20 Apr 2024
Valley Kids - Single Review: Otherside
10 May 2023 // A review by Trevor Faville
Poneke based Valley Kids have been drawing a career arc that continues upward from their first release in 2020, and with the support of NZ On Air the four piece have released their third single Otherside.
Right from the opening guitar refrain, it's clear what an experienced and cohesive unit this is. Otherside is tight and focused. It has the precision, musical skill and production nous that quite clearly reflects a high level of songwriting skill. Given the collected CVs and experience of everyone involved, this is no surprise.
The reggae style is pervasive, and older ears might recognise the flavour of The Crates in this, in addition to the long list of band names (Sons of Zion, Tomorrow People, Creative Natives) associated with the members .Certainly Valley Kids are well versed in the musical elements that go into this genre, and the arrangement is subtle, musical and above all, fluent. Its fine work. Lyrically, Otherside stays in pretty safe territory, while maintaining a strong melodic line. The feel-good vibe is overt and one can certainly sense that a song with a melody as strong as this is destined for live stages come summer.
An emphatic statement then, from Valley Kids. A band that has settled into its stride creatively and bringing considerable musical skill and experience to bear in their third outing.
Rating:
( 4 / 5 )
About Valley Kids
Drawing on influences such as Kora and L.A.B, Valley Kids have it all. Honed musicianship and a sound that acknowledges its soul, funk and reggae roots while punching through the swath of generic bands of their demographic. The combination of each member's mana and skills builds a style that is both familiar and cleverly layered. With music that resonates beyond the stage and speakers, Valley Kids are a band from the streets, for the people.
Formed by Sugrue and Riley, in late 2020, Valley Kids has already made a significant splash, releasing 3 singles and multiple live material in less than a year. V.K's first singled garnered them a NZ On Air 'New Tracks' compilation and was quickly followed up with their sophomore single Make Me Feel, produced by DJ Mu AKA Fitchie of Fat Freddy's fame at the legendary Bay's Studio. With the latest release of their Te Reo adaptation of their first single Moni, Valley Kids are making up for lost time due to to falling victim to the lockdowns during their formation by playing a multitude of shows across New Zealand before settling in and recording their first album set to be released 2023.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Valley Kids
Releases
There are no releases to display for Valley Kids.
Other Reviews By Trevor Faville
Elmo Strauss - Album Review: In My Sleep
08 Dec 2023 // by Trevor Faville
Elmo Strauss began writing, recording and producing music in the format he describes as a ‘One Man Band’ since 2021, with the release of debut album Light and Dark. In My Sleep is his latest collection and is a logical follow on from the first album, in terms of the sound and the process.
Read More...
The Fuzzies - Album Review: Cupid
15 Nov 2023 // by Trevor Faville
The Fuzzies are a three-piece self-described ‘Alternative pop trio’ from Auckland. Collectively Niki Maera (Mary), Kelly Michael (Tabula Rasa, Enshrine) and Andrew Maitai (Powertool Records, Joed Out) bring the momentum of considerable experience into the music on this album.
Read More...
Claudia Robin Gunn - Album Review: Firefly
02 Oct 2023 // by Trevor Faville
Working in music education gives some insight into what challenging area that Children’s Music can be. The first essential consideration is simply coming to terms with the makeup of the audience, and knowing that children, whanau, and teachers are combined into particularly unique ‘demographic’.
Read More...
Hummucide - Album Review: Tides
18 Aug 2023 // by Trevor Faville
Hummucide are a well established group of musicians originally based in Wellington (although now working round the world) “Heavy Jazz” is the way they describe their sound, and that's an accurate phrase- and a rather nifty one, too. Tides is the group's first full length album release and it's the result of an extensive and extended process of crafting and refining.
Read More...
Tone6 - Single Review: Close Your Eyes
05 Jul 2023 // by Trevor Faville
Tone6 are a vocal group from Auckland, consisting of Kirita Leavasa , Selevasio Tu'ima, Peachez Vetenibua, Seletute Tu'ima, Viliami Tupa'i and Shaelyn Togafiti , who began working together when attending Saintzup Performing Arts School. The collective experience and ability of these singers belies their youth, and while Close Your Eyes is just their second release, it's a powerful and assured musical statement.
Read More...
Yann Le Dorré - Single Review: I Love You
09 Jun 2023 // by Trevor Faville
I Love You is the second solo release from Yann Le Dorre, formally a mainstay in the Poneke-based ‘gutter folk’ outfit Yolk. I Love You a follows a path described by previous release Missed as clear development from the work Le Dorre has done in Yolk- removed is the extra instrumentation in favour of a baritone voice set in a minimalist musical backing.
Read More...
Ivy - Single Review: Heartless
19 May 2023 // by Trevor Faville
Ivy are easily one of the more sonically ambitious bands that you can hear from Aotearoa New Zealand currently. Heartless is their latest work following on from last year's EP For The Sake of It, where it would not sound at all out of place.
Read More...
Ivy - EP Review: For The Sake Of It
14 Mar 2023 // by Trevor Faville
Ivy are a band hailing from Dunedin, and For The Sake Of It is a five song collection which expands on their debut release single Stranger, which came out at the end of 2022. As might be expected from a band who adds the words “alternative” and “prog” to their description, Ivy are ambitious musically, and have a very broad reach when it comes to lyrical inspiration.
Read More...
Most Viewed Artists
Latest Galleries
NZ Top 10 Singles
- TOO SWEET
Hozier - BEAUTIFUL THINGS
Benson Boone - LOSE CONTROL
Teddy Swims - I LIKE THE WAY YOU KISS ME
Artemas - SATURN
SZA - STICK SEASON
Noah Kahan - END OF BEGINNING
Djo - LIKE THAT
Future And Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar - ESPRESSO
Sabrina Carpenter - WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS (WAIT FOR YOUR LOVE)
Ariana Grande
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
Custom Search
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem
