Deadbeat Girl, the indie-rock alternative artist project of Val Olson, was born from a lifelong love of music that began in their South Florida childhood home. Inspired by artists like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, and Death Cab for Cutie, Val is a self-taught instrumentalist and production affcionado, drawing influence from the raw energy of punk and the modern polish of producers like Finneas O’Connell. That passion led them to New York University’s Music Technology program, where Deadbeat Girl took form in classrooms, college dorms, and studio spaces across the city.

Growing up in South Florida fuels Deadbeat Girl to be the representation they needed as a young queer and Hispanic person. Through deeply honest lyricism and raw live performances, Deadbeat Girl captures the emotional intensity of navigating identity and belonging. Their music is a blend of vulnerability and defiance, a testament to the power of authenticity and the healing force of music.

Deadbeat Girl’s artist project launched with their debut single “Another Day” in 2022. At almost 1 million streams, the track is a melancholy punk-inspired upload that resonated with the likes of Under The Radar, Ladygunn, and more. The song, centered on Val’s battle with mental health, continues to resonate with listeners worldwide.

Following the single, Deadbeat Girl’s debut EP entitled “What Will It Take?” was released in March of 2023. The record navigates self acceptance, heartache and belonging with empowering honesty. The release, which has now surpassed 2 million streams on Spotify, garnered support from the likes of Clash, Wonderland, Them, and Ones To Watch.

With playing live at the center of their artist project, Deadbeat Girl is proud to have a global support tour and a joint Lollapalooza performance with artist Ari Abdul under their belt. The pair’s single “Make Me Cry” manages to feel effortlessly cool, with Deadbeat Girl settling into Abdul’s soundscape so seamlessly it’s as if they were a permanent duo. With 5.5 million streams on Spotify and counting, it’s a single not to be missed. Deadbeat Girl can also be found performing across the east coast and has notably headlined iconic venues such as the Mercury Lounge in New York City.

Keeping up the momentum, their newest single “Soft” arrives as part of Deadbeat Girl’s upcoming EP ‘Self-Destructor,’ a poignant project with the sentiment of their previous works against the backdrop of an expanded soundscape, out December 5th.

What was once writing songs in a childhood bedroom has quickly turned into something bigger. Despite recent success, Deadbeat Girl continues to stick to their roots, always creating songs inspired by the music they grew up with. Olson vents on their social media, “I’ve had quite the journey and I’ve gone through a lot as a queer person, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I do believe that it is my calling to speak through my music to queer youth and to all those dealing with the pain that comes with being human through my music.”

At their core, Deadbeat Girl is “not just a musician, but a lover of music.”