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The music of Los Angeles-based
Alava blends soul-infused indie rock and emotionally-charged hypnotic
ballads into a unique and cohesive sonic mix. Bluesy vintage electric
guitars and ethereal loops co-exist with percussive acoustic guitar
rhythms, alternate tunings and beautiful fingerstyle playing. This
diverse amalgamation, along with passionate, melodic vocals and
evocative, introspective lyrics give this duo the illusion of a
sound greater than the sum of its parts.
Melisa Malvin (vocals/guitar) and Jason Middleton (guitar) met when
their former guitar teacher, Kirk Hellie took a leave of absence
to tour with his band Pink Noise Test. One day Melisa showed up
for her lesson and there was Kirk's replacement, Jason. At the time,
Melisa's critically acclaimed solo EP was receiving nationwide airplay
while Jason was pursuing film scoring and recording his solo guitar
work. Even though they were exploring separate musical endeavors,
it didn't take long for them to combine their efforts. While visiting
their friend Mike Damron (of I Can Lick Any SOB In The House fame)
in Portland, Oregon, he encouraged them to perform together. The
response was tremendously positive. It was a given, Jason and Melisa
had to join musical forces. Inevitably, Alava took formation.
Drawing from their diverse backgrounds ranging from musical theatre
to blues rock, the songwriting process began in earnest and the
results were magical. A wealth of material was written and they
immediately hit the road from Southern California to the Pacific
Northwest. Well-received at their live shows, Alava began to incorporate
their distinctive spin on a vast array of songs ranging from Billie
Holiday and Bessie Smith to Elvis Costello and Radiohead. In the
vein of Jeff Buckley, you never know what classic or lesser-known
gem will be interspersed with their original tunes in their energetic
live sets.
Ever-evolving and frequently experimenting with new textures, Alava
continues to write new songs and perform regularly on the West Coast.
They are currently at work on their first full-length album.
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