In the Whale
OriginGreeley, Colorado, United States
GenresAlternative rock, hard rock, punk rock
Years active2010–present
LabelsRiot Records
MembersNate Valdez - lead vocals, guitar
Eric Riley - drums, vocals
Websitewww.inthewhalecult.com

IN THE WHALE (stylized as INTHEWHALE) is an American alternative rock band from Greeley, Colorado composed of Nathaniel Valdez and Eric Riley.

History

Early years and Cake

In the Whale began as a solo project for vocalist Nathaniel Valdez while obtaining his Masters in Educational Psychology at the University of Northern Colorado. With the addition of drummer Eric Riley, the duo relocated to Denver, CO. Both Valdez and Riley were raised in conservative and religious households. However, most of the content of their songs displays rebellious attitude against the views they were taught as youths.[1] Valdez also cites his experience as an undertaker as a catalyst for the morbid nature of the band’s lyrical content of its newer material.[2][3]

First release

Cake was their first commercial release in 2012, produced by Tickle Me Pink guitarist Joey Barba.[4] This gave scope for the band’s growth across the state of Colorado which eventually landed them an opportunity for a supporting slot on The Photo Atlas' Spring 2012 tour of the Midwest and inclusion in KTCL's annual Hometown for the Holidays contest.[5]

Two tracks from Cake were licensed to TV and films: "Woman", in a Victory Motorcycles national TV commercial, and "Heels", in the award-winning documentary Why We Ride.

A live version of "Heels" has a record for the opening track on Colorado Public Radio's OpenAir 2015 Record Store Day release.[6]

Nate & Eric

In the Whale's subsequent release, Nate & Eric, gained press and radio play beyond their home state.[7][8]

The seven-track EP rated as high as number 38 on the combined charts reported from various college and community radio stations.[9] Nate & Eric reached number 119 on the CMJ Top 200 and was one of the 20 Most Added Records, during the week of its debut. Nate was featured in a story published by Denver's Westword[10] that detailed his day job - when he's not playing music.

The band opened the Denver installment of 2014's Riot Fest and played at noted Regional Music Festivals like Treefort Music Festival and The UMS.[11] In the Whale spent the summer and fall of 2014 touring alongside Guttermouth, Jane's Addiction and The Presidents of the United States of America.[12][13]

Full Nelson, Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits

The release of 2015's Full Nelson EP got them to number 92 on the combined college radio charts. The band continued to receive favourable reviews not just for this release,[3][14][15][16] but also for their live shows.[17] Reviewer Brian Johnson calls the band "consistently enthralling";[16] reviewer Jed Murphy stated his only complaint about the album is "how short it is".[15]

In 2015, the duo played at major music festivals such as Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Canadian Music Week and South by Southwest, which received reviews from the likes of the Chicago Tribune and others.[18][19][20][21] The band's inclusion in the Lollapalooza line-up was a major distinction as they are among the five Colorado artists to play the event in the last decade.[22]

In the Whale served as the Official Correspondent for Denver's Westword newspaper during 2015's SXSW Music Festival in Austin, TX.[23]

The band was also selected for Taco Bell's 'Feed the Beat' and Quiznos 'Toasty on Tour' artist programs and included on New Music Seminar's Artists on the Verge list for 2015.[24][25]

Neighbor

In the Whale entered a working relationship with Red Bull GmbH's music incubator, Red Bull Sound Select, recording a two-song release with production by No Age (Sub Pop records), in September 2015.[26][27] The title track "Neighbor" premiered on October 14, 2015, via Substream Magazine, with the B-side track, "Pray for the Prey", following on October 22, 2015 via CMJ.[28][29][27]

In support of the release, the band toured with The Darkness, Toadies, and Nashville Pussy during the fall of 2015.[30][31]

Dopamine

The band celebrated their seven year anniversary in 2018 with Dopamine, a six track EP produced by Steve Evetts (The Used, Sepultura, Dillinger Escape Plan) and recorded at the Foo Fighters’ famed Studio 606.[32][33] Dopamine’s first weeks sales made it on to the Billboard Heatseekers, Independent Albums and Heatseekers Mountain (#1) charts.[33][34]

During the Dopamine release, the band opened at Punk Rock Bowling and Warped Tour. Played Regional Music Festivals like Bohemian Nights, Westword Music Showcase, and The Greeley Block Party. In the Whale spent the summer and fall of 2018 playing alongside Bob Mold, Decendents, Authority Zero, Toadies, Local H, Flatliners, DOA, Underoath, and Papa Roach.[33][34]

Signing with Riot Records

In the Whale signed to Riot Records,[35] a sub-label of the larger Golden Robot Records in late 2019. Riot records is an Australian label. Notable acts include Filter, Gibby Clark, Jefferson Starship, King's X, and Riley's LA Guns.[36]

"Drug Dealer", "Crosses", "Jeffrey" and "Smoke Break"

The band's 2020 single "Drug Dealer" contains Eric Riley's screaming backing vocals, while fast guitars paired with slower drums "create a push-and-pull effect and an overall edgy vibe".[37] The song also contains lyrics about the pharmaceutical industry. "There's this never-ending pandemic of drugs that are being pushed into people," says guitarist Nate Valdez. "It happens to be backed by the biggest drug dealers, which happen to be the pharmaceutical companies that are giving kickbacks to doctors who are prescribing these drugs."[37][38]

"Crosses" is the follow-up to the single "Drug Dealer".[39] In a statement, the band said: "Crosses is lyrically about looking yourself in the mirror, realizing everyone is going to die and humbly wondering why we're all here and what this is all for. We tried to execute a feeling of franticness and anxiousness with the push and pull off each musical section."[39][40]

