Vigorously with Val Kleinhans

When the world seems to be working against you, Beautiful Skeletons have learned that those are the times to bond together that much tighter when accomplishing a goal.  Val chats with Tina Firefly about music industry challenges, working with legend Ulrich Wild, and the haunted experiences shared while putting the upcoming album Pulse Line Scar together. STREAM Beautiful Skeletons : https://open.s...

We’re officially in festival season right now, and every year, somebody somewhere is disappointed when severe weather happens and a show has to either be cut short or is canceled altogether. But what exactly happens when this process unfolds? What does it actually take for a show to be cut short or canceled due to severe weather? Who makes that call? And why does it feel like they sometimes make t...

Is delulu the solulu? If you ask Døuble Identity, the answer just might be yes! In life, and creativity!  Val chats with twins Arden and Courtney about their new single "Kiss Me Again" and how it came to be, why boys make for good subject matter as artists, show safety, and the frustrations that come with navigating the world as a young adult.  Get more Døuble Identity: https://www.insta...

In today's edition of the divorce no one saw coming, Val dissects the divorce announcement coming from Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo .  Does divorce impact public figures differently? Why do fans receive this news the way they do? Can we learn anything from their situation to help us navigate divorce better? Let’s get into the subject of divorce, vigorously . When anyone gets divorced, it’s a mess...

Trash metal is kept alive in South Dakota by Exhausted . What is the scene in Sioux Falls like? Best moments from Milwaukee Metal Fest? In a world where it seems core is taking over, is trash still viable? How are band members balancing family life, work life, and everything being in a band requires?  Val, Doug, and Michael cover it all in celebration of the Down To The Wire EP out Friday, June 26...

If anyone is having an interesting Pride Month, it's certainly Caleb Shomo of Beartooth . Val dissects the recent interview Caleb gave on Disrespectfully with Katie Maloney and Dayna Kathan, and quickly discerns that there's a bigger conversation to be had in response to Caleb's news. Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Depression and anxiety are not things to play with, but sometimes, finding humor in the absurd just might be the cure. This episode with Jonah from Milk St. examines how to turn those tough moments into seriously funny lyrics that carry us through when nothing else will.  WATCH THE "JUST SO" VIDEO:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m44iFJ6hI0A&list=RDm44iFJ6hI0A&start_radio=1 Get...

It's Florida, but this episode doesn't get weird. It gets historical... with a side of pirates, and a little bit of Hollywood. Welcome to the world of Blood Of Angels .  They chat their world travels, what lessons they've learned while diving into the history of where they've been, and the new album  Les Agnst ov Thanatou out June 21st. Get more Blood Of Angels : https://www.in...

What actually is an industry plant? Why are Castle Rat and Angine de Poitrine facing accusations of being ones? Are we throwing around these labels too quickly? Val gets into he industry plant of it all this episode.  Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

If you're a band trying to blow up, this is the episode you need to listen to.  Is there a reason that there's such a focus on lead singers? Or, is that strategic branding? What is the best way to market and book your band? Mikey Dunn of Who They Fear chats about balancing booking as a booking agent, the current climate of the music industry, doing the work when you don't feel like...

Who knew AI was so controversial? Kidding... we all did... except for Butcher Babies . Heidi Shepherd's AI video post had fans seriously disappointed last week, and Val does a deep dive into the backlash and weighs whether we're missing important and valid concerns surrounding the use of AI. We also chat about the news from Beartooth singer Caleb Shomo that broke the internet over the we...

There's a few secrets to a successful breakdown in deathcore, and if anyone has figured them out, it just might be Gouged .  Take a listen to their journey, find out why breakdowns are hitting right now, and learn how The Bee Movie influenced their newest single "Unholy Perversion of Nature" which is out now. Get more Gouged : https://www.instagram.com/gougedpnw/ Stream Gouged: http...

