Northern
Californians DEATH VALLEY HIGH have been together for about ten long
years. Releasing a handful of material including some newer works
expected out soon enough. The band went on a brief New Year touring
cycle, playing across the West Coast line, making a stop in Los
Angeles and had their frontman, founder and vocalist Reyka Osburn go
on to discuss the matters of this tour and lots about the music!
1. It's been 6
years, since we last spoke, way back when we spoke twice in 2013,
once for your EP "Survival Program" (2012) and follow-up
album release "Positive Euth" (2013). What has the band
been up too since then?
Reyka: We have
released one full-length album "CVLT [AS FVK]" (2016), been
on several tours and released another EP “Duel” (2019) covers
release, and newest single “Raise Hell”(2020), with another
single coming out by the end of this month of January.
2. Fifteen years it
has been for the band being together since 2005, and also it has
almost been 15 years since the release of your debut album "The
Similarities Of The Loveless And The Undead", any plans on
re-releasing said album or celebrating either if not both of these
occasions?
Reyka: The
anniversaries tend to always pass. A couple of years ago, was the ten
year, and I wanted to walk people through it, like a listening party
online. I want to do that with the other releases as well. There are
some B-Sides I want to put out, would be fun or re-record the tracks
would be fun to do with the band. It would be cool to re-introduce
things to people, hear where we came from and a fun thing to do. I am
always trying to do some acoustic work, passing it by the band first
hand, just me solo doing some play by play demonstrations of certain
tracks, showing and telling fans of where we came from by that first
album. Like this was where we were then and this is where we are now
as a band.
3. When it comes to
that particular album, it isn't necessarily listed upon your guys
discography on numerous music sites why is this so?
Reyka: That album is
just all me. Even the current line-up is not on it. If we went back
and played those songs, we play some sometimes. It has to do with the
record labels, like the one we’re on currently Minus Head, we’ve
been with for a while now. They are on our terms right now, I can’t
just do it the old way, releasing material every 3 years, I have so
much more to give. The agreement we have with that label, you can
hear more from us, in smaller doses but still more works. We want to
give more of ourselves and love having that support from Minus Head
records. Keep your fingers crossed and you may see way more from us.
4. Another album
worth celebrating is your sophomore album "Doom, In Full Bloom",
which has turned 10 years this year in 2020, any plans on it's
celebration or a re-release at this time?
Reyka: Ten year
anniversary, will be happening, and other things should happen, like
a listening party or movie party, interacting jokes or whatever. Fun
things like that, maybe doing a single show or a few shows up and
down the coasts, performing a good portion of it.
5. Since discussing
your way back when album releases, will we ever expect to hear those
releases or any of your other range of content, perhaps played in
full front to back?
Reyka: Absolutely!
We have to create the need and want for it. I do realize fans who we
have had for so long now, on one of the past tours, we would have
fans come to us and say your first record is the one that meant so
much to me. I felt that first album was well rounded really and the
evolution of us, is finding more narrow sound to us. Taking our
sound down a different path and see where we go from there. Like our
new single “Raise Hell” and have the people follow along and hear
the older stuff in the newer stuff.
6. What about
releasing any type of acoustic material have anything in mind?
Reyka: I don’t
think so. That would be something we would have to discuss with the
other band members. One of our members, isn’t that interested in
doing that, but it would just have to work out the right way, just be
a mix-up of having us grow as a band and see what happens, never say
never I say!
7. With such an
array of releases under your belts, the band has yet to release a
live album or DVD have that in the works or not yet?
Reyka: Haha, we
actually had a nice mix down of our tracks, individualized and
everything on a hard drive but that drive ended up dying out. So that
is no longer in our possession, but that show where it was recorded
was out in Florida. During a hurricane actually, where a story would
have gone with it, but it did get lost so anyways something like
that. There is always next time perhaps we will see.
8. "Duel"
(2019) was the most recent to come from you guys, with a single
following suite titled "Raise Hell", will this single be
coming off of any upcoming release or just be a stand alone single?
Reyka: We have an
idea, like the old days, where bands or artists would cut 2 tracks,
and use the more popular track first hand. That’s what we did with
“Raise Hell”. We would like to do a type of A-Side and B-Side
type of vinyl release for that single and others coming soon. We have
so many songs ready to go, we will see what works. Thats the whole
idea at some point though, just releasing material tracks coming out
more often. Hoping by the spring time more material and shows as well
and the album will follow by the end of the year later on down the
line.
9. Since the start
of the band, the band's official logo has also changed with the band,
was that the plan as years progressed?
Reyka: Yeah, well I
think it’s funny, because our current logo of what we have now.
It’s morphed a tad but not much. Like take AFI, they always change
the logo, and it’s a good way to say we have something new. So we
wanted to take that approach, with the newest material, I don’t
think it will change with every album but it may change a little bit.
10. Reyka, besides
founding and fronting Death Valley High for so long now, you have
also fronted and vocalized some other bands as well Tinfed and
Ghostride, will we see those other bands come back perhaps?
Reyka: Not on a
tour. But I did do a few shows, where Tinfed did play a show. We did
two shows one in Los Angeles and the other in Sacramento, where that
band did play at least one version of them. Ghostride, does have new
material in the works, and stuff should be out sometime this year.
There should be new stuff coming out, and a documentary I am also
working on, talking about the scene and Tinfed will be discussed,
along with other music related content and who knows what else, as I
said earlier, never say never!
11. Being from
Northern California, the band rarely makes it out to Southern
California when playing shows at times over the years, why is that?
Reyka: It’s funny.
The thing is when we look at everything, we would love to be down in
Los Angeles more often. It always has to involve planning and timing.
You may see us more often by the spring time like March.
12. Also since being
from Northern California and San Francisco, have you heard of another
local band from there called Phoenix Ash?
Reyka: I will take a
look! There is a 2 piece act I have heard of and they are impressive.
Maybe we can do a trio showcase.
13. With this tour
now concluded come tomorrow, what has happened upon this run that you
would like to share and how did it go it being a brief run as it were
for you?
Reyka: It’s over
way too fast. Silver Snakes are calling it quits as we know the band
and them now being no more. Before I would say we would do more shows
together, but right before this tour happened they announced their
break-up. This tour could be bitter or it could go well, but I think
they found their love for playing again, so let’s hope the next
“new” thing maybe we can go out on tour or do another show
together again. We’ve avoided a lot of obstacles as well whilst on
this tour, which is good, facing Mother Nature at it’s finest of
abilities. I think that’s been nice and easier as this tour wraps
up and comes to an end.
14. Lastly, what
else does Death Valley High have in-store for this new decade that is
2020!
Reyka: I know, it’s
a whole new decade for us all! A lot of pressure? Just take it as the
time comes, more music, having additional material than just music
for content. The way media is it’s happening at such a fast pace,
you just have to keep up with it. Or else you will be left behind,
you will just see us be more active, and see you out on the road!
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