Alt Bloom
I can't imagine how an artist must feel every time they release a new song, and I assume the feeling is even greater when they release their first EP. I know the world has been going through so much lately, especially in the US right now. But the world needs music. The world needs hope. Today Alt Bloom releases his first project titled Astronaut Complex, a 5-track EP I've been listening to for weeks.
"West Coast" sets perfectly the vibe for the entire project and it’s definitely my favorite song of the moment. This song makes me miss Los Angeles even more (and I miss LA almost every day), especially when I watch the music video. It takes me to a beautiful place every time I hear it. “Damn Baby” just makes me feel good. The production on “Get Back” is the coolest. "Our Love" is the first song that made me want to “study” his music even more. The acoustic guitar on that track makes all the difference. "Sway" has that soulful/r&b vibe I really like and it is definitely my favorite song of this project because it’s different from his other songs - both musically and vocally. I also love how this song showcases his amazing vocals. So I hope to hear more of that :)
I think this EP is coming out at the right time. We need music that makes us feel good, now more than ever. We need to escape from reality for 14 minutes with this EP.
Thank you for your music Alt Bloom, and congratulations on this project.
Released via BigMTN Records, Astronaut Complex is out now :)
Artwork: Dewey Saunders
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
Hey guys, I’m Alt Bloom, a kid from Montana living in LA making it up as go like most people. Have loved writing songs since I can remember. Something about putting my thoughts into melodies just made it easier for me to be me.
How would you define Alt Bloom, the artist?
I define myself as a culmination of what you get when you have a naive kid from a ski bum town go to Boston for school, drop out, and then live in LA for five years. It’s been quite a journey to find Alt Bloom which is now a rediscovery of where I’m from mixed with all I’ve become. Lots of influences.
You've just released your debut EP Astronaut Complex - how does it feel like to release your first project?
Man it’s a dream. A year ago it was a vision to just have my own project up and running and now we have four songs out with an EP right around the corner. I couldn’t be more proud of all the work that went into this current slate of music and am always excited for the work to come. Everyone working this project with me is on the same note, put out what we feel is great music. The rest will come out in the wash.
When did you start working on this project?
On the EP the oldest song is about two years old. Songs coming later in the year could span back six years. That being said the name made birth earlier 2019 and the first music came out in June 2019. Almost at the year anniversary, parties to ensue.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this particular project? Who helped you create it?
A huge shoutout to Brian Phillips who was the first person to really sit down with me and start working my music as a team into a project. He’s a buddy of mine I’ve known for years and he really trusted me to write the songs and do my thing in the studio. He was one of the first producers who would let me just rotate into production whenever I wanted. He can really take a song from start to finish sonically and knows his way around a studio more than most. I need to shout out Devin Damato who about halfway through us making music came in and injected new life into the productions of what we were doing. The three of us made some good memories together and what we think are great songs. We call ourselves the Winnebago, named after the house we lived in. The last song on the EP “Our Love” I wrote with August Rigo, an amazing writer from Canada, and produced by myself.
What are the different topics you are talking about on this EP?
It’s all about love, for yourself and others, and the struggle to understand it.
What do you like the most on "Our Love"?
Besides the lyric, which is from many a broken heart, I love that the acoustic was reborn in this one. I had strayed away from it for a bit and it came back in a big way.
What did you feel when writing "Sway"?
I wanted to feel an honest connection with a human. I had been on the road touring and living a life that very much revolved around hookups that left both parties empty. I was tired of people assuming that’s what I wanted. To the point where I’d go home with people and do nothing else but have a drink and talk till the morning. I was thirsting for something beyond physical.
Any favorite memories from the making of this project?
The parts I love most of making music is at the end or middle of the day, hopping in the car and blaring down a song. Trying to listen to it like I’ve never heard it and finding where magic is and where magic needs to be. Many times we’d have parties at the Winnebago, and when we were the most tuned up we’d blast the songs with the party yelling along. Pretty sure we pissed off the neighbors but we had a hell of a time.
What were the hardest parts about making this EP?
Believing in myself. Trusting instinct. After all the different places I’ve been in life, I found myself with a lot of voices in my head. A teacher from school, a friend from home, an AnR, a fellow collaborator, they were all so loud before I started this I lost touch with who I was. So I decided the only way to get them out was to make music unquestionably and put it out. Finding a way to trust myself again was a long journey and still is but has been the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. I’m remembering what makes me tic and not what I need to do to make someone else tic.
Photo credit: JESSICA ROBINSON
What made you want to call your EP Astronaut Complex?
The title was about breaking out of what you think you’re supposed to think, breaking out of what’s been presented, breaking out of what’s been put on you in both love and life. I had been afraid that if I let my walls down and was honestly me I’d be messing up or somehow missing out. It’s about stepping out of that and creating my own world vs letting someone else create it. My first step as they say.
What can you tell us about the artwork?
The cover was made by Dewey Saunders and myself. I just love the work that he had done on Anderson Paak's record covers and was lucky enough my label was able to snag him for this. I had the initial idea of a helmet with art coming out and he took it from there. Within the art is photos from around my house and life in California. Dewey really knocked it out, he’s a true artist.
What lessons did you learn after finishing this EP?
Wow great question. I learned that I'm believing in myself and that journey is just the beginning. There’s a book called the Alchemist that I prescribe to that talks about a boy on his journey to basically his life ambition. I’ve envisioned myself a lot on my path and tried to see what point I am at. Sometimes I think I’m almost at the finish and sometimes I feel like I just started. This EP was the mix of those feelings. Finish and start. It was the first step in my trust for myself which I will never forget and couldn’t have gone without.
What is your goal for this EP?
For it to be the start of something beautiful. The tribe is growing.
As an artist, what do you want to accomplish?
I want to leave behind music that impacts people long after I’m off this earth and while I am here I want to make people feel more connected, loved and understood.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
Love. It’s really that simple. Compassion for other beating hearts. Realizing an ant is having his go at life as much as yourself. Life is a beautifully insane thing that should be respected.
What message do you want to give to the world?
Two things:
Treat any being as you yourself would want to be treated, all life is equal.
Regardless of what you believe happens next, you are here now. It’s your one shot to make the most of this wonder of an experience we’ve been gifted.
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