Death Valley Girls

“If you can't be a human be a dog.”

We would like to create an introduction about your story, so in your own words, who are Death Valley Girls?

— Larry, Jessie, The Kid and Bonnie.

Your electrifying vibe is a mix between surfy rock and roll, garage punk and strong feminine rhythms in all the right ways. When did your rock-connection started?

— Three years ago the Death Valley Girls were born and our purpose is to connect rock & roll from the past, present and future, we have four-dimensional sight which makes this possible. We can exist in the past, present and future simultaneously, dogs are also capable of this.

For many years you have been working in other projects, other bands and working with several musicians. When did you meet each other and what brought you to the music industry? When and where did you come up with the sublime project Death Valley Girls?

— All our projects and bands before this were preparing us for this band. We were brought together by psychic convergence, Death Valley Girls already existed in the shadows until were played our first concert and now we want to come to Europe to play for you.

You guys are born under the blinding sunlight of California, how deep do you think the west coast has inspired your sounds and aesthetic?

—I think it's very deeply inspired by what happens in the shadows.

There is an important movement happening around LA regarding creativity, fashion and music. How is LA through your eyes? What are your favorite places to go/eat/drink/get lost in the city?

— The kids are taking over the scene again! There's great shows all the time, everybody everywhere is making stuff while still underneath it all we are clearly surviving apocalyptic/paranormal times. It's exciting.

After a long week on the road, what’s the first thing you guys do on a Sunday morning when you are back home?

— Play guitar in bed, watch movies on VHS, reread old copies of CREEM magazine.

We are fans of your statement ‘Everybody’s gotta be in a gang’ – we are in! What singer from the past would you invite to join you in the next concert?

— ‘Everybody’s gotta be in a gang’ is a Switchblade Sisters reference and really means a lot to us. Ozzie to sing with Jessie.

Your revival spirit is not only in your sound also in the way you guys approach your public – from singles recorded in a cassette to walking mummies at the LA Natural Museum. Why is the past so fascinating?

— We are equally fascinated with the future.

Your music showcases very personal daily life situations from an authentic and real point of view. How do you find inspiration?

— We do it together.

We are absorbed by your apocalyptic, spiritual and cosmic way to see life. Do you believe in serendipity?

— Oh yes. You would not believe the effect it can have on you if you try and harness it! I trained for two months to look at my clock every 11:11. I set an alarm for twice a day and now I catch it 10/14 times a week... It's trippy to do anything everyday. Hope is good for you.

When I first listened to Death Valley Girls the first thing that came to my mind was ‘self-expression’. People perceive different things in one same song, what would you point out from your very own ones?

— Our songs are yours to make your own interpretation, if you feel something personal that's cool if you just like the beat and like to dance to it that's cool too!

What is the part you enjoy most from the creation process of a song?

— When we begin to sparkle.

Music is the most powerful drug. We all need it and can’t stop consuming it. But what if you wouldn’t be musicians – what other cool project would you be doing right now?

— I'd wanna be a dog.

Tell us a bit more about your collaboration with the label April 77 and the new single ‘Death Valley Boogie’.

—April 77 rules! Their clothes are so rad too.

We absolutely love your force, dynamism and vibrant energy. In your opinion, life is improvisation or we should all have a well-written plan B?

— If you can't be a human be a dog.

And before leaving, share with us the perfect plan/place to listen your new single.

— In a space ship- every teenagers room, high school parking lots, on the plane if you only have one more song to hear before you die! On train, in your girlfriends car, brothers rooms, juke box, Internet, headphones in the van, on your van stereo, on a record player, cassette player, etc.

Interview: María Baños
Photography: Brad Elterman
Cover photo by: Ammo Photography

Death Valley Girls: deathvalleygirls.bandcamp.com