Valley Boy Has “Evan in my Japanese beer”
Releasing another aching vignette from his upcoming debut album, Valley Boy (James Alan Ghaleb Amaradio) shares “Evan in my Japanese beer.” A heartbreaking, sparsely produced story of a life lost in a drunk driving accident, today’s release is a somber reminder that even the people who always seem “just fine” need to be checked in on. Crying while recording, leaving everything out of tune, the song’s rough edges mirror the trauma passed on to those left without Evan.
“‘Evan in my Japanese beer’ is the gut punch of sudden and agonizing loss and a song I wish I never wrote,” Valley Boy gravely shares. “Instability at home after divorce is something many of us experience but not all of us survive it. Evan didn’t. This was recorded live in one take through tears, drums, guitar and voice bleeding into each other, and the lyrics tell the story of the best kid I ever knew gone too soon and how the living cope in the aftermath. “
The debut album Children of Divorce will be released on May 1. From the age of 12, Valley Boy has had to morph, adapt, shrink and stumble navigating the world as a child of divorce. With no choice in the matter or clearcut handbook, this title was thrust upon him. His upcoming debut record clocks in at a purposefully unlucky 13 tracks; stories of his own and those of other children of divorce who have felt like magnets to him his whole life. Stories of kids who grew up, and some who never got the chance to. Most of the songs address individual characters by name, but the stories are oftentimes more far-reaching than he would have hoped — Pre-save.
Earlier this week, Valley Boy performed at School Night LA, presented by KCRW and MakeOut Music. His recent releases have won him the praise of Zane Lowe and an Indie Spotlight from BMI. He has also spent time recently writing and producing for upcoming releases from corook and Sawyer Hill.