NO SIGNS OF STOPPING
It’s a different kind of busy these days for Val Halla
Regina’s Val Halla may have taken time off from touring, but it doesn’t mean she has slowed down. The 29-year-old frontwoman for the country-meets-rockmeets-roots group, wrapped up a 2½-year touring stint in July, but hasn’t sat idle.
Among her most recent projects is launching Val Halla Music Publishing in 2013, and compiling a talented roster of Saskatchewan songwriters, including members of The Snake Oil Salesmen.
It’s The Snake Oil Salesmen, a local roots-rock group that Val will hit the stage alongside on June 26 at The Exchange, when the group holds the release party for their album Take Your Time.
On top of her role as publisher, Val has worked closely with the band on almost every aspect of their new album. She played drums for each song on the album, after being invited to join the band following a jam session, despite her lack of professional experience on the drums.
“I thought that was so exciting,” she said. “I was like, ‘Ya, I’ll be a drummer in a band.’ It was just kind of a fun thing at first.”
Her role as drummer led to her pitching in on other instruments and adding her vocals to several songs.
The band also recorded portions of the tracks in Val’s studio, and she spent the next six months mixing together the 10-track disc.
According to Val, her band is one of four acts on the bill and she’ll be taking to the stage with The Snake Oil Salesmen for a few tracks as well. Being able to play at The Exchange before a hometown crowd is a special experience for the band.
“We go full-bore rock show,” said Val. “I do have a lot of songs that are folk-y or countryish ... but getting to do a hometown show at The Exchange is good because then we just pick all the heaviest rockers we have and just go nuts.”
It’s been a unique journey for Val, whose career kicked off when she moved to Vancouver during her senior year of high school to record her first album. Since then, more than a decade has passed, and with it numerous albums, hundreds of performances and a lot of growth since releasing her preview album in 2010.
“My life perspective has matured a bit and I think I’ve just come into who I am a lot better,” said Val. “Which helps in that honesty that I want to have when I’m writing.”
A new album is in the works for Val, who plans to travel to Los Angeles in July to shoot a music video for the single I’m a Loser and I Like It. The complete album will follow with an accompanying tour. And then, a little later on, she plans to release two EPs.
Clearly with such a busy schedule on the horizon, Val’s fast-paced lifestyle has no end in sight.