A Dirty Dozen with VERA BLOOM – October 2023

According to a recent press release: “Today, emerging rock artist Vera Bloom, who holds nothing back in her addictive hybrid of alternative, grunge, and punk, has released her sophomore EP, It’s Me. The 6-song independent collection includes her recent single “Eyes On You” and the incendiary title track and new single “It’s Me,” which Bloom has also just released the official lyric video for. With an attitude-laden snarl, guitar slung low, and no fucks given, Vera Bloom cranks the honesty and emotion all the way up in her music. The Washington State-born and Nashville-based singer, songwriter, and guitarist beckons audiences to not only sing, but scream along with her, partaking in the kind of catharsis that only takes place in a haze of distortion. Since debuting in 2021 with her self-titled debut EP, Vera has hit the road with the legendary L7. With uplifting energy, Vera Bloom gives rock ‘n’ roll the kick in the ass it needed and delivers a dose of reality on It’s Me.” We get Vera to discuss new music, influences, and more.

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

My new EP, It’s Me, is made up of six tracks, five of which I had previously released as singles over the course of about a year and half. 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. No hidden nuggets! Good idea for next time.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I guess it was my parents who introduced musical instruments to me that I learned how to play. I was an avid writer from a very young age, writing poetry and journaling constantly. I think once I learned about songwriting through my dad, a hobbyist songwriter, it was game over (or game on). I knew I wanted to do this professionally in middle school when I started branching out and finding friends to play my songs with. I entered a high school talent show and performed one of my songs with my drummer friend and ended up winning. That was the first time I realized people might actually be interested in my songwriting and me as an artist.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

I have a lot of “teachers.” Joan Jett for sticking to what I want to do and to do it my way. Tom Petty for having instrumental bridges instead of forcing more lyrics. Dinosaur Jr. for allowing a bit of mess and blurred lines. Pink Floyd for the genuinity of melody. The Verve for the simplicity in shoegaze guitar lines and combining beauty with distortion. The list goes on.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

I would love to just meet Joan Jett, let alone collaborate with her. 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. I feel like I would learn so much from her even by standing in the same room.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

I like quality time with friends and also to sit on my deck and watch the sky and think. I’m pretty introverted when I’m not performing, so I tend to be a hermit at home and keep my friends circle small. I recently bought a skateboard and have been skating around with a good friend who also owns one. I’ve been loving that.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I would say I’m a mixture of Joan Jett, Wet Leg, Heart, and Courtney Love. What’s funny is that I would include Courtney Love, even though she is also my answer to the next question. I’m not a big Hole fan, if I’m being honest, but I do have a lot of respect for Courtney and she really had a huge impact on women in grunge. I usually think that people compare the two of us because we’re both blonde and like to scream and be angsty, but if I really sit down to think about Courtney’s career and influence, I should take it as a huge compliment.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

When we hang out, we are playing music or riding in the van or hanging in green rooms. There isn’t a lot of off duty hanging as a group. I definitely know who brings the drinks, though and his name is mister Brian Chinino, haha. He is my drummer and good friend. I gave up drinking but he still looks out for me and provides NA options, too.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Easy. Donita Sparks of L7! I opened for L7 last year in Nashville and Atlanta and meeting Donita was unreal. It was brief, because we were all being cautious about Covid, but it was still really cool.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best part of being a musician is making noise and riding that energy. If I couldn’t be a musician, I would try my hand at just being a songwriter for other artists and musicians. If I couldn’t be that either, I’d own a little oyster bar back home where I’m from outside of Seattle.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I don’t think I really know the answer to this. I guess I always want people to know that I’m very thankful that they find something in my music. I’m sure the question prompting this answer has been asked before, so that still doesn’t answer this question. I’m tired of answering what bands I sound like but it makes sense that people want to know what I’d think about that.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Yeah, don’t date people you play music with!

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. I think it’s a perfect record. Even “Money,” my least favorite track, but it’s a lot of people’s favorites so it’s important to have it on there.

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Category: Interviews