Delaware County’s Valendina ready to hit the big time [video]

It started out as a little fun project between friends in 2019. Now, in 2025, a group of Delaware County musicians are on the precipice of the musical mountain.

The band Valendina is made up of Ridley’s Karina Patricelli on vocals and bass, Prospect Park’s Chase Sakers on guitar and vocals, Tinicum’s Tommy Kenish on guitar and Ridley’s Eric Miller on drums and vocals.

They will be playing at Kung Fu Necktie, 1248 N. Front St., Philadelphia, on Feb. 13 and will hold a special release party as part of Cupid’s Revenge at the Delco Let There Be Rock School, 901 MacDade Blvd., Folsom, on Valentine’s Day.

“We all met when we were kids at the Let There Be Rock School,” Patricelli said. “It’s cool, because we’ve grown a lot and through our music with each other. They’re just some of my best friends. I’m more than happy to be doing this with them. It’s just been such an awesome, awesome blast.”

Valendina, described as a pop punk band, has been making a name for themselves by hitting small venues anywhere from Delco to State College.

“The key to success, especially when it comes to music is people want a reason to fall in love with you and what you’re making,” said Patricelli. “They want to be able to relate. You need to be fully authentic to yourself. It helps you achieve those goals.”

Patricelli was on and off the stage in her youth going through the Ridley School District, but didn’t really find her voice until she started at the rock school.

“It took me a while to get used to doing stuff in front of people, because like I was so shy as a kid,” Patricelli said. “(Singing) was always just a hobby, whether I’d just kind of be singing to myself like in my bedroom or something. I was in the choir for a little bit and I always liked taking extra music courses.”

Valendina’s single “Break it Off” shows off the band’s strengths with a soaring guitar riff and Patricelli’s vocals.

“ ‘Break It Off’ is basically a musical intervention,” said Patricelli. “This song is a wake-up call to help those who may not realize that they are in abusive relationships, but essentially help them see the signs before things get worse from an outside perspective. When dealing with relationships that entitle abuse and grooming, it’s easy to think that you’re the problem, especially when you’re young and in love with a master manipulator. However, this song is a letter of tough love to help those we love to understand the reality of the situation and see that they are not the monster. As stated in the song, ‘Losing doesn’t mean you lost it all/ Don’t let this be your downfall/ Break it off,’ is the thesis statement of this song because it shows that toxic relationships don’t define you, and strongly encourages those to know your worth.”

Patricelli graduated from Temple after majoring in media studies and production. Those lessons have helped her as the band starts moving into other circles.

“I feel like when you’re a musician in today’s day and age, you have to have to, you have to be able to wear multiple hats,” Patricelli said. “You have to know what’s going on in the industry and how you can get your music from point A to point B, but also at the same time, like you need to be constantly writing and getting better.”

For more information on the Let There Be Rock School, check out www.delcorockschool.com.