"Jeffrey" is the follow-up to "Crosses" and "Drug Dealer", and released by Riot Records.[41] "Jeffrey" is an examination of the lengths one will go to in order to convince others that they are "just like you", while their actions speak differently. The song contains "frantic" lyrics and jagged/staccato verse sections.[41][42]

"Smoke Break" is about addiction, depression, suicide, and what happens when people isolate themselves for too long. The song was released to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Month.[43][44]

Discography

Extended plays

  • 2012: Cake (self-released)
  • 2014: Nate & Eric (self-released)
  • 2015: Full Nelson (self-released)
  • 2015: Neighbor (Red Bull Sound Select)
  • 2018: Dopamine (self-released)
  • 2020: Quarantine Sessions (self-released)

Singles and covers

  • 2013: "Add It Up" (Violent Femmes cover)
  • 2014: "Sliver" (Nirvana cover)
  • 2014: "Ride"
  • 2014: "(Mile High) Ride"
  • 2020: "Drug Dealer" (Riot Records)
  • 2020: "Crosses" (Riot Records)
  • 2021: "Jeffrey" (Riot Records)
  • 2021: "Smoke Break" (Riot Records)

References

  1. ↑ "Move Along Folk, We'll Take it From Here". The Rooster Magazine. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  2. ↑ "In the Whale's Nate Valdez Has a Job to Die For". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  3. 1 2 Cordova, Felix. "In the Whale: On the Rise". Pueblo Pulp.
  4. ↑ "Cake - EP by In the Whale on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  5. ↑ "Hometown For the Holidays 2011 Finalists Revealed..." Westword. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "For Record Store Day, OpenAir Unveils First Vinyl Release". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  7. ↑ "Album Review: In the Whale Nate&Eric". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  8. ↑ "Album Review - INTHEWHALE "Nate & Eric"". Vandala Magazine. 29 July 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "04.07.15 Weighted Chart". College Radio Charts. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  10. ↑ "Death is a constant presence in the life of In the Whale's Nate Valdez". Westword. Retrieved 2014-04-16.
  11. ↑ Demo, Andrew. "In the Whale talk Riot Fest". AXS.com. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  12. ↑ "Jane's Addiction at Ogden Theatre in Denver Review". Hey Reverb (Denver Post). Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  13. ↑ "In the Whale hits the East Coast". Holy Underground. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  14. ↑ "In The Whale- Full Nelson : Colorado Music Buzz Magazine". www.colomusicbuzz.com. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  15. 1 2 "Album Review: Full Nelson — In The Whale | BandWagon Magazine". www.bandwagmag.com. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  16. 1 2 Johnson, Brian (2015-04-01). "Marquee Mag". Marquee Magazine. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  17. ↑ "In The Whale @ Double Door". THE SOUND ABOVE GROUND. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  18. ↑ Villanueva, Raquel. "Denver band part of Lollapalooza". 9news.com. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  19. ↑ "Lollapalooza Day Three". Chicago Tribune. 2 August 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  20. ↑ "In the Whale Rocked Austin City Limits". Red Bull Music. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  21. ↑ "South By Southwest Official Artist Page". SXSW.com. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  22. ↑ Miller, Matt. "In the Whale's path to Lollapalooza: Ego Checks..." Reverb. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  23. ↑ "SXSW 2015 Coverage From In the Whale". Westword. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  24. ↑ "Taco Bell Feed the Beat". FeedtheBeat.com. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  25. ↑ "New Music Seminar's Artist on the Verge Class of 2015". Billboard. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  26. ↑ Tavana, Art (4 November 2015). "Why is Super-DIY Band No Age Playing a Corporate Sponsored Music Festival?". LA Weekly. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  27. 1 2 Geslani, Michelle (28 October 2015). "In The Whale shares raucous new single "Neighbor", produced by No Age". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  28. ↑ Heisel, Scott. "In the Whale's Neighbor is a No Age Produced Noise Punk Banger". Substream Magazine. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  29. ↑ "Track Premiere: In the Whale Pray for the Prey". CMJ. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  30. ↑ Walton, Kirstine (27 October 2015). "The Darkness at House of Blues Chicago". National Rock Review. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  31. ↑ Akre, Markus (19 October 2015). "The Darkness with In The Whale at the Varsity Theatre". Twin Cities Media. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  32. ↑ "In The Whale 'Dopamine' | Marquee Magazine". Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  33. 1 2 3 "Album Review: In The Whale – Dopamine". Music Existence. 2018-11-01. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  34. 1 2 "IN THE WHALE Release Some 'Dopamine' with a Track-by-Track of Their Snarling New EP [Exclusive]". V13.net. 2018-08-16. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  35. ↑ Riot Records
  36. ↑ Rockpit, The (2020-11-23). "Golden Robot Records News: Messiahvore, In The Whale, Stone Deaf". The Rockpit. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  37. 1 2 Bear, John (2020-09-15). "In the Whale Swims Into the Belly of the Big Pharma Beast in "Drug Dealer"". Westword. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  38. ↑ "Denver rock act In The Whale release new single 'Drugdealer'". The Rockpit. 2020-08-31. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  39. 1 2 DC. "In the Whale Release New Single + Video 'CROSSES'". Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  40. ↑ Staff Writer (2020-11-23). "IN THE WHALE Release "Crosses" | HEAVY Magazine". heavymag.com.au. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  41. 1 2 "IN THE WHALE release new single 'Jeffrey' on the 19th March". Rock 'N' Load. 2021-02-28. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  42. ↑ Release, Press. "In The Whale To Release New Single 'Jeffrey'". www.undergroundpress.co.za. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  43. ↑ Vickers, Lee (30 May 2021). "IN THE WHALE release new single 'Smoke Break', out now on Riot Records". Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  44. ↑ "In The Whale take a Smoke Break". RAMzine. 2021-05-30. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
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