INTERVIEW: LA rock band Badflower talk new music, inspirations and more

In your upcoming EP we heard the songs are from the point of view of different fictional characters, tells us about the creative writing process. Were any points of view inspired by actual events or people?

The writing process is very organic. The band sits in a room and finds the beat/melody and the heart together. And I’ll sing along with the first vocal part that comes to mind. As soon as a few real words start to come out, we’ve figured out what the song really is and we expand on the story. These characters are completely fictional but are often spawned from real people and real interactions. We’ve all either gone through or observed first hand these themes and scenarios; obsessive relationships, drug use, suicidal tendencies, murder fantasies, anger, pain etc. We like to explore the shadows of the soul. Especially on this EP. And we didn’t hold back at all, we totally dove into it and we’re really excited about how it came out.

You were #1 on KROQ’s Locals Only for Heroin, being from Los Angeles, how does that make you feel that you are now considered staples in the LA rock scene?

From the very beginning of our careers in music, people told us that Los Angeles was the hardest city to crack. While that may be true, it’s certainly not impossible. People in LA still love music and were so lucky to have the opportunity to share ours with them. KROQ has definitely helped us reach a ton of people and build a foundation. But staples in the scene? Give us a few more years in the van haha.

Which song off the new EP do you enjoy playing live?

All of them! But if I had to choose, I’d say Mother Mary. I get to totally detach from my body and live vicariously through the character in the song. It’s very therapeutic.

What venue or location would be your dream venue to play?

Definitely the Hollywood Bowl. I saw Queen there when I was a kid and it absolutely changed my life. That was my very first concert ever actually. Also Wembley stadium in the UK. Because its Wembley!

Tell us a little bit about the process of self-producing the EP. Is it more difficult to get the production just right, or to write & finish the songs themselves?

I think they are equally difficult. When we finish writing a song, we know EXACTLY how it needs to sound on the recording. So the challenge is recreating that and fine-tuning every little detail to match up. But so often once you get into the studio everything changes, new ideas come and the song comes out totally different. Which is good and bad. This happens with or without the presence of a producer.

Who have been your musical inspirations? What are you currently listening to?

I’ve been listening to that Hozier song “Take me to Church” nonstop. Which is rare because I don’t really like anything else on pop radio. But that song is brilliant. Our normal van tunes would include Jack White, Nirvana, Rival Sons, Jeff Buckley. Also lots of Motown! Important!

You gained a lot of popularity from your residency at The Key Club in Hollywood. What would you say makes a good live performance?

Honesty and conviction. It doesn’t matter if you suck at your instruments or your having a bad vocal day. Or even if the sound guy isn’t doing his job. If you perform from the heart the audience will soak it up. You need to be very sure about yourself and your reason to be on the stage – and project that confidence outward. Also, I really like lights and fog. A little light and fog never hurt any band!

Do you prefer playing big festival shows like south by so what or the more intimate venues like the satellite? 

Both have their merits but we prefer the smaller clubs because we can connect with people better. That’s what we really love to do. But we’ll reassess that after we’ve played the bowl!

Which band member takes the most time to get ready for a show, and why?

Joey takes hour showers. And he always chooses to get in right before we have to leave for the show. Every. Single. Time.

What’s next for Badflower in 2015? Where is the best place to stay updated with you online?

facebook.com/wearebadflower We post everything there including tour dates!