Rogue Valley's new album, radiate/dissolve, spent three years in the making, but frontman Chris Koza is quick to clarify it wasn't three solid years. "It was just a period of time where we'd work on the songs, then we'd step away as we were on the road," he says.

That time on the road helped nurture the album, even inspiring its title. "This record is informed by touring, by location, by where we've been," keyboardist Linnea Mohn explains. "[Its title, radiate/dissolve] felt right when Chris suggested it … Based on some of our experiences on tour, too, where there was just like infinite drives and sunrises and heat lines in the desert dissolving into nothing, I was like, 'Oh yeah, that totally encompasses the songs'."

Now that radiate/dissolve has been released, Rogue Valley are looking ahead to an album-release show at the Fitzgerald Theater on Friday, July 29. Ahead of the show, the band stopped in The Current's studio for a session hosted by Mary Lucia.

In talking to Lucia, Koza shares that he's been spending some time reading about infinite science, and he would welcome the opportunity to travel in space. "The unknown," Koza says, "it's most of what there is, so I like to just chip away. I can't say I retain that much of it, but I sure like being in the presence of it."

Much like the multidimensional, expanding universe Koza describes, radiate/dissolve shows the sound of Rogue Valley — characterized as an Americana band — has expanded as well. The track, "Breathe," for example, recalls '60s psychedelia while dishing out positive advice: "Don't let your heart be still / remember to breathe."

Use the audio player above to listen to the complete session, featuring additional songs from the new album, as well as some insights into where Rogue Valley have traveled — and where they'd like to travel — along with details about the album's production, and a cringe-worthy album title from Koza's back catalogue.

Songs Performed

"Transference"
"Breathe"
"Bury Your Heart"
All songs from Rogue Valley's 2016 album, radiate/dissolve.

Hosted by Mary Lucia
Produced by Anna Reed
Engineered by Michael DeMark
Visuals by Nate Ryan and Leah Garaas
Web feature by Luke Taylor

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