Breakdown Valentine

It took about 17 hours on train, but it was well worth the journey up the West Coast and through the luscious green North West to Portland. Olivia Barchard had a gut feeling about making a musical connection with producer/songwriter Allen Davis. Three days passed, whiskey flowed and hours were filled writing and recording. The pair had composed 3 songs, an undeniable connection and musical chemistry. Soon after, Allen relocated to San Francisco to join Olivia and they decided to call themselves Breakdown Valentine. Breakdown Valentine wrote and explored sounds for a year, experimenting with what would become their singular style of layered, widescreen panoramic synth rock that straddles the anthemic and ethereal. In 2012 they were asked to play a live show even before having released an official EP. Since then, they have played along side acts such as Chromatics, Holy Ghost!, How To Dress Well, Geographer, and Big Black Delta. In late 2013, Breakdown Valentine independently released their debut EP Beautiful Distraction. Their first music video for single “Surrender” gained the attention of Aaron Axelsen, music director of KITS LIVE105.3FM, leading them to play BFD 2014 and having regular rotation on his radio show Soundcheck. When they are playing live, you can catch them performing with drummer Dan Francisco, otherwise they are ensconced in their synth laden home studio collaborating with long time friend/producer Jason Wann. "If CHVRCHES, Blondie, and The Sounds had a threesome band baby, it would be San Francisco’s Breakdown Valentine." - Boxspeaker Music Blog "Breakdown Valentine puts on a very energetic in addition to interactive show that will make an audience dance. No matter the tempo, the bass and rhythm of their songs make the body move. Olivia Barchard’s vocals have vitality that rings through in every song she sings. Being that “Beautiful Distraction” is Breakdown Valentine’s debut EP, expect to hear more arousing music to come from this San Francisco band." - Justin Crowley, SF Examiner "Olivia Barchard and Allen Davis started a long-distance music collaboration on a song in early 2011. Davis lived in Portland, Ore., and Barchard lived in San Francisco. They met in 2004, when Davis was performing with the S.F. band Every Move a Picture. When Davis e-mailed Barchard the composition he had been working on, she says she found herself 'coming up with the lyrics and melody so easily.' Barchard soon jumped on a train to Portland to compose and record live with Davis, and she says there was a chemistry to their music that couldn't be denied. A few months later, Davis moved back to San Francisco..." - Tony DuShane, SF Chronicle Debut EP "Beautiful Distraction" now available on iTunes! https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/beautiful-distraction-ep/id718527139?uo=4