When I was 17, I saw Hawksley Workman perform at the Regina Folk Festival. Just him and a telecaster, and a piano which he would switch between. It was just him alone on stage, yet somehow it was so bad ass and such a fat and full sound. His voice was impecable. That night set me on the path to music. I had played and written songs since I was 6 years old, but not till that night did I fall IN LOVE with music.
Led Zeppelin of course is one of my all time favourite influences.
Many Canadian Female vocalist have influenced the way I learned to sing as well. Jann Arden, Sarah McLachlan, Chantal Kravie....you know who i mean, Amanda Marshall, and of course Alanis & Celine. None of those breathy wussy voiced singers... these Canadian women all sing with HUGE FULL voices.
Of course Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt, and Heart were big in convincing me you could still play cool rock music and be a girl.
Rage Against the Machine, System of a Down and 2pac influenced me in my writing, to not just write about relationships or feelings, but real situations and using your writing to bring awareness or try and make a difference.
SRV, Page, Hendrix, and Clapton are wicked ridiculous guitar dudes, but everyone knows that. And Radiohead influenced me to try and make music that doesnt sound like music thats been made before... why do something over when you can create something brand new?
The Doobie Brothers showed me what its like to sound wicked live, and actually sound like your record. WHen I look at bands like them, and The Eagles, NOW THATS MUSICIANSHIP.
Also, my favorite home province bands Ghosts of Modern Man and Wide Mouth Mason were huge influences on me. Some of the most eye-opening moments ive had in music were just sitting listening to all these guys practice or make songs up on the spot. That showed me the importance of being on the same wavelength as the other people you are playing with. And how to get on the same wavelength as the people you are playing to. Thats the key to it all.
When Val Halla was only 12 years old she purchased her first guitar magazine. At the time Val had just started learning songs of the 90’s grunge movement, playing on an old nylon string classical guitar her grandfather had given to her mother. After a few years of lessons focusing on grunge and rock n roll, Val’s guitar teacher was finally able to persuade her parents to buy her an electric guitar.
“All I was playing was Nirvana and Classic Rock.” says Halla, now 25. “My guitar teacher saw how I was struggling with this thick fretboard on the nylon string with my tiny hands, trying to play Aneurysm, and just couldn’t stand to watch it anymore.”
Thanks to Halla’s childhood guitar teacher, she soon discovered the joys of overdriven guitar tones and new sonic and technical landscapes she had never before dreamed of.
Now an endorsing artist for both Mack Amps (www.mackamps.com) and Carparelli Guitars (www.carparelliguitars.com), she has found a unique style and sound all her own, and is making big waves in the guitar and music communities alike.
Val Halla’s song “The Bad Girl Touch” was featured and reviewed in the November 2009 issue of Guitar Player magazine by the Editor in Chief himself, Michael Molenda. Molenda made note of Halla’s “seductive singing and coy lyrics” in addition to a positive review of her playing abilities. Only a few weeks later Halla was contacted by Guitar World Magazine to be featured in their 2009 Holiday Buyer’s Guide.
Gary Allen, best known for his days drumming in the Charlie Daniels Band and with guitar legend JJ Cale, remarked “If Nancy Wilson could sing like Val Halla, she could have kept all the money.”
Steve Gunner of Creedance Clearwater Revisted testifies “She is very talented, and has a great future in the music business.” Gunner adds that Halla “is serious about her craft, and I admire her determination.”
That determination was first demonstrated just after Halla turned 17 years old, moving two provinces away to the big city of Vancouver, British Columbia to pursue her music further. “My parents didn’t believe me that I was going for music. They asked me if there was some guy who was brain washing me to go out there. I just told them I knew I had to go, because the music was out there calling to me. I don’t blame them for thinking I was crazy!”
After 7 years in Vancouver, 3 full length albums, a cross Canada tour, and a 3 year audio engineering apprenticeship, Halla decided it was time to take back her base on the prairies in her hometown of Regina, Saskatchewan. She is now able to spend her time touring extensively all over Canada and the United States, and working with great writer’s, producers, and players in her part time home of Nashville, TN.
