12 Juin 2024
From UNITED STATES •
Brother Valiant is an alternative folk-pop project spearheaded by singer-songwriter AJ Amsterdam. Inspired by folk legends new and old, from Paul Simon to Connor Oberst, Brother Valiant is a noble attempt to capture the magic that made these artists so iconic.
After only a few shows, Brother Valiant released the singles “Little House” and “Devil” in 2015, along with a full-length LP “Thus, He Was” in the summer of 2016. His 2021 single "Lady Daisy" received widespread critical acclaim with Atwood Magazine calling the song "a gripping folk sound that enchants listeners".
Much of Brother Valiant’s sound brings together mental snapshots of living life between a big city and the sprawling suburbs; Riding through coastal beach towns that pave way into bustling city streets. The viscerally emotive, and oftentimes satirical lyricism, bite through a soundscape of anthemic choruses, jangly guitars and rambunctious horns.
Themes of navigating feelings of anxiety, love, and fear through an adventurous spirit remain a hallmark of the songwriting, which bleed through with an authentic wit. Brother Valiant has played extensively throughout the East Coast, at such notable venues as The Iridium, Rockwood Music Hall, The Knitting Factory, City Winery, and The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC).
Better Luck Next Time, the upcoming EP, is poised for release later this August. Leading single "C'est La Vie" is an intoxicating dreamy indie folk track chronicling trying to make big changes for someone you care about.
"The premise of the song is accepting that deep down, to an extent, we are always going to have certain qualities and quirks that we cannot change about ourselves," confides Brother Valiant.
With soul-stirring melodies, wistful acoustic guitars and a knack for storytelling, Brother Valiant is an important artist on the rise.