Vigorously with Val Kleinhans

Life is hard, but what do you do with it? When you want to accomplish something, do you let the "hard" win? If you ask alternative/electronic/hip-hop fusion group Banks Arcade, it's all about choosing what your "hard" is.

Vocalist Joshua O' Donnell joins Val for a chat about what it really takes to launch a band based in New Zealand, the struggles to take the band to the United States, MMA adventures and their new album SECOND PLACE SUPERSTAR.

SECOND PLACE SUPERSTAR is out now.

Banks Arcade stream:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0dPpBOzonBzIhl7EoLnj3D?si=JuUPdZjwQ0i1yEWe3MLjhA

Follow Banks Arcade: https://www.instagram.com/banksarcade 

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

What else matches the season better than some psychedelia and indie vibes? For your fix this fall, we present Moon Darling.

Mike and Eliza join Val for a chat about their biggest fears, navigating being the "new kid in town", all the details on making their latest album Hearts To Blame in a cabin, and what makes Moon Darling so bewitching. 

Hearts To Blame is out now.

Moon Darling stream: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6HUkpz2MeD2lDpGiAFZFIj?si=EX2r3e3ORbKvuepszj4eIA

Follow Moon Darling: https://www.instagram.com/moondarlingofficial/

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Halloween playlists might have a problem.

Every year, we get the same songs. “Monster Mash.” “Thriller.” Maybe some Rob Zombie if we're feeling particularly dangerous or adventurous…but we’re missing something.

If you're a person like Val who actually likes dark and heavy music, there's an entire universe of songs that sound like Halloween without ever mentioning Halloween. 

So, today, now that we’re deep enough into September that we feel we can all universally agree that spooky season is HERE, we're building the perfect spooky-season playlist—from goth to metal - with all the songs we love, vigorously.

Follow Val: https://www.instagram.com/valkleinhans/

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

(Originally aired 8/26/24)

Lindsay Schoolcraft chats with Val about cats, astrology, and the new music she'd been working on and the singles that formed Harrowing before it became the album we know today.

Lindsay Schoolcraft stream:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6ZLcdPSxw1fTYJlz3DLrSZ

Follow Lindsay: https://www.instagram.com/lindzriot/

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

The new Slipknot single "Arsenal" has raised many questions about longevity in metal. When should a band hang it up? Are they required to retire at a certain point?

Val examines the art of knowing when to walk away using Slipknot, Ministry and Mötley Crüe as case studies. 

Follow Val: https://www.instagram.com/valkleinhans/

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

In this episode, Val welcomes Jay and Kevin from metalcore band The Moth Anatomy to discuss navigating the industry (with the delicate yin and yang of a moth) in a world that looks vastly different from when they started. Is putting your music on physical media still worth it? What do audiences want today?

They also discuss their latest single "Unfamiliar" , shooting the video for it, and what metalcore bands of today can take from the ones who started it all decades ago. Plus, they hint at more music on the way.

The Moth Anatomy stream: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77dntZ40qNa8aIBQZz3FCO?si=QZNTGQNLSV2EB8ktObjUUg

Follow The Moth Anatomy: https://www.instagram.com/themothanatomy/

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Modern grunge that hasn't forgotten its roots can be found in Scarhaven. 

In this New Music Friday episode, meet the band introducing grunge to the younger masses - Scarhaven. 

Singer Michael Saint joins Val for a conversation on the live shows they have coming up, bts on the "Clouds" video, general thoughts on the music industry, and how the grunge of it all was just a happy accident.

Scarhaven stream: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7yYuEhmPsIxsYHTDou8lRg

Follow Scarhaven: https://www.instagram.com/scarhaven/

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Vigorous ones, I’m here to help solve a problem that I’m noticing lately - and that problem is there’s sooooooo much music to go through!

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good problem to have, but I get why we’re a little overwhelmed by all of these new releases that (at this point) are year-round. 

We need more than a “here’s some bands you should listen to”. We need to have a conversation about how to find new music in today’s climate. In today’s conditions. As we're adjusting to a new school year, new season, and new routines. 

Let’s talk about it, vigorously. 

Follow Val: https://www.instagram.com/valkleinhans/

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Whimsy is a buzzword at the moment, and it's because today, as a collective, it's easy to feel like we're losing ours. Folk metal duo Forgotten Shrine has the medicine you'll need to reclaim your whimsy!

Sofia and Josh join Val for a playful and candid conversation about their upcoming album Nox Aeterna, injecting whimsy into the music you're making, other artists they're loving right now, and how to balance the responsibilities that surround what it is to be an artist.

Nox Aeterna is out everywhere November 6th.

Stream Forgotten Shrine: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0q7rFp0yxvWoxGWqIt21nI?si=CeMz4YROSsCS2A2HeALSBg

Follow Forgotten Shrine: https://www.instagram.com/forgottenshrineband/

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Severing ties isn't always the worst thing in the world. If anyone knows that, it's alternative rockers cut the cord.

Val chats with singer Dylan about navigating mental health struggles, sobriety, and making moves in the music industry without having a handbook for any of it! Also discussed is new music on the way.

cut the cord STREAM: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3msEGnrGYjEsKUe1Z8cEhd?si=2cHXuZWfRvGDKwoAYhrjqQ

Follow cut the cord.: https://www.instagram.com/cutthecorddot/

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/