St. Louis-based Bloom caught our attention last year with the stunning video for "Raindrops," delivering a stellar debut song and a captivating video to accompany it. The self-directed video accompanied the Dylan Brady-produced track wonderfully, displaying a whole lot of promise for her debut project. Partnering with Dylan once again, she quietly dropped the [SIN]SES EP just as the year was ending, more than living up to the initial promise of "Raindrops."
With moments that recall Massive Attack or Portishead without depending too heavily on previously covered ground, [SIN]SES is an incredibly bold debut. Entirely produced by Dylan Brady, the project features a tight consistency that maintains only the highest quality throughout. It might be a little too short, but as a tantalizing taste of Bloom's bright future, [SIN]SES is a huge success.
Talking with Bloom, she offered insight into how she crafted the EP and what inspired its creation. Listen to the fantastic EP below, and read how it all came together below that.
Could you tell me a little bit about yourself?
I discovered my vocal ability at the age of 3 but just recently became a solo artist. About a year ago I began recording with Dylan and shortly after, I changed my name to Bloom. The name is symbolic of the changes I’ve gone through recently that have allowed me to open up, to blossom, to live.
Although I just became Bloom, I’ve been writing since the age of 13. I didn’t come across many beats so I would make beats with my voice, write songs a cappella and record them on GarageBand through the microphone on my computer. I learned to master that piece of technology. I would hear all of the instruments in my head. Because of this, I am able to create unpredictable, complex melodies with little effort.
How did you connect with Dylan Brady initially?
Ever since I broke down barriers and decided to follow my purpose, my musical journey has come with ease. I met Dylan through my partner, Cam—he was my new guy, soon to be the inspiration behind the entire EP—he went to Highschool with Dylan. Cam reached out to Dylan and we arranged a day to meet at his house. Neither one of us knew what to expect.
Even though I had become a huge fan of Dylan’s music, to him, I was a stranger. I walked into Dylan’s apartment, he told me to sing, and his face lit up. We recorded our first two singles that day in two hours.
What was the creative process like working on [SIN]SES?
I still write the same way I did when I was 13. I write entire songs acappella, the melodies and lyrics. After writing a song, I met up with Dylan and he created magic with me. We recorded each song together. The creative process wasn’t possible without both of us in the same room, recording and creating the beat almost simultaneously. Each song was pretty much finished by the time I left his bedroom.
The creative process wasn’t possible without both of us in the same room, recording and creating the beat almost simultaneously.
I wrote [SIN]SES during a fiery time in my life with my partner. We have a rare connection to each other and an extreme passion for one another. I based most of the EP around the experiences I’ve had since meeting him.
There's definitely a very cohesive aesthetic on display on [SIN]SES, which is pretty remarkable for your first release. Did you try out anything else before you got to where you're at now creatively?
No, I didn’t try anything else beforehand. This was my first release. I did work on a few of those songs with a previous producer but when I met Dylan, we started over.
You have an incredibly strong vision when it comes to the visual aspect of your music. How important is the visual aspect when it comes to your music?
I believe in telling stories through my visuals and music. That is what the experience is all about. I like to think of my music as art pieces. Each EP I release will be a completely different art piece telling a different story. It is my way of showcasing my love for change, differences in the world. I want to connect with everyone and I believe I can do that through music. I don’t wish to put myself in a box, a genre, a style—my vision is larger than that, I love all forms of art and don’t discriminate.
Will you be shooting anymore videos for any of the tracks on the EP?
Yes! I am working on a Visual for “Imagination” right now. It will be my most thought out visual thus far. I may do another depending on how I feel.
Are you planning on releasing a follow-up to [SIN]SES this year?
Yes. I am working on my next EP, Psychedelic Bloom. You can expect color, trance like feels, and a message spreading peace—think of the '60s meets '90s.
