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.