Virginia Beach’s shoegaze four-piece You’re Jovian hits Strange Matter this Sunday

by | Sep 27, 2016 | MUSIC

We first introduced you to Virginia Beach’s You’re Jovian after catching their act at 2014’s MACRoCK Festival.

We first introduced you to Virginia Beach’s You’re Jovian after catching their act at 2014’s MACRoCK Festival.

But the band has been around since 2008 and playing shows since 2011 all the while continuing to evolve their fun, avant-garage sound.

“It’s not just a rigid shoegaze sound, it’s a lot of reverb and delay,” said lead vocalist Elliott Malvas. “I like to hear more of the guitar and less of the effects and just try to be different.”

The music is very instrument heavy with a hazy guitar distortion and a lyrical melody that is finely in tune with the sound. Malvas’ creative process is done solely by himself.

“I’ll start off with just a riff or if it sounds cool or if it ends up stuck in my head then I’ll try to finish it,” he said. “Sometimes it comes more natural than other times.”

You’re Jovian self-released their first record Stereochronic back in 2012. Malvas created his own small label Punkadelia Records and self-funded and pressed the album. Since then, the band has teamed up with Harrisonburg-based Funny Not Funny Records to release a collection of eight fuzzy-experimental pop demos and their fun jingle pop single “Revelations.”

Malvas has been You’re Jovian’s constant member throughout the years of lineup changes. Since January of this year, the band has solidified as a four-piece with Malvas, Ana Khrizzia Velez (bass, vocals), Kenny Bunting (guitar), and Ryan McPherson (drums).

The band has done two tours together and opened up for Kurt Vile in Norfolk this past July and Malvas said he plans to stay on that track . “The goal is to play more shows, be more uniform and attract some labels to help out and hopefully get more well versed and connected.”

Malvas hinted to two records being complete, but he said they’re planning to wait until they find the right label to help them flourish.

“I learned after that process [of the self-released album] of all the time and labor, I owe it to myself to hunt down a label and just have more depth,” he said.

You can You’re Jovian at Strange Matter this Sun. Oct. 2 at Strange Matter with Charlottesville’s New Boss. Tickets are $7 at the door and show starts at 8 pm.

Amy David

Amy David

Amy David was the Web Editor for RVAMag.com from May 2015 until September 2018. She covered craft beer, food, music, art and more. She's been a journalist since 2010 and attended Radford University. She enjoys dogs, beer, tacos, and Bob's Burgers references.




more in music

Salon de Résistance | A Live Interview Series From RVA Mag

"The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth" - Albert Camus Dispatch NUmber One: Salon de Résistance | presented by RVA Mag, Black Iris, and Le Cachet Dulcet Not long ago, salons were a catalyst for intellectual expression. Spaces where creators,...

Confederate Nostalgia, Black Voices: The Paradox of Polk Miller

Over a century ago, engineers from the Edison Company hauled their bulky recording equipment from New Jersey to Richmond, Virginia. In 1909, they captured one of the first interracial recording sessions in American history: Polk Miller, a white Confederate veteran...

Weekend Frequency Vol. 23 | The Southern Gothic Fest Playlist

Richmond gets it. More than any other city in Virginia. That’s why we created Weekend Frequency, a reader-curated playlist built for the city, by the city. Each week, a different voice from Richmond’s creative community shares the sounds that move them, shaping...

It’s Still Our City | Ep. 13 GULL

"When Nate first got on my radar, it was via SNACK TRUCK. Thanks to @falseidolstoys for this wonderful discovery. There were so many Virginia-based bands absolutely knocking it out of the park, really helping me and my bandmates in our project at the time, The...