Valley (band)
Canadian alternative pop band formed after a studio double-booking.
Valley is a Canadian alternative pop band from Toronto. The group formed in 2014 when members of two separate bands accidentally booked the same studio time slot. The current lineup consists of lead vocalist Rob Laska, bassist Alex Dimauro, and drummer Karah James. They earned a Juno Award nomination for Breakthrough Group of the Year in 2020 and another nomination for Group of the Year in 2022.
The band’s early releases include the EPs *Car Test* (2015) and *This Room Is White* (2016). In 2018, they put out *Maybe Side A*, the first of two EPs that would lead to their debut album; *Maybe Side B* followed in spring 2019, and the full album *Maybe* came out that September. After releasing the singles “Nevermind” (July 2020) and “Hiccup” (September 2020), they announced the EP *Sucks to See You Doing Better* in October 2020, which included both singles, four new tracks, and an acoustic version of “Hiccup.”
In February 2021, Valley dropped the single “Like 1999” and announced a North American tour with Coin, covering over 30 cities starting that October. Later in 2021, they released the singles “Society” (which the band said drew from their experiences balancing accessible storytelling with artistic goals) and “Tempo” (July 23, 2021). The single “Homebody” was nominated for the 2021 SOCAN Songwriting Prize, and “Oh Shit...Are We in Love?” came out on September 1, 2021.
In March 2024, lead guitarist Michael “Mickey” Brandolino left the band to focus on music production full-time. Later that year, Valley released *Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden* on August 30, 2024—their first album as a trio, produced by Chase Lawrence of COIN. The album was nominated for Alternative Album of the Year at the 2025 Juno Awards.
Band members: Current members are Rob Laska (lead vocals, guitar, 2014–present), Alex Dimauro (bass, keyboard, backing vocals, 2014–present), and Karah James (drums, guitar, backing and lead vocals, 2014–present). Former members include Ben Lee (keyboards, backing vocals, 2014–2016) and Michael “Mickey” Brandolino (guitar, drums, keyboard, piano, backing vocals, 2014–2024). Touring member Feurd (guitar, drums, keyboard, piano, backing vocals) joined in 2024.
- formed
- 2014
- origin
- Toronto, Canada
- genre
- Alternative pop
- nationality
- Canadian
- members
- Rob Laska, Alex Dimauro, Karah James
- notable_nominations
- Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year (2020), Group of the Year (2022), Alternative Album of the Year (2025)
Lore & Background
Valley formed in 2014 when two separate bands were accidentally booked for the same recording studio time slot. The members decided to combine into one group, initially considering names such as Thieves, The Engineers, and Grouphug. The band released their debut EP Car Test in 2015, followed by This Room Is White in 2016. They then released two EPs, Maybe Side A (2018) and Maybe Side B (spring 2019), leading to their full-length debut album Maybe in September 2019.
In 2020, Valley released the singles "Nevermind" and "Hiccup," and in October announced the EP Sucks to See You Doing Better, which included both singles plus four new tracks. The following year, they released singles "Like 1999," "Society," "Tempo," and "Oh Shit...Are We in Love?" The single "Homebody" was nominated for the 2021 SOCAN Songwriting Prize. In March 2024, lead guitarist Michael "Mickey" Brandolino left the band to pursue music production full-time.
Later in 2024, Valley released Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden on August 30, their first album as a trio. The album was produced by Chase Lawrence of the band COIN and received a Juno nomination for Alternative Album of the Year in 2025.
Reader's Guide
Valley represents a contemporary Canadian alternative pop act that emerged from an accidental studio double-booking, a story that underscores the serendipitous nature of their formation. Their trajectory from independent EPs to Juno-nominated albums illustrates the growth of a band navigating the modern music industry. The group's nominations for Breakthrough Group of the Year (2020) and Group of the Year (2022) at the Juno Awards, along with the SOCAN Songwriting Prize nomination for "Homebody," highlight their recognition within Canadian music. The departure of founding guitarist Brandolino in 2024 and the subsequent release of Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden as a trio marks a significant transition. Their work, produced by Chase Lawrence of COIN, reflects collaborative ties within the alternative pop scene. Valley's legacy lies in their consistent output of EPs and albums, their Juno nominations, and their ability to adapt to lineup changes while maintaining a presence in Canadian music.
Did You Know?
- Valley formed in 2014 after two bands were accidentally double-booked for the same recording studio time slot.
- Other names considered for the band were Thieves, The Engineers, and Grouphug.
- Their single 'Homebody' was nominated for the 2021 SOCAN Songwriting Prize.
- Lead guitarist Michael 'Mickey' Brandolino left the band in March 2024 to pursue music production full-time.
More in Alternative rock groups from Toronto 1-24
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