The Valentines (CZ)

“We play happy songs about sad things,” describe themselves The Valentines, indie-pop band formed in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. The formation of Honza Doležal (vocals, bass guitar), Ondřej Čepek (guitar, synths) and Matěj Novotný (drums) has been playing together since 2017. They moved from hard guitar riffs to the contemporary pop with 80th aesthetics.

They came out in 2018 with four singles – Just Us, Lazy Boy, L.P.L.S. and now, i’m sad. The EP called Demos ’17 from the first, garage, phase was also released. The band won Startér (song contest) of Radio Wave with the song now i’m sad in 2019. The band got an opportunity to record new song Did My Back Hurt Your Knife? thanks to the victory.

The EP 4 Old Songs (We Didn’t Even Want to Share With You) was release as a following and the single Just Us appeared in a soundtrack for the film A Certain Kind of Silence, which was nominated for the Czech Lion (film award). The Valentines reached the Czech final of Eurovision song contest in 2021 with a single Stay or Go. The single was mastered by Ted Jensen, who has also mastered albums for Madonna or Rolling Stones. The Valentines supported a German band Leoniden in spring 2022. Then, in the summer, they played at the Rock for People festival.

We can find a resonance of The Cure, Bowie and Tears For Fears in The Valentine’s music. The band is working with these sounds and inspirations and giving them their own character and individuality. Their work plays with the contrast of noncommittal-sounding, pleasant music with a relaxed atmosphere and significantly darker lyrics that are inspired by the pain of the soul. The Valentines are currently working on their debut album.