Bridesmen – The Times

By starrymag | April 17, 2020

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) Indiepop, with a little bit of jazz and a whole lot of soul.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) Erykah Badu, Marian Hill, Nancy Wilson and Punch Brothers

 

Q) What made you decide to perform under the name Bridesmen?

 

A) I have a lot of projects. I wanted a name that wasn’t associated with anything else, through which I could communicate my viewpoint of the world. At the time, I was a part of one wedding a year and my role was almost always something that wasn’t traditionally just a groomsmen. I love the idea that we need to find a way to celebrate who we are without bringing down the whole institution.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “The Times.” What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) So many of us growing up in the Obama era had a vision of what America was and what it could be. It was a rude awakening for us to see where we actually are. I think we can all relate to the anxiety of getting up in the morning, scrolling through the news and thinking, “Well, this could be the day the world ends.”

 

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

 

A) There is a wild, tumultuous world battling beneath this pristine exterior we put on just to survive the real world. I want to show myself, as a typical person, bumping into all these energies that can feel overwhelming. The sooner I can take off my mask and connect with the people around me, the better off we’ll all be.

 

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

 

A) It’s a little bit of both. I start with what I call “a musical germ” (too soon?), which could be just a few notes or a line and let that grow into a full chorus or a hook. Once a chunk is done, I kinda sit back and let the song tell me where it wants to go. I do a lot of journaling for one song, sometimes five to six pages of just scribbles until a find the lyrics I want.

 

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

 

A) I purposefully find producers that already have the sound I want with specific songs, but I am almost always in the room during most of the process. It’s important for me to have a lot of input at the beginning of creating soundscapes and then I step back and let the producer do their thing before coming back and giving notes.

 

Q) What can fans expect from a live Bridesmen performance?

 

A) A lot of dancing and maybe some awkward conversations. [laughs] I don’t shy away from talking about my songs/feelings, but I also want everyone to have a fun time. I also LOVE my band— I work with the dopest musicians.

 

Q) Will there be a full EP or album coming soon?

 

A) Yes! I’m currently working on one tentatively titled…I don’t think I want to share that yet. But it’s based off a book title and notes I took from my therapy sessions. [smiles]

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you? 

 

A) I love Blue Whale for jazz, Hotel Cafe to try new stuff. I love that place for great music – the vibe and crowd are always super cool.

 

Q) You have performed with/supported a number of incredible artists. Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) Definitely Janelle Monae. If it’s producer then Greg Kurstin. I look up to him and Inara George so much (see: Bird and the Bee).

 

Q) We LOVED seeing you on “Perfect Harmony.” Any upcoming TV or film projects on the horizon?

 

A) Yes! Nothing I can announce though – except keep your eyes peeled for HBO. [smiles]

 

Q) When do you think we’ll know if “Perfect Harmony” has been picked up for a Season 2?

 

A) We should find out in a month or so. With these things, networks usually make decisions at the last second. I have hope!

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

 

A) Moonchild is giving me life. I love those cats – they really exemplify musicianship and groove. Plus, they are great people – very active in Black Lives Matter and other social justice movements.

 

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

 

A) I think it’s so important that fans see artists as people. I can do all the interviews and PR events and whatnot and none of it is going to show you the human side of me. Sometimes it’s not pretty, but my hope is that by seeing my artistry AND my everyday life, you get a sense that we are all learning this life thing together.

 

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

 

A) Thank you thank you thank you! It’s been a joy to see how the music has moved you – please continue to watch, listen and share and I will continue to release new projects whenever I can!

 

 

Watch The Video For “The Time”