“Being in Nashville this past year has really kicked me into overdrive. Its turned my playing, writing, and performing skills up to 11!” laughed Halla. “I feel so proud of the songs I’ve been writing lately because I feel like they are the most sincere compositions I’ve ever made. I’ve been able to come to terms with some of the struggles I’ve gone through in my life and some that I still am going through. I’m hoping to give other people inspiration or relief in the face of their own struggles, by writing in the most honest way I can. I want to know I’m not in this alone, and I want them to know that too.”
Halla’s new album is scheduled to be released in January of 2010. It will be her first full length release in two and a half years.
“No one has accused me of being lazy because most people have seen me out busting my ass these last few years. I basically threw myself into my own strict boot camp. I wanted this next album to be a journey, so I’ve been playing live shows like a mad woman, working on my sound and playing, then writing like a lunatic every day. Most record labels these days want nothing to do with artist development, so I decided to put myself through it the old fashioned way, before even approaching the labels. The funny thing is now that I’ve done it, I’m starting to see interested parties come looking. It’s a good feeling, but you just hope that the momentum continues and that some of those boomerangs you started throwing out years ago, are about to come back and knock you off your feet. My biggest fear is having someone else force me to make music in a way that I don’t want to make it, so my main focus is still to hone my own craft, and keep developing and growing as an artist. Whatever comes after that shouldn’t be too frightening!”
NOW YOU CAN PURCHASE VAL'S SINGLE "*****THE BAD GIRL TOUCH******" ON
JUST CLICK THIS LINK AND IT CAN BE YOURS FOR ONLY $0.99!!!!! PLEASE SUPPORT VAL! IT COST ABOUT TWO THOUSAND TIMES THAT AMOUNT TO MAKE THIS RECORDING!!! LOL!!!! LET THOSE WHO KEEP TRACK OF SALES AND WHO DETERMINE WHO IS WORTHY IN TODAY'S INDUSTRY KNOW THAT YOU BELIEVE IN VAL'S MUSIC!!! THE BEST WAY TO KEEP HER MAKING NEW SONGS, IS TO ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE!!! THANKS TO ALL THE FANS WHO MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE!!!!
You can also purchase all 3 of Val's current single's here as a group or individually! Or if you just want to spread the word, you can post this player to your myspace, facebook, blog, website, or send it out in an email! Go ahead! Share the music!!
****The Val Halla website is now up! Please visit WWW.VALHALLAONLINE.COM
And my blog continues to grow! www.blog.valhallaonline.com
Don't forget to enter you're cell phone number below OR send me a free text message! (other than what your cell phone company charges you regularly to text)
Then I can text you once in while too! :-)
VAL HALLA's BACK CATALOGUE IS NOW AVAILABLE ON iTUNES!!!! DOWNLOAD YOUR FAVOURITE SONG, OR DOWNLOAD 'EM ALL!
<--------------JUST CLICK THIS HANDY BUTTON
VAL HALLA 2007 CD IS NOW AVAILABLE TO BUY ONLINE!!!!!!!!! JUST ONE CLICK AWAY!!!!
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Imagine our surprise when we turned to page 23 of the 2010 Guitar World Holiday Review Guide. There you were in full technicolour glee, with funky wallpaper backdrop to boot. Actual Lungbutter cancels U.S. tour because of massive waffle shortage. So why not attend the How To Climb a Staircase Workshop this weekend with Actual Lungbutter?
~If we're so ugly, why do apes keep having sex with us?
hey babe!!! so as you can see below Lance and I are throwing a party this weekend, and its gonna be AWESOME!!! you should so totally come see us if you can. LOVES
Val, page 33............Huh. Very nice. You are a girl with many talents. Still love the music though, and the guitar playing is cool, and your tone. I'm a fan Val! Keep up the great work.
Thank you for the add! Like I was telling you..I found you in Guitar World Magazine. It's cool to see someone with a new sound. Great vocals too! Keep on rocking girl!
Online Now!
. Where can we catch you in a show??? Let me know, I'd love to check ya out 
.