We’re going to talk about another layer that I think is missed by fans sometimes, and that’s the layer that involves promotion and social media: content creation. It’s a whole other animal we’re diving into today.  You've heard "bands can't just be bands anymore" before, and Val has some pushback to those annoyed with those venting sessions.  Can bands "just be bands"...

In a very instant, digital heavy world, it can be difficult to build true bonds and community. It's not so difficult for Seaside Massacre thanks to their "boots on the ground" method. Val chats with vocalist Don about why showing up is already a great head start toward to building a fanbase, how to incorporate nostalgia into your promotion, and staying mentally healthy through it al...

Somewhere between post-Mother's Day weekend and the next star frontwoman, we're celebrating women while watching an evolution when it comes to what the roles of women in music look like - and that's a good thing. Val shares her thoughts on why the Alissa White-Gluz joining Dragonforce news was on absolutely no one's bingo card for 2026 - but should've been. We also dive de...

It's not unheard of for band members and artists to have side hustles. We talk to the king of side hustles this week: Greg Molina of A Moments Notice .  What does it really take for a band to land a national tour? Is the key to "success" landing at least 10,000 followers monthly? How do we find the time for it all? Is there such a thing a criticism that's too harsh? Greg answer...

In this solo episode, Val shares her gripes with the word "whimsy" and how she resolved them. What does Noah Kahan have to do with whimsy? Everything. Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Andreas and Hagge from Self Deception chat with Val about their upcoming album ONE OF US (out May 15th), and dive into the connections it has to realizing dystopian nightmares.  Is the internet (and the way we use it) going to collapse on itself? What exactly happened to the bride and groom in "The Wedding"? What have Andreas and Hagge learned throughout their decades in the music indust...

Over analyzing. Over thinking. Doing the absolute most when you really don't have to. It's an epidemic! We all do it, and Val is going to break all the noise down to one takeaway nugget that will get you through it all.  Val shares her experience at seeing Echos live, and the Amonklok tour with Amon Amarth, Dethklok and Castle Rat. We also chat a lot about rebranding, and why Machine Gun...

What does shading yourself look like? Is it more important to roast yourself, or others? Resider chose to take a balanced approach on the subject while they gear up for tour and more nu-metalcore music headed our way later. Val and bassist Niko Bowers play "Is AI accurate?", chat about touring essentials, Dune , and what being a musician really looks like in 2026. Get more Resider: https...

Does being a music journalist today look anything like it did in Almost Famous ? Is it still just as fun? Are there still opportunities to build relationships in the industry we love? In short, yes. Writer Ashley Oken has been featured in Alternative Press, ELLE and The New York Times - and she's not stopping anything soon.  In this episode, Ashley gets real about how essential commitment is,...

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode mentions suicidal ideation and oppression against women. If you or anyone you know is struggling, contact 988 Lifeline .  Does violence look different when a woman commits it? Solo artist Izzy T is in the building to break down all the misogynistic barriers women sometimes face in music.  Because the subject is close to home for her, Val and Izzy chat about the curren...

The Metal Therapist clocks in from the UK! On this "Work On You Wednesday", Robyn Ward explains her mental health journey, what it takes to be a therapist, and why heavy music is just so therapeutic.  Get more Robyn:  https://www.instagram.com/the.metal.therapist/ Robyn's YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@The. Metal. Therapist Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Sean Martin of The Quarantined stops by to share his love of heavy music, his time in the military as infantry, and all the mental health related lessons learned along the way. We also dive into Aversion To Normalcy . Be prepared to learn this one! Get more Sean: https://www.instagram.com/thequarantined/ The Quarantined: https://www.thequarantined.com/ Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

What does it really mean to be “safe” anyway? I’ve been asking myself this question since I’ve felt the word “safe” become a buzzword. We’re all using it. We’re using it in the literal and figurative way. “I just want someone I feel safe with” or “This is not a safe environment” - those moments. What’s crazy is I found myself having a reaction to the use of this word. So, I’d like to explore that...