Val Thomas
Montréal, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2017 | SELF | AFTRA
Music
Press
Toujours en quête de nouvelle musique?
Nous vous proposons aujourd'hui les compositions pop folk apaisantes du nouveau maxi de Val Thomas, Chronicles from the Cave, paru le 10 novembre dernier.
L'artiste sera d'ailleurs en concert, le samedi 18 novembre au Divan orange, à Montréal, dans le cadre du festival M pour Montréal, et le jeudi 23 novembre au Maëlstrom Saint-Roch, à Québec.
Pour l'occasion, HuffPost Québec vous offre la chance de découvrir ce disque en primeur et en écoute intégrale : - Huffington Post
Originaire de la métropole, mais aujourd’hui résidente de la ville de Québec, la musicienne Val Thomas a fait des études en théologie et en philosophie avant de travailler dans un centre de soins palliatifs puis de lever le voile sur ses compositions musicales. Un bagage de vie très particulier qui déteint forcément sur ses compositions, tant au niveau des paroles que de l’interprétation.
Elle nous dévoile aujourd’hui son tout premier EP intitulé Chronicles from the Cave, cinq chansons inspirées par l’allégorie de Platon. Val apprivoise sa part d’ombre avec une guitare et un crayon pour seules armes. Créativement, la douleur lui sert de moteur.
Le maxi qui en résulte apaise, chasse nos tourments. On se laisse bercer par son folk sans fla fla et sa voix douce qui (tiens, tiens!) se prête à un exercice de style un tantinet plus mordant sur Wolf. Une pièce bien rythmée qui vient conclure ce disque de belle manière. - VOIR
New artist Val Thomas joined Breakaway guest host Allison Van Rassel in our Quebec City studios to talk about her first EP, "Chronicles from the Cave." - CBC Breakaway
Sit back and take this one in.
We've covered Val Thomas' music releases, anticipating the release of her debut EP Chronicles From The Cave, and now we're closer than ever.
With the official date set for November 10th, Val Thomas decided to drop her third single "Don't Stop" - really putting Quebec City’s dynamic music scene on the map with a full anglophone collection of heartful and soulful music that is reminiscent of a drive alongside a beautiful view.
Having played a series of shows and festivals such as POP Montreal and at Festival d’été de Québec, she's made a mark on the local scene and this might just be the beginning of a long and prosperous career for this young artist. Her latest single "Don't Stop" showcasing her soft and fluttering vocals in ways that it soothes, exploring themes such as the haunting sides of love.
Her aerial folk will invite you on an introspective but also playful journey… A journey that is only just beginning. Listen here: - IXDAILY
On Saturday night, Val Thomas launched her debut EP, Chronicles from the Cave, at Le Divan Orange as part of the M for Montreal festival in collaboration with Arté Boréal.
I was eager to meet the Montreal artist whose music was the soundtrack of my week. After greeting me warmly, Thomas led me downstairs, where I was privy to the pre-show excitement. We sat on a low couch, amongst her band members, the other performers, and guitars.
“Basically, I was really interested in the concept of being seduced by fantasy and illusions,” she explained about her EP. “And that’s what I like about that allegory, that writing from Plato. We really get a sense of how we believe shadows, and how we believe those reflections that are not necessarily real.”
She added that this was something she’s experienced in her past relationships and that songs were inspired from that.
“I think it’s the kind of EP, or music, that you listen [to with] your earphones, and kinda just chill out by yourself. If it can provide introspection, or a mood,” she said about Chronicles from the Cave.
After a few moments of reflection, she continued, stating that “I guess on a deeper level one of my hopes is to make peace with those shadows, you know, from the cave. But I think for me, singing and songwriting is kind of making peace with those more difficult parts of ourselves.”
Thomas and her band were the second to play at the concert after Montreal folk musician, Laura Lefebvre. The lights were dimmed, and we settled into Thomas’s universe. A warmed-up crowd welcomed her, ready to enjoy local, quality music.
Above the usual bar sounds of the clinking of glasses, the ordering of drinks, and the whispers between friends, Val Thomas was there.
She played barefoot, a beer bottle placed at the base of the microphone stand. I felt right there with her, in the familiarity of her bedroom, where she taught herself how to play on a friend’s guitar.
“I used to play a lot of sports and I was injured, I had a surgery on my knee, so I couldn’t walk for a few months,” Thomas said. “I was playing around the couch or on the bed, because I couldn’t really do anything else at that time. With just a few chords, you could write some songs. That’s what’s fun about the guitar.”
Val Thomas’s band onstage at Divan Orange for her debut EP launch. Photo Jérémie Gauthier-Caron
Thomas’s songs are fresh, but they also feel familiar. She explained that her musical influences include Sade, José Gonzáles, Bon Iver, and Laura Jones.
“I really look up to them for this sort of simplicity, it’s like a gentle kind of strength, I guess,” she added. It’s not overproduced, but it’s straight to the heart, and it’s honest.”
What brought the whole set together was Thomas’s skillful use of the transitional moments between songs. She told jokes and playfully rapped while the drummer, Kenton Mail, steadily kept a beat until the whole band was ready to dip right into the next song.
The energy never dropped, neither on the stage nor in the crowd. The transitions were used wisely, as we got to know Thomas outside of her music, and allowed for a seamless performance.
Chronicles from the Cave is a solid debut EP, but what makes the artist shine is her presence. A brilliant entertainer, Thomas occupied the whole stage with her vibrancy, her honesty, and her sound.
It was energizing and moving to see a performer unapologetically owning her stage. “I hope to be doing this for a long time.” said Val Thomas. And so do I. - The Link
Dans le grand ordre des choses qui prévalait dans le temps, les musiciens de Québec qui voulaient faire carrière en musique déménageaient à Montréal. Val Thomas a fait l’inverse.
Arrivée de la métropole dans la capitale, en 2012, pour étudier la théologie et la philosophie à l’Université Laval, Val Thomas a plutôt fait connaissance avec la vibrante et émergente scène musicale de Québec.
La voilà auteure-compositrice-interprète, tout juste signataire d’un premier minialbum lancé récemment, Chronicles From the Cave, qui témoigne sans ambiguïté de ses influences folk.
Voici ce qu’elle a à raconter sur...
Sa musique : « Ma musique est un véhicule pour explorer les choses plus difficiles à accepter, comme les relations intimes desquelles émergent parfois des conflits. La musique est une alliée pour visiter ces zones. » - Journal de Quebec
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Originally
from Montreal, Val Thomas is a singer songwriter who has made a remarkable entry into the music scene. She's been invited to play at the
Festival d’Ete de Quebec to present her new project. They have described her as
an artist who « creates her irresistible melodies, reminiscent
of a Karen Dalton, Joni Mitchell or Katie Moore.” With her soft melodies and
pulsing rhythms she explores a poetic journey through the darker realities that can haunt us. She
has released her first EP ‘Chronicles From the Cave’ in November 2017 playing at Indie-Week Toronto as well as at M for Montreal and opening for many artists through Evenko in Montreal.
She has recently recorded her first full length album with Jace Lasek (The Bernard Lakes) at his Breakglass studio with collaboration from Brad Barr of The Barr Brothers. This new project takes her on an deeper and fuller journey through sonic landscapes and raw songwriting.
Band Members
Links
