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Featuring angst-ridden riffs and ethereal vocals, SoCal based rock band Bad Suns, are shedding a new light on post-punk, giving it a fresh new twist.
The band has only been around since 2012, however the guys have been on the grind, making moves fast. Bad Suns debut Transpose EP, is without a doubt solidifying them as a breakout band in 2014.
GroundSounds had to know more, and recently caught up with frontman Christo Bowman for an exclusive interview, check it out below.
For those just discovering Bad Suns how did you four meet and form the band?
We’ve all been playing music on our own terms for several years. Miles and I met in the summer of 2009, playing in a different band together, as the rhythm section. That was short-lived, but we liked playing together, so we immediately started forming our own band. Gavin was one of my best friends from school, and he was just learning how to play the bass. We all got together and started jamming, every day. It took us a while to get the really get the hang of things, but something always felt right, so we kept going for it and progressing. Our band ended up playing some shows with Ray’s band. Long story short, we needed a guitarist, he needed a new band, we started jamming, casually, and it lead to a really good thing. Bad Suns started in January of 2012.
How did you guys come up with the name Bad Suns?
Trying to come up with a band name, that everyone likes, is one of the most difficult tasks you’re faced with, in the beginning. We had all been collecting various ideas, skimming through books, our music libraries. There’s a song by The Bravery called “Bad Sun”. The band name isn’t a tribute to that song, but we all liked how those words looked next to each other. It sounds unusual, but we’ve really grown attached to it, over the years.
Can you tell us about bringing your debut EP Transpose to fruition? What was it like working on this project?
It’s the first body of work we’ve ever released, so it’s very special to us. The first half was recorded in June of 2012, and the second half was recorded in July of 2013. Recording was a blast, because we’re all playing together live in one room. I believe that contributes a lot to the vibe of the songs. That pushed us to really tighten up our chops and play as best as we possibly could, for each take. The “eye-contact” factor is really important in making Bad Suns records. We record vocals and keyboards in post.
Can you tell us about the inspiration and creative process behind your track “Cardiac Arrest”?
“Cardiac Arrest” is one of our most simple songs. It always felt special, from the first demo, and we’re all very happy with the way it turned out, as well as the reaction it’s garnered. As it sometimes happens, the verse lyrics came from finding random words to sing over a melody. We had to be patient with that song. The verses existed for maybe a year, before the chorus came to me at random one day. I took out my phone and sang it into the receiver. You never know what’s going to happen, just keep chasing your ideas.
What was it like the day of the video shoot for “Cardiac Arrest”?
Exciting and very odd. We shot the performance scenes in my living room, so all of these trucks and vans were parked outside of my house in the morning and there were maybe 20-30 people working as crew. We had two of our really close friends, Zack Sekuler & Daniel Iglesias Jr, directing. That helped keep the vibe casual and comfortable. It’s great to work with your friends, especially when they’re great at what they do. Zack also designs a lot of our artwork, including the “Transpose” cover.
You guys have some great shows coming including two with Fitz and The Tantrums, what do you guys enjoy most about being on the road?
Our first ever tour took place during the recent polar vortex. A lot of subzero temperatures and a lot of illness. We had a blast. We’ve all been so close for so long, there were no surprises in hanging out in a van 24/7. We spend that much time together, regardless, so that’s a luxury. It’s a great group of people to be traveling with. We’re excited, ultimately, to be touring in the spring. That’s going to be a nice change. We have a lot of shows coming up in these next few months, in much bigger venues than we’ve ever played. We’re very excited.
Since forming the band you all have been through a lot together, can you share one of your biggest moments, or a favorite memory thus far?
There have been a lot of surreal moments over the past year. The day we signed our record deal was nice. We were all so proud of each other and the fact that we had worked hard enough to make that dream a reality. Another great memory was at a recent show in Kansas City. We had never been there before and we were headlining the show. Our expectations were at about zero, and we ended up filling up the room. There were so many people singing along to all of the songs. We had never experienced anything like that before, that was a great night. Truly surreal.
What do you guys enjoy most about being on stage and performing live?
It’s nice that we all love the music we’re playing. There are so many fun moments in the set. “Salt” is one of my favorite songs to play to guitar on. There are other moments when I like to just step back and watch Miles play drums. We have such good chemistry as four musicians, that’s what makes every show exciting.
What has it been like working with Vagrant Records?
It’s been great. Interpersonal relationships are very important for the way this band operates. Everyone on our team is somebody you’d want to hang out and grab lunch with, but who also takes care of their job, like no one else could. That’s a great balance to achieve.
Can you tell us about working on the track “Salt”?
That song was initially written on acoustic guitar. Lyrics and melodies were all there, but finding the groove took a bit more time. We tried a few arrangements, but didn’t quite get it to the right place until we brought it into the studio. Our producer, Eric Palmquist, handed Miles a few cow bells and prompted him to come up with something. He went in and the first thing he recorded is what you’re hearing in the song. That was the first piece, instrumentally, and it all built quickly and naturally from there. The day we made that song was a definite studio highlight.
Transpose definitely has us eagerly anticipating your debut full-length… what can you guys reveal about your upcoming album? What can fans expect? Is there a release date?
We’re working for a summer release. That’s about as specific as I can get, at this point. We’re in the studio working on it right now; I’m actually about to close up my laptop and head there right now. The only thing I can reveal is that if you like what you’ve heard, thus far, we think you’re really going to love the album. It further explores the “sound” of Bad Suns. We have a lot of songs we’re really proud of and excited to put out there.
Top Photo Credit: Andrew Boyle
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