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As Valley reach a decade of releasing and performing music, they have had to re-learn how to be a band together. The Juno Award-nominated band’s third album Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden (out today via Capitol Records/Universal Music Canada) proves just how adaptable and unbreakable the trio can be.

Last fall, Valley were at a crossroads. They were in therapy, working the usual growing pains long-established bands face after years out on the road and the weight of viral success. While on tour with Dermot Kennedy, Rob Laska (lead vocalist), Alex Dimauro (bassist) and Karah James (drummer) found a beacon of hope: a forgotten demo of the song “Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden.”

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The title track was written in 2021, when the band was isolating in a cabin to write new music. During that time, they wrote their new album’s title track as well as the song “Like 1999,” which was released in February 2021, garnering multiple certifications globally and becoming a viral hit for the group. “Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden,” a song about love, loss and finding the silver linings, would remain tucked away in a Dropbox full of unreleased demos for the next three years while “Like 1999” inspired a more pop direction for Valley, which they pursued with gusto on 2021’s Last Birthday and last year’s Juno-nominated album Lost in Translation.

“We really had these two paths that we previously didn’t know we had,” Karah reflects on the discovery of the old song.  While “Like 1999” and their ensuing pop direction did many wonderful things for them, “Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden” has brought them back to who they were always meant to be; somewhere more playfully between indie, folk and pop, with a lyrical depth of a band that has worked through every stage of the grieving process.   

Karah adds: “It feels like us. It feels like a path that finally feels like Valley.”

Decamping to a cabin in the Smoky Mountains in February, under the guidance of COIN’s Chase Lawrence, Valley spent the entire month with very little access to the outside world. Stuck in their feelings, the band processed their heartbreak and the future together following the departure of founding guitarist Mickey Brandolino.

“The songs just poured out of us,” Rob explains. “I think that's a true sign of when you're making something special. We weren't looking for things to write about. We knew exactly what we needed to write about. This is the first time I think we've ever witnessed as a band where everything's there, we just have to reach and grab it.”

Today’s focus track, the intimate, folky “Bop Ba” is another song that explores some of the other changes in their lives. It has a different meaning for each member, with Rob relating it to his mother’s struggle with bipolar disorder while Karah pulled inspiration from a feeling of dependency and unhealthy attachment in a romantic relationship. Watch the official live video here. 

Over the course of the album, you will hear the true pain and true joy Valley experienced while making it. In hitting rock bottom, they found new stones to turn over in their garden, leading to the band’s “most intimate and personal and special record,” lead singer Rob Laska says, to enthusiastic nods from Karah and Alex. “This is the record we’ve always dreamed of making.”

Water The Flowers, Pray For A Garden Tracklist:

1. Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden

2. A Little More

3. Growing (Apart)

4. When You Know Someone

5. Let It Rain

6. Crawlspace

7. Mosquito

8. Bop Ba

9. I Didn’t Even Ask For This

10. Bass Player’s Brother

11. Life Goes On Without Me

12. Cocoon

Beginning next month, Valley will kick off the Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden North American headlining tour spanning coast to coast in the US and Canada. The tour includes shows at iconic venues and some of the biggest rooms they’ve played to date, including Brooklyn Steel in New York, The Wiltern in Los Angeles, History in Toronto and more. See full list of dates and details below.

‘WATER THE FLOWERS, PRAY FOR A GARDEN’ TOUR HEADLINING TOUR

September 28 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
September 29 Boston, MA House of Blues
October 1 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
October 2 Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Steel
October 4 Asheville, NC The Orange Peel
October 5 Atlanta, GA Buckhead Theatre
October 6 Nashville, TN Cannery Hall
October 8 Chicago, IL The Vic Theatre
October 9 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
October 11 Boulder, CO Boulder Theatre
October 12 Denver, CO Gothic Theatre
October 13 Salt Lake City, UT The Union Event Centre
October 15 Phoenix, AZ The Van Buren
October 15 San Diego, CA The Observatory North Park
October 18 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
October 19 Berkeley, CA The UC Theatre
October 21 Portland, OR Revolution Hall
October 22 Seattle, WA The Showbox
October 23 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
October 25 Calgary, AB Mac Hall
October 26 Edmonton, AB Midway
October 29 Saskatoon, SK Coors Event Centre
October 30 Winnipeg, MB Park Theatre
November 2 London, ON London Music Hall
November 5 Waterloo, ON Maxwell’s Concerts andamp; Events
November 7 Kingston, ON The Ale House
November 8 Ottawa, ON Bronson Centre
November 9 Montreal, QC Le Studio TD
November 12 Quebec City, QC Grizzly Fuzz
November 14 Charlottetown, PE PEI Brewing Company
November 15 Moncton, NB Tide andamp; Boar Ballroom
November 16 Halifax, NS Marquee Ballroom
December 13 Toronto, ON History

OTHER UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS

November 28 Tribute Community Centre Oshawa, ON (with Arkells)
November 29 Sadlon Arena Barrie, ON (with Arkells)
November 30 Memorial Auditorium Kitchener, ON (with Arkells)