"Brutha" is the musical equivalent of taking a deep breath after being underwater. It's a "bounce-back" anthem for the soul if you’ve been feeling like the last few years were a bit of a blur. Released as the lead single from their 2025 album, "Middle Way," this song is from someone who feels like an observer in the theatre of their own life.
For the band, it represents a "quiet rebellion." It goes on to underscore the idea that while hard times might change how you see the world, they don’t have to change who you are. It’s a song about resilience and the courage it takes to start over.
The music aligns with the band's description of their style, "folktronica." You get the warm, earthy feel of an acoustic guitar and a steady drum heartbeat, layered with cool, atmospheric electronic sounds that make the song feel like it’s floating. It’s catchy enough to hum along to and deep enough to make you stop and think.
"Brutha" was born out of the silence and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. It sets the stage for a project that finds balance, a middle ground between the organic and the digital, and between the sadness of the past and the hope for the future.
This Sydney-based band, Valley Onda, is a trio that isn't new to the scene, spending years honing its craft. Featuring Jordan Wilson on vocals and guitar, Michiya Nagai on keys and electronic textures and Galen Sultmann on drums, the band's emotional and musical expertise have gracefully translated into this song and the rest of the album.
As an indie-electronic production, the music sounds professional, polished and
intentional, like a conversation between old friends. It’s a stirring return
for a band that has clearly found its rhythm again.