Jamie Yanda was one of the musicians I had in mind when I began formulating The Valley. For years, I had seen Jamie’s boisterous energy fill coffee shops, basements, and living rooms playing with Arto. This is the same energy that can break through a camera lens and communicate across a computer screen.

Jamie played three songs for our session–one older Arto song, a newly debuted track by the band, and a cover by Tim Kasher (Cursive’s frontman). We took advantage of the wide-open spaces near the Chippewa River, where Jamie’s voice could float above the downtown.

The Valley was created for musicians like Jamie, whose energy should never be confined under a ceiling.

... for more videos and photos of Jamie, check out The Valley.

• The Valley is a collection of musical performances with the Chippewa Valley as a backdrop. The project is headed by three students at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire who may have only minimal experience, but a passion for their community and the art that surrounds it. (The Valley is inspired by Vincent Moon's Takeaway shows, available at La Blogotheque.)