Getting To Know... Bad Bloom

After spending the last couple of years releasing a flurry of bold and impressive releases, New York-based duo Bad Bloom now return with their latest euphoric offering 'Tokyo'.

Lifted from their forthcoming new album 'Leave', expected in the coming months, 'Tokyo' makes for an incredibly rich and captivating listen. Channelling the broad and atmospheric direction of Beach House, Interpol and DIIV, their newest delight sees them return with one of their most enticing cuts to date.

So with the new single available now, we sat down with them to find out more about their origins and what has inspired them most over the years.

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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?

Kate: The first instrument I played was the trumpet (in the fourth grade) but it DEF wasn’t the first instrument I fell in love with. We had some good times together, but I have to say my true first love was a guitar. My first electric guitar was a generic guitar that was sold with an amp I got for Christmas when I was 16. Soon after, I got a Danelectro with built-in distortion, but I think I bought it because it was red and sparkly. But I was in love with that sparkly baby.

Jay: A Fender Mustang – the first time I saw it in Kurt Cobain’s hands, I knew I needed to play it – that’s when I knew I wanted to start playing guitar. I was young, probably 10 years old, so I did what I could to buy a crappy guitar to learn on. Now I finally have a Mustang, 20 years later…and I am still in love with it.

What kind of music did you love as a teenager?

Kate: It was the year 1999…I WAS SO EMO. American Football was my favorite band. Someone burned me a CD of their first album, and I listened to it so much the back got all scratched and I had to try to save it, so I cleaned it with toothpaste…and it worked. Magic. I also loved Rainer Maria, Rilo Kiley, Mineral, and Sunny Day Real Estate more than anything in the whole world. Even my sparkly guitar.

Jay: I really liked Grunge and Metal. Nirvana, Metallica, Pantera Smashing Pumpkins– any sort of alt rock band. I would study those records in my room, playing the CDs over and over again.

What was the first album you remember owning?

Jay: I think it was ‘Siamese Dream’. I remember playing it so much the CD wouldn’t play anymore.

Kate: Owning, meaning buying with your own money? That would be Hansen’s ‘Middle of Nowhere’ when I was 12. I am aware this is not cool or the right thing to say in an interview. Jay is much cooler than I am. But soon after that I saved up and bought No Doubt’s ‘Tragic Kingdom’.

What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?

Jay: Nick Cave’s Red Right Hand. It tells such a wild story while the music sets a tone that escalates all the way until the end.

Kate: I love Big Band music. I grew up with it and played it in the brass band– I always wanted to compose and arrange Big Band music. That’s a mighty task. But let’s say anything by Glenn Miller. How can you not look back on those pieces and be like WOW!!! The structure, the dynamics, the chasing harmonies, the eclectic parts. Genius.

Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?

Jay + Kate: It usually starts with Kate sitting down alone with a cold beverage and a crunchy snack and writing/recording a bassline and vocal melody (with rough guitar parts) – Jay will take that, go hide in the basement, and write/record some guitar melodies. Then we typically argue about parts and forget about the song for a while. We come back to it eventually and fine tune everything over Sunday afternoon coffee, nail down the structure, and demo it out together. We work best 3 coffees in. We are true coffee people.

Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?

Kate: I love both Palehound and Jay Som, and they just put out a new collab project called ‘Bachelor’. They only have released one song but it’s great. I can’t wait for more of that.

Jay: Daniel Caesar, Arcade Fire, Spoon are some current favourites but I like to rotate my mix often.

If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?

Jay: Nick Cave.

Kate: Jenny Lewis. What an amazing human, songwriter, and female force. And Dolly Parton. Because DOLLY you know?!

What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?

Jay: The song writing process. When a song comes together – when it clicks.

Kate: Performing. I LOVE to perform. There’s no other experience in life that compares to that rush of being on stage, being able to express yourself in the most genuine way. And being able to see your friends and family, connect with strangers, all of the good stuff.

And what is the most frustrating part?

Kate: For me, it’s honestly the pressure of releasing your music and hustling, trying to get it heard. This is music you put so much time, energy, and emotion into. Right now, we can’t play live, and that was the best (pre-pandemic) part for me – and it is frustrating. Music is about that connection – and it’s really difficult to make those connections right now.

And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?

Jay: A female artist that I often spoke with randomly in the neighborhood I worked in NYC gave the best advice. When I told her I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue playing music, she said ‘music is not done with you – hang in there and you will find inspiration again’. I will always remember that.

Kate: Similar to Jay – but this came from my dad. He told me to never stop playing. Music will always be there for you throughout your life. I’ve had breaks where I haven’t played, or done a project, but I always come back to it. Different year, different project, different type of music or experience – burnout is real but your BFF music will always be waiting for you.

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Bad Bloom's new single 'Tokyo' is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in the player below.