Bonner Black – The Old Way

By starrymag | June 29, 2022

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) Indie pop singer/songwriter, but a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, so I don’t really care what people call it as long as they connect with my music.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) The Eagles, Miley Cyrus, Fleetwood Mac, Taylor Swift, Heart…too many to list. I love rock and roll beats, pop melodies and descriptive lyrics.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Midnight Blue.”

 

A) My friend started making magic gummy bears during the pandemic and about an hour after I ate one the first verse just started flowing through my head. I originally wrote the verses to a different chorus, but later Izaac Burkhart (co-producer with Taylor Bray) and I rewrote the chorus to what you hear now.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) I like writing sad songs that feel good and, to me, this song feels like sad emotions flowing over my body like warm water. Making pain beautiful is healing.

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

A) Music and lyrics just come together for me. Sometimes I rewrite different parts of it, but they seem to go hand in hand.

 

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?

 

A) I felt like Taylor and Izaac understood my songwriting and who I was as an artist. Translating that into a “sound” is not easy, but it’s what they do and they’re both brilliant at it. I was in the room for the whole recording process and definitely had an “all around” voice in what was happening, but I try to trust my team.

 

Q) Your new EP The Old Way is out now. What are some themes you explore on this record?

 

A) The “stages of grief.” Denial (“I Still Belong To You”), Pain/Anger (“Take It All”), Bargaining (“Light Me Up”), Depression (“Midnight Blue”), Acceptance (“More Than You Love Me”) and Moving Forward (“The Old Way”).

 

Q) What songs challenged you the most when it came to creating or recording?

 

A) “I Still Belong to You” took the most re-writing time. It was also the first song we started recording and we were still figuring out our process/sound, but it’s also my favorite!

 

Q) What tracks off the EP hold a special place in your heart and what makes them so significant for you?

 

A) “Light Me Up” and “Old Way.” I wrote them by myself, and they just poured out of me. I can’t explain it. It’s almost like an out of body experience, but they just unraveled so quickly and easily.

 

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to your new EP as a whole?

 

A) Hopefully, a feeling of understanding and at least one of them stuck in their head, so they keep streaming!

 

Q) Will you be heading out on tour to promote the EP or are you more focused on livestreams for the time being?

 

A) I’m playing shows this summer, writing to start recording more music in the fall and continuing to focus heavily on social media. I love to perform live so much! I want to do it as much as I can.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) Miley Cyrus!

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) You can reach so many people from all over the world on social media for free and that is absolute magic for an independent artist. I also am very aware of the negative effects of social media on our society and what that means for the mental health of my followers and fans. I do want my followers to know that I will always stay authentic and will always show my lows, my face without makeup and be my true self. I want to make people laugh and feel accepted/welcome. Isn’t that what we all want?

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) Thank you, I love you.