After establishing themselves as one of the more progressive names on the new music scene over the years, German outfit WellBad are back to their best once again to deliver their swaggering new single 'Bucket List'.
Lifted from their new studio album 'Oyster & Pearl', which is available to stream now, 'Bucket List' makes for a dazzling return to form throughout. With its smooth and breezy hooks layered throughout, they are certainly looking to get us up and out of our seats with this one.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with them to find out more about their origins and what has been inspiring them most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
When I was a child, my parents, who are both actors, had many artist friends living with us. One of them not only had a serious drinking problem, he also owned a Dobro slide guitar. I was fascinated by this shiny silver guitar. To me, it looked like THE guitar. And I especially loved the sound when you scraped the strings with a bottle neck. Later, the man moved out of my parents' house. He left the guitar behind. I've been using it on every album I've made since then.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I've always been fascinated by the swing sound of the 1920s. Big band orchestras and pulsating brass sections. My mother had lots of Louis Armstrong records. I found his singing style very unusual, and his charm and wit combined with the elegant music were a real treat. Most of my classmates at school didn't quite see it that way. They preferred listening to Britney Spears...
What was the first album you remember owning?
As a child, I constantly listened to my parents' old records. (And unfortunately scratched some of them.) I loved The Doors, Howlin Wolf, Canned Heat, CCR—I thought they were all great! But the first CD I bought myself was the Marshall Mathers EP. I didn't speak English very well back then and didn't understand the lyrics very well, but the feeling I got from the sound was incredible for me.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
There are dozens of songs by great artists that I love deeply and that have changed my life, but I've never felt the need to trade places with them. It's THEIR song and THEIR story. I'm very happy that I can listen to them and be inspired by them, but I write my own songs. That's enough for me.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
For me, everything usually starts with the lyrics. I'm very fixated on lyrics, and for me, writing a song is like writing a short story. I want to transport the listener to another world and immerse them completely. Most of the time, I sit in a café or (mostly) bars and scribble something down on paper, which I then turn into a song the next day.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I love Chris Stapleton. His voice, his sound, his productions. I think he is one of the greatest songwriters of our time.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Tom Waits & Chris Stapleton!
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
When the show is over and your body is still pumping with adrenaline. You hear the applause booming through the thick backstage wall and open a brand new bottle of delicious single malt whisky with your bandmates. THAT is the moment!
And what is the most frustrating part?
When the bottle of whiskey is empty... no, just kidding!
I think it's a real shame that streaming has made music so unimportant. Handcrafted, original music has lost its value for many listeners and become interchangeable. Algorithms and machines are turning music into a replaceable product, and the love and passion of the artists is getting lost in the process. I think that's a shame. Quality comes at a price, but no one wants to pay it.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
When we were playing at the Montreal Jazz Festival, BB King's drummer Tony Coleman said to us during the sound check: “When you go out on stage, you have no heartache, no headache, no ache. You just play.” Since then, I've enjoyed every breath I take on stage even more, because he was 100% right.
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WellBad's new single 'Bucket List' is available to stream now. Watch the new video for it in the player below.