South London singer-songwriter Simon Bromide returns with 'Forest Mountain Forest', a new album that sees him expanding his long-standing solo vision into a fuller band dynamic under the name Simon Bromide & The Bromides.
Following the acclaim of 2021’s 'Following the Moon', this latest release brings together a seasoned lineup and the production expertise of Brian O’Shaughnessy, resulting in a record that leans into Bromide’s lifelong devotion to alternative and guitar-driven pop. Drawing influence from the likes of Teenage Fanclub, Big Star and Patti Smith, the album feels both nostalgic and deeply personal, shaped by decades of musical exploration and DIY spirit.
So with the new LP out now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
guitar
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
started with glam rock when i was a kid – slade, mud, glitter band, bowie, t-rex then aged about 10 i took a sidestep and fell in love with the beatles which led to a whole archaeological deep dig of sixties / early seventies stuff. ongoing!
What was the first album you remember owning?
k-tel ‘Music Explosion - 22 Original Hits 22 Original Stars’ – they weren’t kidding.. every song was a banger! ‘saturday nights all right for fighting’, ‘this town ain’t big enough for the both of us’ even a bryan ferry track ‘the in-crowd’
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
all the young dudes
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
To not to have any habits or rituals
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
at the moment.. hmm.. sth londoners ‘SLEAZE’ are great + they were briefly on the label i run ‘scratchy records’. my mrs likes ‘fontaines DC’ so iv got into them as well. ‘sharp pins’ are ridiculously cool/talented. ‘anna masic’ is a voice for the future – nothing released yet, stuart mackenzie’s infectious poetry nd pop dancefloor fillers.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
bob dylan.. gulp. just imagining that
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
every part. dream job
And what is the most frustrating part?
see above. i used to work in finance and telesales and currently at a pub.. the pub’s OK but nothing really compares. i imagine acting might be fun.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
my dad’s face when i told him i wanted to pursue a career in music. sorry dad. mind u it was his zep, stones, floyd records i used to pore over so he’s partly to blame - and he played me the middle section of ‘whole lotta love’ on headphones when i was 6.
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Simon Bromide's new album 'Forest Mountain Forest' is out now. Listen here and what the video for 'Jean-Luc Goddard Directs' in the player below.