Val Bauer is a Portland, Oregon based singer-songwriter. We spoke to him about his pop-punk influenced sound and the affect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the music community.
I saw that your albums are under the name Val Bauer. Are you a solo artist or a band that has your name as well?
I typically consider it a solo project with a band. I don’t like calling them a backing band because it’s a more democratic sort of vibe. I do reserve the right to pull rank if I need to.
So more of a collaborative where this is mainly your project.
Yes, I write the songs. I come to them with the songs, but we work on the arrangements together. We talk democratically about what shows we want to play. Do we want to play at this venue or not? What do you think about the bands that are on the bill? All that stuff.
How did you get into music, writing, and performing?
Val Bauer: I got my first guitar the summer before 7th grade. I had a friend down the street who was a few years older than me who got a guitar. I thought it was the coolest thing, so then I wanted a guitar. I didn’t know how to play guitar when I got it.
Isn’t that usually how it goes?
Val Bauer: I think so. At least at that age. I think my mom or my parents took me to get my first guitar at the local shop. I went by my friend’s house and said, “I’m going to get my first guitar. Can you teach me how to play something, so I at least know how to play one thing?”
He taught me three chords: A, C, and D. I basically learned how to play “Louie, Louie.” That was how I got my first guitar and had something to play on it when I got it.
Those are the easiest chords to play.
Val Bauer: Pretty much. It’s a good place to start.
How would you describe your music to someone who’s never listened to it before?
Val Bauer: I typically say something like I’m a singer-songwriter with pop-punk/emo influence or roots, drawing on the pop-punk stuff that I grew up with and still listen to, but not necessarily a pop-punk band. That’s the elevator pitch.
Before my latest full length, it was more Americana-y or singer-songwriter. I know he’s like a four letter word at this point, but Ryan Adams was always a big favorite. I feel a lot more conflicted about that now, so I don’t really like to say that. My sounds always evolved. When I was first starting out, it was very aggressive like trying to do a full emo thing on an acoustic guitar and not with much nuance when I was younger. Then, I calmed down and started doing singer-songwritery stuff and then I got a band. Then the songs were finally able to be realized the way they were supposed to be. I was able to return to that pop-punk emo foundation, but have it be informed by my experience as a singer-songwriter.
Who are your influences?
Val Bauer: It’s tough to suss out what bands or artists are influences and which ones are just ones that I really like. I think they’re mostly the same. I don’t typically listen to music and think I need to sound like this band. I don’t think about it too much. There are probably more specific influences in songs. When I was writing “11:11,” I was really obsessed with the song “Gold Steps.” I don’t really know what I drew from it, except maybe the energy or the vibe. I had that song in the back of my mind when I was writing “11:11.”
Sometimes I hear a song and think, “This is in a time signature I really like. I should try writing in the time signature or time signature or format.
Are you doing any online shows?
Val Bauer: Not really, every once in a while I’ll pop on Instagram and do a live 30 minutes, but it’s been a while. I’ve kind of lost the drive. Things are in a lull right now because the band has rehearsed together in a while since COVID started. We’re waiting until everyone is comfortable getting back together, which sounds like it’s about to happen. We just need to align schedules. Hopefully, we’ll be rehearsing again soon. I have plenty of material for the next album. Once we get things rolling again, I want to record the next album, but that’s going to be a bit.
