"AUTUMN" EP BY BLOODPACT OUT NOW
Bloodpact recently released his newest EP, "autumn," with the help of Jovan Macias of Wisp. The release of this EP shows fans of Bloodpact the duality and uniqueness of his music, thinking outside the box regarding shoegaze/heavygaze and adding his twist on the beloved genre. This EP feels gut-wrenching but also hopeful, all at the same time. With instrumentals that hold a heavy, grieving undertone, the lyrics of this song show the dynamic of struggle, acceptance, and change. Let's see what Bloodpact has to say about the creation of this EP, what it was like working with Jovan from Wisp, and what he has in store for the future.
LISTEN TO THE EP "AUTUMN" BY CLICKING BELOW!
WHAT INSPIRED THE NAME OF THIS NEW EP?
"Well, I've been listening to a lot of Starflyer 59 these last few months. I don't fully know how to explain it other than the fact that when I listen to Starflyer and other similar-sounding bands, it makes me think of Fall and the stuff that comes with that. I found I was having some pretty nostalgic feelings creating the sounds and putting together the pieces for this EP, and it took me back to being a kid running around on Halloween, seeing the leaves change colors, the clouds rolling in, and that abundant freedom that typically comes with childhood. It's nothing deep past basic nostalgia for a warm and simpler time. Honestly, the EP title was an afterthought, but it summed it all up pretty well, in my opinion."
WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING WITH JOVAN MACIAS OF WISP? TELL ME YOUR GENERAL THOUGHTS ON DOING COLLABORATIVE MUSICAL WORK WITH OTHERS.
"It was pretty cool working with Jovan Macias of Wisp. We had talked about having Natalie, the vocalist, do some work on the songs, too, but it was kind of late in the process for this EP. Jovan is a phenomenal drummer, and we were able to both toss ideas back and forth, even past just the drums. We both live in different parts of California, so we were sending files back and forth a lot, FaceTiming during sessions, and sharing our screens during recording so we could both be on the same page, and it all worked out great. Jovan has an ear for what really works, and I was able to let him just throw whatever ideas he had into the mix and I appreciate how receptive he was to my criticism if I liked or didn't like something specific. Collaborations, in my opinion, are hit-and-miss. I don't collaborate with just anyone in hopes of gaining clout or exposure from their fanbase or vice versa. I really only work with people I consider friends who can bring good ideas to the table. I appreciate the people that have worked with me, including Jovan (Wisp), Slide from Philadelphia, Scarlet House, and next Velvet on our future EP."
TELL ME ABOUT THE RECORDING PROCESS; WHAT WAS IT LIKE/HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO GET THIS EP TOGETHER?
"The recording process for 'autumn' was one of my favorites. I started writing this EP in August. I didn't really know what was going to come of anything; I just knew I was inspired by some slower, more mellow stuff. My girlfriend, Maddy, was in the room with me when I started coming up with ideas and it was really nice to bounce ideas off of her because I totally trust her ear for good music. From where the demos started, though, to what the songs are now, they're hardly recognizable, to be honest. I'm excited about that, though. It shows a lot of growth in the music, the new ideas brought in from Jovan, and the natural process of letting the songs transform from those things. I ended up adding the instrumental piece 'evangelion' a day before I was set to send off the project to distribution, but I'm grateful for that. That was one of Jovan's ideas."
WHAT PROVED TO BE THE MOST CHALLENGING PART ABOUT GETTING THIS EP TOGETHER?
"I'd say the hardest part for me was being comfortable with my vocals. I knew I wanted more upfront and clean vocals in comparison to my past releases. I really had to practice getting out of my comfort zone of burying the vocals so much and hiding behind tones of reverb. I had some great friends tell me where I was off and what sounded good to them, so I put a lot of trust in them for that. I'm confident in how it all came out; it's different, but change is good; it grows at the end of the day."
WHAT IS THE OVERALL MESSAGE OF THIS EP THAT YOU AND JOVAN ARE TRYING TO GET ACROSS?
"I feel like I found myself writing from a place of isolation, depression, loneliness, and contempt, but still hope. I enjoy writing about the negative things because they're very real, people struggle and it can be really tough. However, I add in words of affirmation, growth, change, and how to find hope or faith. That's why I feel my music is neither negative or positive. It's all about change, to me, and in turn, that's nostalgic because we spend our whole lives growing and chaining. One of my favorite things to do is write objectively melancholic instrumentals and then put something somewhat positive lyrically on top of that; it kind of throws you for a spin."
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG ON THIS EP?
"I had the most fun writing 'stay inside.' It was the first one I wrote for this EP, and I was so satisfied with the guitar tones, vocal delivery, and overall mood the song gives off. I was able to capture what I was feeling 100%. It's a tough pick though, because 'what's left' is a close second for me, especially with the solo I added in there because I typically don't do guitar solos."
Cover Art done by @austinohara_ on IG
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LYRIC/LINE IN ONE OF THE SONGS OFF OF THIS EP?
"My favorite line is:
I don't like what the window shows. I stay in and wait 'til I feel you.
I'm more or less talking about the contempt I have towards what I've been seeing in the outside world from the news, people, some other bands, you name it. I find my peace and worth within God, and I'm confident in that. Through that, though, I have love and hope that I want to give to other people; it's not all negative."
FOR DIY ARTISTS THAT ARE ALSO COMING OUT WITH NEW MUSIC, WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST IS A GOOD COURSE OF ACTION WHEN IT COMES TO PREPARING FOR A RELEASE?
"Be genuine. That's my first and most important tip—the gimmicks, overexposure, and all that get old. What stands out is genuine creation that comes from the inside. It doesn't matter if it takes longer to get traction going or not; it wasn't going to be something that happens overnight for most of us anyway, so we may as well do it right. In my opinion, don't spam the world with what you did. There's a lot of us, but be intentional with your work and let it speak for itself. Connect with the bands you like; they're just like you. Look into playlisting and connect with curators as well."
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
"I'm working closely with the band Velvet from the east coast. We have a few songs together that are going to appear on my next EP sometime next year. I'm excited to work with the guy who originally mentored and taught me so much of what I know in the world of audio engineering, Brian Frederick, and his new mastering company, Long Beach Mastering, on this next project. Past that, who knows? I don't perform anymore, so maybe some music videos, live studio sessions, and of course more releases."
