It was all in accordance to prophecy.

I prefer video taped performances synchronized to Christmas lights.

...then it's embarassing to stand up.

THAT WAS THEN...

Valley Jones ("VJ") is the current alias of Los Angeles based singer/songwriter, Brett White, who's professional career was spawned by an earthquake...kind of. While setting up to audition a bass player for a project he was trying to get off the ground, an aftershock to the January 1994 Northridge Earthquake abruptly ended any hopes of continuing the audition and both simply exchanged tapes and went home to assess the damage. Two days later, the bass player called to say that she had decided to start her own band but hoped he didn't mind that she passed his tape onto a "label friend" of hers who might like it. He liked it...alot.

VJ recruited a drummer and bass player, booked a gig under the band name Gren, and 3 shows later was offered a deal by I.R.S. Records (EMI). By the way, he had never stood in front of a microphone before that first show.

VJ enjoyed a two year stint headlining tours all over the U.S. and Canada, as well as sharing the stage with top acts from Lisa Loeb and Everclear to The Ramones on their Farewell Tour. VJ also co-produced two tracks on Gren's debut album "Camp Grenada" including it's Billboard Alternative Top 50 single She Shines.

THIS IS NOW...

Since the demise of Gren and it's label, VJ has written music for various indie films, produced tracks for Polygram artist, Lucie Gamelon (remember that bass player and the earthquake?), worked with Alanis Morisette producer Glenn Ballard on music for the movie "Clubland", played bass for the M80 Records fledgling artists Tramdriver and is currently gearing up and rehearsing for live performances.

Just in...Valley just completed two new songs for Dreamworks Records. You can hear them by clicking here.

AND HE SOUNDS LIKE...?

Valley Jones lists his main influences as "all the big B's" - The Beatles, Bee Gees, and Burt Bacharach. VJ's current release TheEP contains 6 prime examples of exactly how those influences can be combined. Every song is crafted around a melodic hook, catchy progressions, and heavy harmonies. Largely acoustic based, VJ does utilize vintage synths and home-spun samples on occasion - "I usually keep that to a minimum. The goal is to have the ability to strip everything away to an acoustic and still have the essence of the song."

Anchored by such acoustic pop gems as 19th Letter and Borrow Time, The EP (a collection of demos) also gives its listener an earful with the opening track Luva, Baby, Knife. "It's most definitely about as much production as I'll allow in a song", says VJ,"however, I'm doing everything in my garage - so I may be stretching the word 'production' there." From the falsetto intro to the whacked slide-guitar parts, the listener is launched into a laid back, sub-woofed groove that carries the unique vocal styling into the story of a white trash husband who is finally cornered by the fed-up wife he has continually beaten for years. Although the content is based on a heavy subject, VJ is still able to pump out a light-hearted, sing-a-long melody that gets your groove on.

Beck, Beatles, Bee Gees, Burt Bacharach...all the great "B"s, J.J. Cale.

ATTENTION: I just ate a jalapeno.