Vallory Falls Drops Baggage on New Single “Want Me Dead”

Vallory Falls’ next single is a poppy emo tune with attitude, “Want Me Dead.”

Sarcastic and catchy, the Vermont band’s new track portrays the end of a relationship and the messy feelings that follow. Vocal harmonies drive the verses over a danceable guitar strum. Vocalist Tristan Gilliss details a listless, liminal mindset: “I spent 6 months baked / Handholding / Living between, myself and 18.”

Despite the biting lyrical tone, there’s a bright energy echoing emo/pop punk favourites like Hot Mulligan and Free Throw. The chorus poses a confrontation, “Condescension is heavy on my head / You say you want me / Motherfucker you got me / You say you want me dead.”

Gilliss explained the feelings behind “Want Me Dead:”

“‘Want Me Dead’ evolved from a dream I had about an old friend a couple of years ago. We all have that one friend who, for one reason or another, drifts apart from you in life. In the dream, they said something like they didn’t care if I was, or that they wished I was, dead. The darkest parts of my brain wanted some sort of closure while at the same time being completely overcome with apathy. So, it’s about taking that feeling and owning it… the feeling of being left in total disregard, getting angry, then just letting it go.”

“Want Me Dead” became a staple of Vallory Falls’ live shows before its official release. The song came together as the band’s lineup solidified over the past two years, proving the group is greater than the sum of its parts.

Vallory Falls shot their debut music video for the track, depicting the band playing a Halloween party where a concertgoer meets his dream girl at the rock show. There’s something mysterious about her, though, as supernatural elements take over the night.

Vallory Falls “Want Me Dead” single artwork

“Want Me Dead” follows “Rosie” as the next single off the band’s forthcoming full-length To Save You, coming in June. The band is currently mapping a northeast summer tour around the album release.

Vallory Falls is a force of energetic pop-punk desperation, a heart-on-the-sleeve remedy to the angst felt in the shadow of the great Green Mountains. From its formation in 2021, the band has shown its thematic diversity in singles such as “Rosie” and “This Too Shall Pass.” Dealing with issues of longing, regret and the fear of change, their music resonates with the disadvantaged underbelly of New England’s own.

Massachusetts native and frontman Tristan Gilliss saw the band as an opportunity to make a statement. In the midst of both a move to Vermont and a lineup change in 2021, he enlisted bassist Riley Burridge after seeing her perform at a benefit concert in South Burlington. Riley played only one show on bass guitar before the departure of original members Matt Wilson and Kat Delitto.

After a difficult year trying out new bandmates, toiling over demos, and considering Riley’s time drumming in local acts while attending Lyndon State, the idea of an instrument change was floated. Days later, the duo found themselves driving to the U.S. border with Canada to purchase a used kit. Within weeks of this shift, the band had their bassist in Dan Lecours of Michigan. Won over by his drive and relentless dry humour, the band finally began playing shows together in their new home state.

2023 saw further lineup changes on lead guitar, with the group fleshing out their sound with the indelible melodic experience brought by guitarist Meghan Burke. Having played in numerous staple punk rock bands in the area, Meghan is the newest member of Vallory Falls. In late 2023 and into early 2024, the band began recording in Gilliss’ basement studio for their debut studio album.