over a billion streams globally and earned three JUNO Award nominations. Their rise has been bolstered by viral hits like “Like 1999” and high-energy live performances at festivals such as Life Is Beautiful and Governors Ball.
For more details on Valley and their upcoming tour, visit their official website.
