Vera Bloom Interview
We sat down with Nashville rocker Vera Bloom around the release of her brand new EP It’s Me. With a fearless attitude, her guitar slung low, and an unapologetic demeanor, Vera Bloom cranks up the honesty and emotion in her music, daring her audience to not just sing but to scream along with her. With an infectious energy, Vera Bloom is here to give rock 'n' roll the adrenaline shot it's been craving and deliver a potent dose of reality through her EP. So, get ready to embark on a musical journey that's raw, rebellious, and ready to set your soul on fire with Vera Bloom.
- To start, could you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in the music industry?
Hi! I'm Vera. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest's Washington State, a ferry boat ride away from Seattle. I started writing songs around 14 years old. I remember my first couple of songs were about life and boyfriends and honestly, not much has changed since!!
I always knew I was going to "do music," which was sort of predetermined by my parents (in a good way), but I never knew what it meant to be in the industry until recently. Inserting yourself into this industry takes a lot of guts, and that took me some time to establish for myself.
- Your music is often described as a blend of alternative, grunge, and punk. How do you see yourself fitting into these genres, and what elements from each do you incorporate into your sound?
When writing, I focus a lot on lyrics and melody first. Secondly, I focus a lot on energy. The whole process is a gut feeling for sure. Those labels are just different ways of describing energy and how that energy is mixed with different instruments sounds. I love certain elements from all rock (well, except southern or country rock). I love screaming, I love feeling the angst and hype of punk, but I also feel that during the highs and lows of a more alternative or grunge song. I always let the song sort of write itself and then help shape it during arrangement and when introducing that to the band. I'll be able to sense where the energy should get higher or lower, more intense or back off. I don't focus too much on genres. For me, that's an afterthought and really just a tool used to get the songs to the right audience. Since I was young, my favorite instrument is the electric guitar. I fell in love with David Gilmour's playing on Dark Side of the Moon and am a big sucker for AC/DC, Def Leppard, and bands I grew up with like Green Day, blink-182, Soundgarden, and Nirvana. I think once I started focusing on what I actually "like" versus what I thought would be cool or was externally influenced to be, I let the rock come out of me and I'll never go back.
- Your new EP, It's Me, is generating a lot of excitement. Can you share the inspiration behind the title and the overall theme of the EP?
Yes! I'm so proud of this EP and the six songs that make it. The title comes from the fifth track, “It's Me.” I wrote this song during a time when I was being pretty self-destructive. I was reflecting on everything then and came to the realization that most, if not all, of the negative things in my life were because of me, and it was going to have to be me to bring myself back up and make changes for myself. That took a lot of learning how to embrace myself, even in this darker place, and love myself. Tell myself I'm worth it, I have value, I want better. But, I also needed to tell myself that I'm a lot of "me's" and that's okay. I'm my past selves, I'm my present self, and I'm my future self. It's me, all of me, take it or leave it, I'll be what I'll be.
I decided this track and the meaning behind it really engulfed the other songs as well. I think every song I write is an act of self-love and healing.
- Could you take us through the creative process behind the EP? What were some of the challenges and highlights during its production? Any stand-out moment in the studio?
This EP is made up of a string of singles that I released over a year and a half, starting with “Say Goodbye” and most recently “Eyes On You.” My creative process stays pretty consistent. I write the song, demo it to a full band arrangement in Garageband, and then I send it to the band I perform and record with and we tweak arrangements here and there through rehearsals. After performing the songs at shows for a bit, they really lock into place and I book studio time. I like to record the songs live to maintain as much live energy as possible, and then I'll overdub my vocals and any guitar parts or whatever on top of that. I have yet to run into challenges during this process...and fingers crossed it continues to go smoothly!
- What do you enjoy most about performing live and how does it compare to the creative process in the studio?
There is nothing better than performing my songs live with a band! Absolutely nothing better. That energy on stage is like walking a tightrope - you could fall to one side at any time because you're pushing yourself and your limits. It gets a little wobbly but that just adds to the excitement and the energy. I love writing the songs and seeing them come to life with real human musicians - that's such a cool and satisfying experience, but nothing even compares to performing them live. That's the treasure at the end of the rainbow and the rainbow represents all the hard work it took to get there (writing, practicing, recording, etc).
- Are there any artists you'd love to collaborate with in the future or any dream venues you'd like to perform at?
I would love to just meet Joan Jett. Collaborating with her would probably make me pass out but I would be so honored. She is my idol. We might not be a perfect match sonically, but she is a symbol for me and how I see the trajectory of my life. A dream venue for me is performing in Seattle at the Paramount Theater to a sold-out crowd filled with old friends, family, and new fans (and some of the non-believers!). I saw Sheryl Crow perform with her band there in 2005 and I remember making a promise to myself that I would be that someday.
- To wrap up, what advice would you give to aspiring musicians who are looking to break into the music industry, especially in the alt scene?
I would say focus on what you like and stick with that. Be consistent and show up for yourself. Learn how to listen to your gut (gets easier with more mistakes haha) and then really listen to your gut. It is your guide! But also, HAVE SOME FUN, it's just music.
Stay connected with Vera Bloom:
Website // Instagram // Facebook // Twitter // YouTube
