INTERVIEW: UNBLOOM — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

UNBLOOM

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TO end the weekend…

I have been getting to know UNBLOOM and what inspired his latest track, I Followed. He talks about the reaction following his song, Chances, and where he heads from here – I discover which artists influenced him growing up and why Canada, in his view, has such a varied and vibrant scene.

UNBLOOM talks about touring and unspent ambitions; which new artists/stables we should be looking out for; how he chills away from music – the Canadian artist also provides some handy advice for upcoming artists.

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Hi, UNBLOOM. How are you? How has your week been?

Hey! It’s been good; crazy-hectic with campaigning I Followed - but, totally a fun process to hear and see people’s reaction to it! Otherwise, I’ve been back in the studio working on more material.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yoursel, please?

Sure thing! My name is Jonathan Zarola and I write, produce and perform under the moniker ‘UNBLOOM’. I make music that causes people to move, emote and reflect (hopefully, simultaneously. Haha). I write and record everything myself from my home studio.

Your last single, Chances, got a lot of love and support. Did you expect so many people to react to it?

Honestly; you never know what to expect when you release a new song into the world (especially one that is so emotionally-charged and important to your life) so it was unbelievable to see how many people empathised with the song. It’s always gratifying to write music that resonates with people and, even more so, to know that you’re not the only person feeling the way you are.

I Followed is your latest track. Is it a reaction to that success? What inspired the song?

It’s interesting because I Followed was written in that awkward pre-release window where Chances wasn’t released yet but was still very emotionally fresh in my mind and heart. So, in some regards, the two songs share this symbiotic narrative in which both relate to feelings of instability and transition - and really, at its core, I Followed is a song about transition; a song that negotiates the tension between personal passion and societal expectations.

In some ways, the song deals with this millennial dread that seeps in where we start questioning what we want to do in life and what’s next.

Do you reckon there will be even more material coming before the end of this year?

I really believe so, yeah. I have some exciting collaborations in the works and other material that I’m fine-tuning. Releases are as much about questions of strategy as they are execution. I just have to make sure the timing between releases works for me and my team.

You are based in Canada. Why do you think there are so many great Canadian acts coming through right now?

That’s a good question.

Sometimes, I think Canada has the highest rate of talent per capita than any other country. Haha. It might have something to do with the fact that we are so culturally and ideologically diverse. There isn’t a distinct ‘Canadian’ sound and that, in itself, is a huge asset. We aren’t bound by genre or specific sounds: we just do what we want because we live in a space that promotes anything and everything.

Give me a sense of the artists you were raised on. Do you recall the first album you bought?

My dad fed me a diet of Led Zeppelin, The Who; Jimi Hendrix and other classic Rock albums. I started my music career as a drummer (and he was one too) so that had a lot of influence on the kind of music I was raised on. That being said, I also loved electronic acts like The Prodigy and I remember buying their classic album, Fat of the Land - my dad was pretty into it too. Haha.

It just had this raw energy that I couldn’t articulate into words. I also had a pretty strong Emo phase, but I won’t dive too much into that (*wink*). Haha

Where are you heading on tour? Where can we catch you?

Nothing is booked as of yet but you can expect shows to pop up as I gain some momentum from these latest releases!

Will you visit the U.K. this year and see us?

I would love to! If we see there’s an audience to nurture it, I’ll definitely make it a priority. Otherwise, I’ll see if I can live-stream a set in Canada for you guys!

What do you hope to achieve in 2018?

I think the primary objective is to continue building a loyal and supportive fan-base. I think the best way to do this in the current music landscape is to get featured on large Apple and Spotify playlists. That’s why I always emphasize to my fans to save my tracks to their personal playlists. It’s an algorithmic world and I’m just trying to keep up with it. Other than that, I just hope to continue to get better at my craft and to keep making music that resonates with people.

Have you got a favourite memory from your time in music – the one that sticks in your mind?

I think I’m fortunate to have a lot of special memories. I remember being featured on Apple Music’s electronic page banner when my E.P., This Could Be Everything/This Could Be Nothing, was released last summer. That was definitely a ‘wow!’ moment. More recently, the legendary DJ TARO spun I Followed on the major Japanese radio channel J-WAVE which was so surreal; he sent me a quick video of him singing along to the chorus and my jaw was on the floor.

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

Damn; that’s a tough question! I’ll have to go with the amazing Mura Masa. Opening a show for him would be a dream come true (and tons of fun).

I’d probably put some vodka root beers on the rider plus a salt lamp to help me get into the right vibe. Haha

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

I could go the cheesy route and say ‘Work on your craft; be your own artist etc. etc.’ which is all true but, pragmatically-speaking, save money for each release and budget most of it for P.R. Visibility is king in this industry and simply emailing blogs won’t reap the kind of benefits it used to.

IN THIS PHOTO: EXNATIONS

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

If you’re into cool Techno/instrumental tracks, definitively keep Toronto-based indie label Biblioteka Records on your radar and the artists they support. Another group that should warrant your attention is Brooklyn band EXNATIONS - really fun Synth-Pop stuff.

IN THIS PHOTO: Biblioteka Records' The Wonderlust

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

It can be difficult - because my studio is also my home - but I do make it a point to unwind with my girlfriend and watch shows (we’re really into Suits right now) and spend a bit of time playing some video games (sorry; I’m kinda into Fortnite. Haha)

Finally, and for being a good sport; you can choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

It was my pleasure, honestly! If you could play EXNATIONS’ Can’t Get Hurt or, if you’re looking for a larger artist, some early Disclosure would be great (my favourite deep cut of theirs is Defeated No More).