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United States In The Whale, an alternative rock duo, has cultivated a distinct sound and reputation through extensive touring and notable festival appearances.
In The Whale entered a working relationship with Red Bull GmbH's music incubator, Red Bull Sound Select, recording a two-song release, "Neighbor," with production by No Age in September 2015.
The band was selected for Taco Bell's 'Feed the Beat' artist program.
The band was included in Quiznos' 'Toasty on Tour' artist program.
In The Whale originated as a solo endeavor for Nathaniel Valdez during his Master’s studies at the University of Northern Colorado. With the addition of drummer Eric Riley, the band relocated to Denver, Colorado. Both Valdez and Riley were raised in conservative and religious households, a background that is reflected in the rebellious themes present in their song content. Valdez’s previous experience as an undertaker also influences the lyrical morbidity found in their more recent material. Their debut commercial release, “Cake,” in 2012, was produced by Tickle Me Pink guitarist Joey Barba. This initial release allowed the band to expand their presence across Colorado, leading to a supporting slot on The Photo Atlas’ Spring 2012 tour and recognition in KTCL’s ‘Hometown for the Holidays’ contest. Two tracks from “Cake,” “Woman” and “Heels,” were licensed for placement in a Victory Motorcycles national TV commercial and the documentary “Why We Ride,” respectively. A live version of “Heels” was also featured as the opening track on Colorado Public Radio’s OpenAir 2015 Record Store Day release.
The second release, “Nate & Eric,” garnered wider press attention and radio play, reaching number 38 on combined college and community radio charts and number 119 on the CMJ Top 200. This period saw In The Whale perform at major events such as the Denver installment of Riot Fest in 2014, and other regional festivals including Treefort Music Festival and The UMS. They toured extensively in 2014, sharing stages with bands like Guttermouth, Jane’s Addiction, and The Presidents of the United States of America.
The 2015 release, “Full Nelson” EP, peaked at number 92 on combined college radio charts. The band continued to receive positive reviews for both their recordings and live performances. In the same year, In The Whale participated in prominent music festivals such as Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Canadian Music Week, and South by Southwest, which brought them recognition from publications like the Chicago Tribune. They were one of only five Colorado artists to play Lollapalooza in a decade. The band also served as official correspondents for Denver’s Westword newspaper during the 2015 SXSW Music Festival and were included in New Music Seminar’s Artists on the Verge list for 2015. Their industry partnerships expanded to include placements in Taco Bell’s ‘Feed the Beat’ and Quiznos’ ‘Toasty on Tour’ artist programs. In September 2015, In The Whale collaborated with Red Bull Sound Select, recording a two-song release, “Neighbor,” produced by No Age. This release was supported by tours with The Darkness, Toadies, and Nashville Pussy.
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