Valleys

Initially formed as Brooklyn-based artist Rachel Lipson's backing band, Valleys broke away to become its own entity in 2005. The Montreal-based outfit, centered on the partnership between Marc St. Louis and Matilda Perks, started off playing dark anti-folk but slowly began incorporating more and more ambient distortion, synthesizers and haunting, layered vocals, leaning more toward the dream pop or shoegaze genres than folk. After opening for various prominent bands, the group has continued to absorb influences and mature its sound, and eventually earned a fan base across North America.